A recommended identification color scheme of piping systems based on 

ANSI A13.1 Standard for Pipe

Identification are indicated below:

Classification Color Field and Legend

Flammable or Explosive Black text on Yellow

Fluids background

Chemically Active, Toxic or Black text on Yellow

Corrosive Fluids background
Inherently Hazardous
Materials
Extreme Temperatures or Black text on Yellow
Pressures background

Black text on Yellow

Radioactive
background

Liquid or Liquid Admixture, WhiteText on Green

Potable Water, Feed water ... background
Inherently Low Hazardous
Materials
Gas or Gaseous Admixture, White Text on Blue
Compressed air .. background

White Text on Red

Fire Quenching Materials Water, Foam, CO2, ..
background

Size of Letters

Outside Pipe
Width of Size of
or Covering
Color Band Letters
Size
(in) (in)
(in)

3/4" to 1 1/4" 8 1/2"

1 1/2" to 2" 8 3/4"

 2 1/2" to 6" 12 1 1/4"

8" to 10" 24 2 1/2

> 10" 32 3 1/2"

Why are the ANSI color codes important? What does the yellow background
mean? 

The yellow background signifies that the piping may handle hazardous material.
Unfortunately, much has changed in the typical plant over the last 70 years since
this standard was originally conceived. The basic standard can be traced to the
1920's and use in the US military. Obviously, our definitions for what is
"hazardous" has changed. Water, air or carbon dioxide, under certain situations
(pressure, heat, mixture with other chemicals) are not always benign. How do we
interpret, for example, materials that should be used for "fire quenching" that are
also "hazardous"? Should we use the red or the yellow ANSI scheme? Or, how do
we label a pipe that carries both the liquid (which should be green) and gas form
of a chemical (which should be blue)? 

Hazards, in other words, are not so easily defined. "Hazardous" may mean that the
material is hazardous to a person nearby, or to the operation of the overall plant
itself. Could "hazardous" mean that the materials flowing through the process
piping, if not handled carefully, could contaminate the product. Or, if leaked into
the atmosphere, could the chemical infect the environment or cause damage to
employees after cumulative exposure over a period of years? Clearly, the ANSI
standard was written for far simpler times. 

Color Std Meaning Example

Electric Power Lines, Cables, Conduit
Red APWA Buried High Voltage Line
and Lighting Cables
Gas, Oil, Steam, Petroleum or Natural Gas Distribution
Yellow APWA
Gaseous Materials Line
Communication, Alarm or Signal
Orange APWA Buried Fiber Optic Cable
Lines, Cables or Conduit
Blue APWA Water, Irrigation and Slurry Lines Buried Water Line
Green APWA Sewers, Drain Line Buried Storm Sewer Line
Red Traffic Prohibition STOP, Yield
Orange Traffic Temporary Work Zone Construction Zone Ahead
Yellow Traffic Caution Merge Ahead, Slow
Blue Traffic Information Signs Hospital
Brown Traffic Historical or Park Picnic Area Ahead
Green Traffic Directional Signs Exit 1 Mile, Go
ANSI Hazardous Voltage Will
Red Danger Signs, Highest Hazard
Sign Cause Death
ANSI Hazardous Voltage May
Orange Warning Signs, Medium Hazard
Sign Cause Death
ANSI Turn Machine Off When
Yellow Caution Signs, Lowest Hazard
Sign Not In Use
ANSI
Blue Notice Signs Employees Only
Sign
ANSI
Green Safety First Signs Wear Ear Plugs
Sign
ANSI
Red Fire Quenching Materials Fire Protection Water
Pipe
ANSI
Yellow Materials Inherently Hazardous Chlorine
Pipe
ANSI Materials of Inherently Low Hazard,
Blue Compressed Air
Pipe Gas
ANSI Materials of Inherently Low Hazard,
Green Storm Drain
Pipe Liquid
NFPA Blue is used for Health Hazards, Red for Flammability and
Blue/Red/Yellow
701 Yellow for reactivity

Variations in color-coding standards are inevitable in our complex plant and

pluralistic society. While laudable, harmonization of color-codes, then, will be
very difficult to achieve. Many plants use other color-coding; for example, color-
code each system (i.e. Lube Oil is brown, Condensate is green, etc.>) or color
code by Unit (i.e. Unit 1 is yellow, Unit 2 is blue, etc.). For most plants, we
recommend either the ANSI pipe marker color codes or simply black on yellow
markers. For more complex plants, we recommend a color-coding by system. For
all environments, we recommend the inclusion of RTK information on the valve
or on the pipe. 

ANSI Color Code for Thermocouple and Thermocouple Extension Wire

Thermocouple Wire T/C Extension Wire
Color Color
ANSI
Symbol Wire Alloys Polarity Individual Jacket Individual Jacket
Iron +JP White White
J Brown Black
Constantan(TM) -JN Red Red
K CHROMEL®* +KP Yellow Brown Yellow Yellow
 ALUMEL®* -KN Red Red
Copper +TP Blue Blue
T Brown Blue
Constantan(TM) -TN Red Red
CHROMEL®* +EP Purple Purple
E Brown Purple
Constantan(TM) -EN Red Red
Nicrosil(TM) +NP Orange Orange
N Brown Orange
Nisil(TM) -NN Red Red
Copper +RSP Black
RSX
Copper Alloy -RSN - - Red
Green

PCLW630/Copper +BP Grey

BX
Copper -BN - - Red
Grey

W3X Alloy 203; Alloy 405 +WP White/Red

W5X Alloy 225; Alloy 426 -WN - - Red
White/Red

ANSI Pipe Marking Standards

Document Number: 203

Hazardous materials flow through miles of piping in many industrial, commercial and institutional facilities. Just like
hazardous materials in other situations, piping systems should be appropriately labeled to make people aware of the
materials they carry. The older versions (1981 & 1996) of the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) A13.1
standard have merged into the ANSI/ASME (American Society of Testing and Materials) A13.1 Scheme for
Identification of Piping Systems. This merged standard ANSI/ASME A13.1, addresses pipe marking by offering a
common labeling method for use in all industrial, commercial, institutional facilities and in buildings used for public
assembly. This standard does not apply to buried pipelines or electrical conduit.

