Piping Color CodesSource: Sewage and Industrial Wastes, Vol. 28, No. 6 (Jun., 1956), pp. 813-817Published by: Water Environment FederationStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25033093 .

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Vol. 28, No. 6 OBTAINING VOTEE APPROVAL 813

this method was demonstrated during the campaign to obtain voter approval of a $6,650,000 bond issue for the city of Abilene, Texas in 1954. Publicity

was started with a full-page, question and-answer advertisement in the local

newspaper. The Abilene Chamber of

Commerce published a printed pamph let containing the main bond issue facts in a briefer form. The Abilene

newspaper and the radio and tele vision stations carried on their own

series of articles and programs about the improvement projects planned and the bonds that were to finance them.

Speakers appeared before the civic or

ganizations. The issues carried by an

average of 10 to 1.

Some of the things that the taxpayer wants to know and should be told are:

1. How much will the tax rate or

utility rates be raised? How much will the program cost?

2. Why are the improvements needed ?

3. Where will the improvements be constructed ?

4. If a large issue, will all the bonds be sold at one time?

5. How will the bonds be sold, pub lic or private sale?

6. If the program contains a num

ber of projects, what is the estimated cost of each project?

7. What is the order of construc tion? Why?

8. How will contracts be awarded? 9. How long will it take to complete

the program? 10. Will the bond issue include all

costs, such as land, right-of-ways, en

gineering and architect fees?

In order to be able to anticipate all

questions, contact must be made with a cross-section of all the people of the

city. After a complete set of ques tions and answers has been prepared and published, it is up to the press, radio and television stations and a

special speakers' committee to keep the

public informed and to get them out to vote.

The mayor and city commissioners or councilmen must take the lead in

sponsoring the campaign and actively support the program at all times. It

won't do to pass responsibility for

the bond program to the Chamber of

Commerce or some other citizens'

committee; the city's governing body must believe in and fight for the pro

gram.

PIPING COLOR CODES

The Subcommittee on Paints and Protective Coatings of the Federation is actively planning a painting manual

adapted to the particular problems confronted at sewage and industrial

waste treatment facilities. Interest in color codes for treatment plant piping has been expressed by several member

associations and a number of operators and designers. Piping color codes

evoke interest every time a new sew

age treatment facility is designed and

constructed, or when a plant superin tendent plans a painting schedule for

his installation. In 1954, the California Sewage and

Editor's Note?Adoption of a recommended color code for use at sewage and in

dustrial waste treatment plants would serve a useful purpose. However, such a code must consider all available studies of merit and incorporate, insofar as possible, the

opinions of fact as presented by operating personnel. To further this purpose the ac

companying article is presented for consideration and comment by the readership. Your comments should be directed to Kerwin Mick, Chairman, Subcommittee on Paints and Protective Coatings, Minneapolis-Saint Paul Sanitary District, P. O. Box 3598, Saint Paul 1, Minn.

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814 SEWAGE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTES June, 1956

Industrial Wastes Association ap

pointed a committee to study piping color codes in an effort toward the

development of a color scheme for con

sideration by the association member

ship. While this study was being undertaken the state of California

adopted a standard pipe marking and

safety color code for use at state-owned

properties. This code is based on the

standards for piping color codes in

industry as developed by the Ameri can Standards Association, National

Safety Council and American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The work

of these professional groups has been

comprehensive and provides an excel

lent basis upon which to prepare a

specific color code for the sewage and

industrial wastes field. Inclusion of a

recommended color or other identifica

tion code is planned by the Federa

tion's "Paint Manual'' Subcommittee. In further consideration of piping

color codes excerpts from the color

code for the state of California are

presented for consideration.

CALIFORNIA STANDARD PIPE MARKING AND SAFETY

COLOR CODE

Need for Color Code

The need for a systematic and uni

form method of identifying materials contained in pipes throughout all state

properties has been apparent for so

many years that further justification should be unnecessary.

One reason supporting this need is to have maintenance and construction

personnel readily familiar with piping even though transferring from one in

stitution or property to another. This

in itself would conserve incalculable amounts of time, and therefore money, for the state. Another reason support

ing this need is to permit quick fa

miliarization by outside personnel in

the event of major disaster or calamity such as fire, flood, earthquake, bomb

ing or other unforeseen event.

At the present time, if it became

necessary for Civil Defense, National

Guard, Army, Navy or other agency to

assume the operation of any state prop erties on an emergency basis, operating

personnel would be severely handi

capped in attempting to orient them

selves. Much unnecessary and perhaps dangerous confusion would result due

to lack of piping identification. This system was set up with the

thought that it should be inexpensive to install, require a minimum of effort

to maintain, be simple to become fa

miliar with and be all-inclusive in

scope, as well as most effective.

