Pipe Markers for Facility Safety

Pipe marking is an important factor in facility safety. Workers and emergency responders must know what’s in the pipes, where it originates, where it is going and if there is a potential hazard. Clear and easily read messages in standard approved colours heighten awareness.

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Standards

Accepted, approved colours for the markers and legends help your maintenance workers in the facility comply with pipe marking identification.

Marker and legend size is dictated by the outside diameter of your pipe. Colour of the marker and legend is taken from the standard, based upon the contents of the pipe. Small diameter pipes may use a tag system for identification.

Varieties

Several pipe marking varieties are:

1. Individual self-adhesive label pipe markers. Legend is printed on single labels printed horizontally or landscape style. This is often used in conjunction with banding tape or arrow tape for extra adhesion and flow direction.
2. Coiled, snap-around, snap-on pipe markers. These wrap completely around pipes of 6” diameter or larger. The markers are ordered with a message (legend) pre-printed. They come as nylon or plastic sheets with a coiled memory shape that wraps to any size pipes.
3. Roll-form, self-adhesive label pipe markers. Legend is pre-printed on roll of 8” or 12” wide in portrait style. The pipe diameter does not matter as the legend repeats 65 times per roll. Just cut your length, wrap around pipe and the label adheres to itself.
4. Clamps, bands, hangars and carriers are available as alternates to applying the marker directly to the pipe. Marker substrates can be engraved plastic lamicoids, or labels can be applied to plastic or metal backs.
5. Tags for small diameter pipes are made of non-adhesive synthetic material with a hole at the top for attachment. The tag can be printed in the industrial thermal transfer printer. A cable tie, either UV protected or stainless steel, should be used to attach it to the pipe.

For information on purchasing any of these pipe marker varieties, give us a call at 1-800-268-7636.

DIY Pipe Markers

To print pipe markers use an industrial thermal transfer printer accommodating 2” and 4” wide continuous material, a data input device (laptop or desktop computer), pipe marker material (vinyl or polyester) with print ribbon, and basic pipe marker software is the minimum required.

Maintenance workers in the facility should be diligent in checking the appearance and readability of the pipe markers. Markers may have suffered due to weathering, physical damage or discolouration.

Modifications or new piping will require new markers. Now would also be a good time to use arrow tape for marking the flow within the pipe.

For advice on selecting the proper printer and materials for your pipe marking needs, give us a call at 1-800-268-7636. We would be happy to help!

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