Label Requirements
Pipe marking labels must effectively communicate the contents of the pipes and give additional detail if special
hazards (such as extreme temperatures or pressures) exist. The legend should be short in length and easy to
understand. For example, the legend "Steam 100 PSIG" specifies the contents as well as the additional pressure
hazard. An arrow should be used in conjunction with the legend to show which direction the material flows. If flow can
be in both directions, arrows in both directions shall be displayed.
The older versions (1981 & 1996) of ANSI A13.1 separated materials transported in above-ground piping systems
into three categories:
 High-Hazard Materials: Encompasses several hazard areas including corrosive and caustic materials;
substances that are toxic or capable of creating toxic gases; explosive and flammable materials; radioactive
substances; and materials that, if released, would be hazardous due to extreme pressures or temperatures.
 Low-Hazard Materials: Materials that are not inherently hazardous and have a small chance of harming
employees through mild temperatures and low pressures.

 Fire Suppression Materials: Fire protection materials such as foam, carbon dioxide (CO2), Halon and water.

The three hazard classes have different color-coded labels associated with them. All high-hazard materials use black
characters on a yellow background. The low-hazard material class is divided into two different color schemes: liquids
or liquid mixtures use white characters on a green background; gases or gaseous mixtures use white characters on a
blue background. The fire suppression class uses white letters on a red background. The letters on pipe labels should
be a minimum of 1/2" high, and should increase in size as the pipe diameter increases-(Table 3).
The 2007 edition of the ANSI/ASME A13.1 changed the color scheme requirements for the labels. In this new edition
of the standard, there are 6 standard colors instead of 4 colors. The new label color requirements are based on the
characteristic hazards of the contents. See Table 2 below for the new color requirements.

Label Placement
Labels should be positioned on the pipes so they can be easily read. Proper label placement is on the lower side of
the pipe if the employee has to look up to the pipe, on the upper side of the pipe if the employee has to look down
towards the pipe, or directly facing the employee if on the same level as the pipe. Labels should be located near
valves, branches, where a change in direction occurs, on entry/re-entry points through walls or floors, and on straight
segments with spacing between labels that allows for easy identification.
Exceptions to this Standard
Other pipe labeling systems are acceptable if they are put in writing and meet the basic ANSI requirements.

Commonly Asked Questions

Q. Can I still use my current pipe marking system based on the older version of the standard or do I have to
change my color scheme to meet ASME A13.1 2007?
A. Existing schemes for identification shall be considered as meeting the requirements of the
standard if the schemes are described in writing and employees are trained in the operation
and hazards of the piping system.

Q. What if I have a pipe smaller than ?

A. For pipes of less than in diameter the use of a permanently legible tag is recommended.

Q. Are particular shades of yellow, green, red and blue required for pipe labels?
A. Yes, ANSI/ASME A13.1- recommends the color code featured in the ANSI Z53.1- Safety
Color Code for Marking Physical Hazards. The color shades recommended are intended to
give highest level of recognition to employees with both normal and color-deficient vision.

Q. Has this ANSI Standard been adopted by OSHA?

A. No, it is still considered an industry consensus standard, which is only a recommendation.
Even though it has not been specifically adopted by OSHA, industry consensus standards
may be evidence that a hazard is recognized and there is a feasible means of correcting such
a hazard. If you do not follow a consensus standard, it is possible to be cited under the
General Duty Clause.
 Stairs Residential Building Code for the United States
The Stairs- Residential Building Code for the U.S. is a municipal regulation.
Thus it varies by state and town.

Some jurisdictions base their legislation on the 2000 and 2003 International
Residential Code (IRC). Other communities seem to be still using the 1997
Uniform Building Code (UBC). In all cases, each jurisdiction has amended the
code to reflect local concerns.. ie. flooding or earthquake prone areas.

It is absolutely essential that you check with your local office as the following
information is only offered to suggest guidelines as to what issues and answers you might expect related
to the stairs-residential building code... good luck! happy woodworking..

Nosing Extension: Code Requirements

Maximum overhang for nosing is

somewhere between 1 ¼" & 1 ½". Some
states legislate a minimum of ¾",
including floor and landings.

Risers & Runs:

Riser Height:

Maximum of between 7 ¾" & 8 ¼" (some

states regulate a minimum of 6")

Run:

Minimum between 9-10" (not counting the

part underneath the "nosing" of the tread
above). With a note that runs of over 10
1/2" will usually require three balusters
per tread to comply with the 4" maximum
opening between spindles.

Variation in Rise & Run: Can only have a 3/8 inch difference between the
largest and the smallest rise and the largest and
 smallest run.
Winder and Spiral Stairs:

Stairways that turn a corner. These treads are

Winder Stairs:
narrow on one end and wider at the other.

Have their own regulations that often stipulate the

minimum width of around 6" at the smallest end of
Spiral/Circular Stairs: pie shaped treads, and often specify that a tread
must be somewhere between 9-10" wide,
measured 12 inches from the narrowest end.

Stairways Width:

Stair Width:

Minimum 36" with a stipulation allowing a

wall mounted handrail to project from
each side 3 ½"