The Color Code

Table I presents the basic features of the piping system identification

method, including the classification

letters, class description, color and

special uses for which each class is

designated. This method is to be used as the standard safety color code for the entire scope of purposes for which

pipe markings will be necessary. Spe cific material classifications and rec

ommended legend, color and banding are given in Table II as they may be

applicable to sewage and industrial waste treatment facilities.

Material Classification

This column gives the classification letter for the material conveyed in the

pipe as approved by the American So

ciety of Mechanical Engineers, Ameri can Standards Association and Na tional Safety Council and is not to

appear on the piping.

TABLE L -Basic Features of Piping System Identification

Classifi cation Description Color Special Uses

F

D

D

S

P

Fire protective Caution

Alert

Safety Protective

Red Yellow

Orange Green

Blue Brown

Danger Caution

Electrical

Safety Protection

Waste lines

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Vol. 28, No. 6 PIPING COLOR CODES 815

TABLE H.?Standard Pipe Marking and Safety Color Code

Printed Legend with Direction of Flow Arrow Color Code Additional Safety Banding

Domestic water1

Industrial water1

Fire protective water

Hot water supply or return (domestic) Hot water supply or return (heating) Distilled water Boiler feed water or blow-off water

Pressure steam

Acetylene, butane, exhaust or flue gas Gasoline

Manufactured, natural, propane or process \ Fuel oil or diesel oil Chlorine Oxygen

Compressed air

Vacuum air

Sanitary sewer, raw sewage influent

Danger, electrical (exact voltage)

Green

Green

Red Yellow

Yellow Green

Yellow

Yellow

Yellow

Yellow

Yellow

Yellow

Yellow Yellow

Green

Green

Brown

Orange

3-Green

1-Green

1-Green

1-Green

1-Green

1-Green

1-Green and

1-Yellow

2-Red

3-Red

3-Red

3-Red

2-Red

2-Red

2-Red

1-Yellow

3-Red

i ?p? or "Np? after legend indicates whether potable or non-potable water.

Legend

This column shows the printed leg end, as it shall appear on the pipe in conjunction with the direction of

flow arrow pointing in the direction of flow. The legend is the mandatory por tion of the system.

This printed legend with the direc tion of flow arrow must appear as

specified to conform or qualify as a

standard pipe marking code.

Bmding

Banding shall be used when it is deemed necessary or desirable to in clude banding of piping in classifica tion colors.

One-inch colored banding shall be

applied on the piping 1 in. from the immediate left of or preceding the stenciled legend and direction of flow arrow. The banding shall be as fol lows:

Primary mains Three 1-in. bands

Intermediate or

secondary mains Two 1-in. bands

Branch mains or

equipment service One 1-in. band

Color

This column identifies the classifica tion color as approved by the ASME,

ASA, and NSC for each material as listed. The identifying colors, red,

yellow, orange, green, blue and brown, shall apply for whatever materials are

used; paints, cellulose tapes, fibered

tapes, gummed paper or other. The classification color shall be used

when painting identification bands or the entire pipe should it be deemed desirable to use this latter type of

system. However, when the entire pipe is painted a band of ample width to accommodate the legend portion of the

system shall be provided in white or

pastel color in ample contrast to any of the classification colors as to be

readily distinguishable.

Additional Banding

This column gives the additional

banding to be used in the event sup plemental safety or precautionary

marking proves necessary or desirable. It should be noted that the band size called for is y2 in. in width. These bands shall be placed y2 in. apart

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816 SEWAGE AND INDUSTRIAL WASTES June, 1956

where more than one band occurs, and

commencing 1 in. to the immediate

right of or after the printed legend and direction of flow arrow. This ad ditional banding is designed to indi cate such things as the danger or safety of the material carried as pertains to its degree of explosiveness, inflamma

bility or danger to life and limb. For

example : three ^-in. red bands would indicate an explosive material, two % in. red bands an inflammable material, one green band a very safe material, etc.

On small pipes with outside di ameter of 2 in. and less, the height of letters used shall be equal to approxi

mately one-half the outside diameter of the pipe, i.e., y% in. on 1-in. pipe, and 1 in. on 2-in. pipe. On larger piping, the same rule shall prevail up to the use of a maximum size letter of 3 in. in height. The printed legend shall appear at all valve locations,

wherever and whenever a pipe passes through an obstruction, both at the

point of entry into and/or egress from or within a reasonable and conveni ent distance therefrom (a reasonable

distance being within 4 ft, ). Wherever two or more pipes run parallel, the

printed legend and other markings shall be applied in the same relative location so as to be in either vertical or horizontal linearity, whichever the case may be. The printed legend, with direction of flow arrow, shall appear as many times as is necessary along the pipe to be readily conspicuous at all times from any reasonable point of view.

