ASME A13.

1-2007
[Revision of ASME A13.1-1996 (R2002)]

Scheme for the

Identification of
Piping Systems
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A N A M E R I C A N N AT I O N A L STA N DA R D

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 ASME A13.1-2007
[Revision of ASME A13.1-1996 (R2002)]

Scheme for the

Identification of
Piping Systems

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A N A M E R I C A N N AT I O N A L S TA N D A R D

Three Park Avenue • New York, NY 10016

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 Date of Issuance: April 4, 2007

The next edition of this Standard is scheduled for publication in 2012. There will be no addenda
issued to this edition.

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The American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Three Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016-5990

Copyright © 2007 by
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS
All rights reserved
Printed in U.S.A.

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 CONTENTS

Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Committee Roster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
1 Object and Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2 Definitions and References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
3 Method of Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Figure
1 Location of Identification Markers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Tables
1 Examples of Content Descriptions Appearing in a Legend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2 Designation of Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
3 Size of Legend Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

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iii
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 FOREWORD

This is a revision of the Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems, originally affirmed
in 1928; reaffirmed in 1945; revised in 1956, 1975, and 1981; reaffirmed in 1985 and 1993; revised

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in 1996, reaffirmed in 2002, and revised in 2007.
Shortly after the turn of the twentieth century, with the resultant industrial expansion, it
became apparent that some scheme should be devised to identify piping. In 1908, an article on
“Identification of Power House Piping by Colors” was read at a meeting of The American Society
of Mechanical Engineers. In 1909, an article called “Standard Colors for Power Station Piping”
was read at the meeting of the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies.
In 1920, the National Safety News pointed out the need for a color scheme for pipelines, and
the following year several papers were published and reports made to various committees,
notably, the Prime Movers Committee of the National Electric Light Association, The American
Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the U.S. Navy Department.
In the meantime, many large companies compiled their own scheme with no thought to
standardization of pipe colors, even in their own plants. When personnel were shifted, accidents
could and did happen.
The organization of the Sectional Committee on the Identification of Piping Systems, under the
procedure of the American Standards Association (now called the American National Standards
Institute), took place on June 14, 1922, resulting in the 1928 publication.
On August 23, 1950, the committee was reorganized to investigate the possibility of a revision
to the standard. It was felt that a revision was necessary because of the tremendous number of
different materials being carried in pipes. After many meetings and much discussion, a revision
of American Standard, Scheme for Identification of Piping Systems, was approved by the sectional
committee and sponsors. It was then presented to the American Standards Association (now
called the American National Standards Institute) for approval and designation as an American
Standard. This was granted on January 27, 1956.
In the late 1960s, the committee began discussions on the possibility of revising the 1956
Standard. These discussions continued for a number of years, eventually resulting in approval
by the American National Standards Institute and designation as an American National Standard
was obtained on November 16, 1981.
This edition of A13.1, which was approved by the A13 Committee and ASME, was approved
by the American National Standards Institute on February 12, 2007.

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 ASME A13.1 COMMITTEE
Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems
(The following is the roster of the Committee at the time of approval of this Standard.)

STANDARDS COMMITTEE OFFICERS

J. A. Ciba, Jr., Chair

J. A. Gruber, Vice Chair
J. D. Wendler, Secretary

STANDARDS COMMITTEE PERSONNEL

J. A. Ciba, Jr., Brady Corp.

L. Moquet, Alternate, Seton Identification Products
P. D. Flenner, Flenner Engineering Services
D. R. Frikken, Becht Engineering Co.
J. A. Gruber, Wheatland Tube Co.
R. F. Heisler, Jr., Air Products & Chemicals
A. Mukherjee, Tri Ocean Engineering
T. J. O’Grady II, VECO Alaska
W. V. Richards, Consultant
R. F. Seath, Gippsland Water
G. B. Stanton, Jr., American Hazard Control Consultants, Inc.
J. D. Wendler, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers

v
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 INTRODUCTION
PURPOSES OF STANDARDIZATION
Schemes for identification of the contents of piping systems have been developed in the past
by a large number of industrial plants and organizations of various kinds. Generally speaking,
the standards arrived at in individual cases may have given satisfaction to those using them but
they also may have suffered from a lack of uniformity. Numerous injuries to personnel and
damage to property have occurred because of mistakes made in turning valves on, or disconnecting
pipes at the wrong time or place, particularly when outside agencies, such as municipal fire
departments, were called in to assist. Furthermore, there has been considerable confusion in the
minds of those who change employment from one plant to another.
In order to promote greater safety, lessen the changes of error, confusion, or inaction, especially
in times of emergency, a uniform system for the identification of piping contents has been
established to warn personnel when the piping contents are inherently hazardous. Therefore,
while this Standard has been prepared to specify the identification of the contents of piping
systems on the basis of legends, it also suggests the use of color as a supplementary means of
identifying the type of hazard of the material contained in the system.

METRIC CONVERSIONS
This Standard contains SI (metric) units and U.S. Customary units. Either system may be used
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to meet the standard.

