Pipemarkers

In an industrial workplace, pipes transport hazardous substances and energy and if not clearly marked with labelling, can put people and facilities in danger. This makes them a primary candidate for safety considerations.

When it comes to Pipemarking, workers need a way to accurately and consistently identify the hazards they may face. Pipemarkers meet this challenge by:

  • Presenting information in an easy-to-understand and consistent format
  • Enable quick identification of hazards at a glance
  • Presenting information in an easy-to-understand and consistent format
  • Enable quick identification of hazards at a glance

The purpose of using Pipemarkers is to help provide essential information like the pipe contents, the flow direction, temperature or pressure to employees and external contractors quickly and effortlessly during repairs and maintenance allowing a faster and safer response saving time and money.

In emergency situations, Pipemarkers aid emergency responders in the quick identification of the pipes’ contents which can help in the assessment of any potential associated dangers for instance, flammable materials may need to be evacuated from pipes in the event of a fire. This can make all the difference between life and death.

The Components of a Pipe Label

AS-1345 lists the following five elements that are a mandatory requirement to make an effective Pipemarker;

Text

Identify the pipe’s contents by name. You may also choose to list the temperature or pressure if either presents a hazard.

Size

Choose the appropriate size label and text size so it can be easily seen and understood. AS-1345 outlines minimum label and text sizes based on a pipe’s outer diameter.

Label placement

Always consider how someone will approach and view a pipe. Labels must be visible from a person’s point of normal approach. For example, if a pipe is directly overhead, apply the label below the centreline. If the pipe is below eye level, apply the label above the centreline for a clear view.
Best practices for the most effective label placement include:

  • Every 50 feet on straight runs of pipe (or every 25 feet if more visibility is necessary)
  • On both sides of floor, wall, or ceiling penetrations
  • Next to all valves and flanges
  • Where pipes change direction

Color coding

AS-1345 also recommends implementing a pipe marking colour code. A colour code helps improve the recognition of pipes while helping quickly alert people to the type of hazard potentially posed by a pipe’s contents.
AS-1345 Safety Colours standard suggests colour shades to use for the best level of identification to employees with normal and colour-deficient vision. There are six predefined colours to identify broad types of pipe contents and four user-identified combinations that can be used separately by each facility using the standard.

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