All pipes shall be marked at both ends if the total length exceeds 10 ft. No piping shall run more than 30 ft. between markings, except in cases where the pipe is so located as to

preclude this necessity. This would be if the pipe were confined to a

tunnel, run overhead for long dis

tances, or buried, in which case com

mon sense and good judgment of needs shall be considered.

Instructions and Suggested Methods of Application

The use of paper stencils for the

printed legend should present little or no problem. In case of smaller in

stallations, arrangements can be made with a place of business having a ship ping department to cut a nominal amount of paper stencils for little or no charge. The stencils should be at tached to the pipe and made to lay closely with the use of masking tape. Stencils thus attached can be sprayed with paint and, on removal, should result in a sharp, clean edged printed legend.

Paints for lettering, as recom

mended, are available in pressurized cans. The use of paint materials pack aged in this manner is recommended, as there will be no labor required for

mixing and preparation of paints or usual messy clean-up work on com

pletion. Also, these paints can be on hand for additional marking work as

may be necessary at any later date.

Tapes, in colors corresponding to the standard colors, are available in

widths as specified for the color band

ing. These colored tapes are manu factured expressly for the purpose of

pipe marking, and the fiber types are

quite durable.

By following the foregoing recom mendations and specifications, no spe cial skills are required to apply this

pipe marking system. Any man in the maintenance staff possessing the quali ties of neatness and normal mechani cal ability should be capable of pipe

marking without assistance, except perhaps a man not familiar with the

piping who therefore would need to have the various pipes named as to contents by someone on the mechani cal maintenance staff.

Other Uses

The safety color code portion of this

system is intended for use throughout any installation. The uses to which

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Vol. 28, No. 6 EXTRACTS FROM OPERATION REPORTS 817

this color code can be put are numer ous. It could be used in various shops to mark off locations that are safe, hazardous, or dangerous ; to paint elec trical switch boxes (orange) ; "No

Smoking" signs (white lettering on red background) ; first aid equipment (green) ; protective equipment (blue) ;

etc. Containers for various liquids such as gasoline cans (red) ; water

(green) ; etc., can be marked in any and all areas of institutions to indi cate danger, caution, alert, safety, and

the protective status of the container or item.

UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER GREAT LAKES BOARD

The Upper Mississippi River?

Great Lakes Board of Engineers, rep

resenting 10 states, has suggested the

following standard color schemes for

sewage treatment plants :

Piping Color

Sludge Brown Gas Red Potable Water Blue Chlorine Yellow

Sewage Gray Compressed

Air Green

This is a relatively easy list of colors to remember and the choice of colors

appears logical. There is a natural association in the minds of most op erating personnel between the color noted and the material conveyed. The

system avoids the use of a band or

legend, thereby making it well suited for small plants or uncomplicated pipe systems. Directional flow arrows, how

ever, are desirable.

INTERESTING EXTRACTS FROM OPERATION REPORTS

' ' He who would climb a tree must grasp its branches?not the blossoms.

' '?Anon.

Attention operators! It will be appreciated if copies of all annual reports of both large and small plants are sent to the Federation office for abstracting in this section of the Journal. Carbon copies of typewritten reports will be promptly returned on request. Please direct annual reports to: Federation of Sewage and Industrial Wastes Associa

tions, 4435 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Washington 16, D. C.

First Annual Report of the Columbia Borough, Pa., Sewage Treatment Plant

By Lewis B. Scherer, Superintendent

Although the Columbia Borough Sewage Treatment Plant has been in

operation since mid-1953, this is the first operation report. The present superintendent has been in charge of

plant operations since March, 1955. The treatment plant is designed for

primary treatment and effluent chlori nation. Two 45-ft. diameter floating cover digesters provide adequate sludge digestion capacity. The aver

age raw sewage flow is 0.69 m.g.d. and, during heavy flash storms, increases

to approximately 2 to 3 m.g.d. During these storms the operator must open the bypass around the comminutor to

prevent flooding of the plant yard. This excess flow is due to surface wa ter entering the sewer through roof

drains, manholes and cellar drains.

Sewer System

Maintenance work on the sanitary sewers has increased every year since the original sewers were laid in 1933.

Unfortunately, they have received no

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