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 ASME A13.1-2007

SCHEME FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF PIPING SYSTEMS

1 OBJECT AND SCOPE Table 1 Examples of Content Descriptions

This Standard is intended to establish a common sys-
Appearing in a Legend
tem to assist in identification of hazardous materials “HOT WATER” “HYDRAULIC OIL”
conveyed in piping systems and their hazards when “SLURRY” “FOAM”
released in the environment. “AIR 100 PSIG” “CARBON TETRACHLORIDE”
This scheme concerns identification of contents of pip- “ARGON 500 PSIG” “CAUSTIC”
“PROPANE” “SULFURIC ACID”
ing systems. It is recommended for the identification
“H. P. RETURN” “STEAM 100 PSIG”
of piping systems used in industrial, commercial and
institutional installations, and in buildings used for pub-
lic assembly. It does not apply to buried pipelines nor
to electrical conduits.
Existing schemes for identification shall be considered ANSI Z535.1, Safety Color Code
as meeting the requirements of this Standard if
Publisher: American National Standards Institute
(a) such schemes are described in writing
(ANSI), 25 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036
(b) employees are trained as to the operation and haz-
ards of the piping systems
3 METHOD OF IDENTIFICATION
2 DEFINITIONS AND REFERENCES
3.1 Legend
2.1 Piping Systems
For the purpose of this Standard, piping systems shall This Standard considers a legend to be primary and
include piping of any kind including fittings, valves, explicit for identification of contents. Positive identifica-
and pipe coverings. Supports, brackets, or other accesso- tion of the contents of a piping system shall be by lettered
ries are specifically excluded from applications of this legend, giving the name of the contents in full or abbrevi-
Standard. Piping is defined as conduits used to convey, ated form (see Table 1). Arrows shall be used to indicate
distribute, mix, separate, discharge, meter, control, or direction of flow. Where flow can be in both directions,
snub fluid flows. arrows in both directions shall be displayed. Contents
shall be identified by a legend with sufficient additional
2.2 Materials details such as temperature, pressure, etc., as are neces-
2.2.1 Flammable. This classification includes fluids, sary to identify the hazard.
which under ambient or expected operating conditions, Legends shall be brief, informative, pointed, and sim-
are a vapor or produce vapors that can be ignited and ple for greatest effectiveness. Legends shall be applied
continue to burn in air. The term thus may apply, close to valves or flanges and adjacent to changes in
depending on service conditions, to fluids defined for direction, branches, and where pipes pass through walls
other purposes as flammable or combustible. or floors; and at intervals on straight pipe runs sufficient
for identification. Identification may be accomplished
2.2.2 Combustible. This classification includes flu- by stenciling, the use of tape, or markers. In any situa-
ids that can burn, but are not flammable. tion, the number and location of identification markers
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2.2.3 Toxic and Corrosive. This classification shall be based on the particular piping system.
includes fluids that are corrosive or toxic, or will produce
corrosive or toxic substances when released. 3.2 Color
2.2.4 Fire Quenching. This classification includes Color should be used to identify the characteristic
water, foam, and CO2 used in sprinkler systems and fire hazards of the contents. Color should be displayed on,
fighting piping systems. or contiguous to, the piping by any physical means, but
its use shall be in combination with legend. Color may
2.3 References be used in continuous, total length coverage or in inter-
The latest edition of the following standard shall, to mittent displays. Colors preceded by the word “Safety”
the extent specified herein, form a part of this Standard. shall meet the requirements of ANSI Z535.1. See Table 2.

1
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 ASME A13.1-2007

Table 2 Designation of Colors

Background Color and

Fluid Service Color Letter Color Letter Sample
Fire quenching fluids Safety red White Letters
Toxic and corrosive fluids Safety orange Black Letters
Flammable fluids Safety yellow Black Letters
Combustible fluids Safety brown White Letters
Potable, cooling, boiler feed, and other water Safety green White Letters
Compressed Air Safety blue White Letters
To be defined by the user Safety purple White Letters
To be defined by the user Safety white Black Letters
To be defined by the user Safety gray White Letters
To be defined by the user Safety black White Letters

Fig. 1 Location of Identification Markers

LEGEND LEGEND
A
LEGEND
LEGEND

B
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3.3 Visibility Table 3 Size of Legend Letters

Attention shall be given to visibility with reference to Outside Diameter of Pipe Length of Color Size of Letters,
pipe markings. Where pipelines are located above or Covering, in. (mm) Field, A, in. (mm) B, in. (mm)
below the normal line of vision, the lettering shall be 3
⁄4 to 11⁄4 (19 to 32) 8 (200) 1
⁄2 (13)
placed below or above the horizontal centerline of the 11⁄2 to 2 (38 to 51) 8 (200) 3
⁄4 (19)
pipe. See Fig. 1. 21⁄2 to 6 (64 to 150) 12 (300) 11⁄4 (32)
8 to 10 (200 to 250) 24 (600) 21⁄2 (64)
3.4 Type and Size of Letters Over 10 (over 250) 32 (800) 31⁄2 (89)
Contrast shall be provided between color field and
legend for readability. Use of letters of standard style,1
in sizes 1⁄2 in. (13 mm) and larger, is recommended. See 3.5 Unusual or Extreme Situations
Table 3 for specific size recommendations. For identifica- When the piping layout creates or occurs in a limited
tion of materials in pipes of less than 3⁄4 in. (19 mm) in area of inaccessibility or of extreme complexity, such
diameter, and for valve and fitting identification, the segments of layouts may require substitute techniques
use of a permanently legible tag is recommended. to achieve positive identification. Use of substitute tech-
niques shall be limited to such segments and shall not
deviate from the concept of identification described in
1
Sans serif gothic bold lettering provides high readability. paras. 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3.

2
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 ASME A13.1-2007
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L03307

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