Go with the flow! The benefits of pipe marking
Finding pipe marking solutions to remain BS 1710 compliant is a matter of common sense. Labelling pipes can underpin efficiency, save you time and money, and keep your maintenance schedule running smoothly.
It also enables you to avoid issues that cause business interruption or serious safety breaches that jeopardise your business reputation.
This is equally true whether you are dealing with heavy-duty pipes within offshore gas and oil operations and chemical plants or pipework systems in a standard workplace. Can you easily differentiate drinking, washing-only, and wastewater pipes on your premises?
It also pays to buy durable pipe identification supplies. This is specifically valid in hard-to-reach locations, where label pipes must stand the test of time and the environment.
Pipe labelling rules
What sort of information does a BS 1710-compliant pipe marking system need?
- Colour – any labelling needs to adhere to a universal colour marking reference for pipe contents, such as yellow ochre for gases and light blue for air.
- Content identification – this can be the full name of its contents, a universally understood abbreviation or a chemical symbol. Any wording, symbols, and codes that identify pipe contents must be either black or white to contrast with the colour of the labelling.
- The direction of flow – this involves arrows to clearly show which way the contents are moving.
There is some leeway on pipe identification to suit your industry and location. For instance, you can mark pipes with numbers to correspond with your maintenance schedule or layout.
Part 2 of the Health & Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 clarifies the identification rules for pipes carrying dangerous substances. This includes how and where to place pipe identification tape.
Pipe marking solutions make errors less likely
Having long-lasting pipe labels saves costs by ensuring that you’re not wasting resources on frequent replacements. You can focus instead on regularly checking that your pipework’s integrity and purpose are unchanged.
Regardless of how much you invest in staff training, accidents and oversights happen, including ones that can lead to a fracture in a crucial piece of pipework. If labelling is clear and unmissable, your safety procedures can become far more efficient.
Identification of pipes also makes engineering and hazard alert communications slicker – no time is lost consulting blueprints or digital operational and maintenance logs.
What is pipe marking best practice?
Brady offers a thorough guide to pipe identification requirements to share industry knowledge on reliable pipe safety systems.
For colour-coded and alphanumeric labels for pipe identification, we have you covered. This includes marking products that are laminated, chemical-resistant and UV-resistant for specialist applications and locations.
What happens if a standardised pipe identification system doesn’t match your exact requirements? That’s when you need customisable, compliant pipe markers. We can produce these in many different languages, and they are durable enough to be used outdoors as well as inside buildings.
The cost of pipe marking negligence
Often, fundamental legislative issues can be solved by using our cost-effective safety products, whereas the price of non-compliance can be catastrophic.
In 2019, a pipe that had not been tested for corrosion or labelled correctly shattered at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions oil refinery, causing fires and explosions, as well as the release of 2,376kg of highly toxic hydrofluoric acid.
Fortunately, there were no deaths or major injuries, but a month afterwards, Philadelphia Energy Solutions filed for bankruptcy.
Could unmarked or badly labelled pipes represent a compliance, safety and performance risk to your business?
If the answer is yes, browse our range or get in touch for expert pipe marking help.