Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems

AN A MERICAN NA TIONAL S T AND ARD

ASME A13.1-2015

[Revision of ASME A13.1-2007 (R2013)]

ASME A13.1-2015

[Revision of ASME A13.1-2007 (R2013)]

Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems

AN AMERICAN NA TIONAL S T AND ARD

Two Park Avenue • New York, NY • 10016 USA

Date of Issuance: December 29, 2015

The next edition of this Standard is scheduled for publication in 2020.

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CONTENTS

Foreword iv

Committee Roster v

Introduction vi

Summary of Changes vii

1. Object and Scope 1

2. Definitions and Reference 1

3. Method of Identification 1

Figures

1. GHS Pictograms 3

2. Location of Identification Markers 4

Tables

1. Examples of Content Descriptions Appearing in a Legend 1

2. Designation of Colors 4

3. Size of Legend Letters 4

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

in 1996; reaffirmed in 2002; revised in 2007; and reaffirmed in 2013.

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 (ANSI), and designation as an American National Standard was obtained on June 13, 1975.

In accordance with the policy of ANSI, the committee began a review of the 1975 Standard for a possible revision in the late 1970s, which resulted in approval by ANSI and designation as an American National Standard on November 16, 1981.

The 1996 edition of A13.1 was approved by ANSI and designated an American National Standard on August 13, 1996.

The 2007 edition of A13.1, which was approved by the A13 Committee and ASME, was approved by ANSI on February 12, 2007.

This edition incorporates the GHS pictograms and adds a definition for oxidizing. ASME A13.1-2015 was approved by ANSI on October 30, 2015.

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

R. Mohamed, Secretary

STANDARDS COMMITTEE PERSONNEL

J. A. Ciba, Jr., ESF Lean Compliance Solutions, LLC

P. D. Flenner, Flenner Engineering Services

D. R. Frikken, Becht Engineering Co.

J. A. Gruber, JA Gruber & Associates, LLC

R. F. Heisler, Jr., Air Products & Chemicals

R. Mohamed, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers

A. Mukherjee, K+S Potash Canada GP

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 and lessen the chances 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 to meet the standard.

ASME A13.1-2015 SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Following approval by the ASME A13 Standards Committee, and after public review, ASME A13.1-2015 was approved by the American National Standards Institute on October 30, 2015.

ASME A13.1-2015 contains editorial changes, revisions, and corrections identified by a margin note, (15), placed next to the affected area.

updated

INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

ASME A13.1-2015

SCHEME FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF PIPING SYSTEMS

1. OBJECT AND SCOPE

   This Standard is intended to establish a common sys- tem to assist in identification of hazardous materials conveyed in piping systems and their hazards when released in the environment.

   This scheme concerns identification of contents of pip- ing systems. It is recommended for the identification 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 as meeting the requirements of this Standard if

   1. such schemes are described in writing

   2. employees are trained as to the operation and haz- ards of the piping systems

      
      

2. DEFINITIONS AND REFERENCE

   2.1 Piping Systems

   For the purpose of this Standard, piping systems shall include piping of any kind including fittings, valves, and pipe coverings. Supports, brackets, or other accesso- ries are specifically excluded from applications of this Standard. Piping is defined as conduits used to convey, distribute, mix, separate, discharge, meter, control, or snub fluid flows.

   
   

   (15) 2.2 Materials

   1. Flammable. This classification includes fluids, which, under ambient or expected operating conditions, are a vapor or produce vapors that can be ignited and continue to burn in air. The term thus may apply, depending on service conditions, to fluids defined for other purposes as flammable or combustible.

   2. Combustible. This classification includes flu- ids that can burn, but are not flammable.

   3. Oxidizing. Oxidizing fluid is any gas or liquid that may, generally by providing oxygen, cause or con- tribute to the combustion of other material more than air does.

   4. Toxic and Corrosive. This classification includes fluids that are corrosive or toxic, or will produce corrosive or toxic substances when released.

      Table 1 Examples of Content Descriptions Appearing in a Legend

      
      

      “HOT WATER” “HYDRAULIC OIL”

      “SLURRY” “FOAM”

      “AIR 100 PSIG” “CARBON TETRACHLORIDE”

      “ARGON 500 PSIG” “CAUSTIC”

      “PROPANE” “SULFURIC ACID”

      “H. P. RETURN” “STEAM 100 PSIG”

      
      

      
      

   5. Fire Quenching. This classification includes water, foam, and CO2 used in sprinkler systems and fire fighting piping systems.

   
   

   2.3 Reference

   The latest edition of the following standard shall, to the extent specified herein, form a part of this Standard:

   ANSI Z535.1, Safety Color Code

   Publisher: American National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036 (www.ansi.org)

   
   

3. METHOD OF IDENTIFICATION

3.1 Legend

This Standard considers a legend to be primary and explicit for identification of contents. Positive identifica- tion of the contents of a piping system shall be by lettered legend, giving the name of the contents in full or abbrevi- ated form (see Table 1). Arrows shall be used to indicate direction of flow. Where flow can be in both directions, arrows in both directions shall be displayed. Contents shall be identified by a legend with sufficient additional details such as temperature, pressure, etc., as are neces- sary to identify the hazard.

Legends shall be brief, informative, pointed, and sim- ple for greatest effectiveness. Legends shall be applied close to valves or flanges and adjacent to changes in direction, branches, and where pipes pass through walls or floors; and at intervals on straight pipe runs sufficient for identification. Identification may be accomplished by stenciling, the use of tape, or markers. In any situa- tion, the number and location of identification markers shall be based on the particular piping system.

(15)

1