Identifying a pipe's purpose, what its contents are and the direction in which the contents flows can be vitally important. If you have HAZMAT flowing through pipes, you want to use a pipe marker to enable emergency response personnel to quickly identify "hazardous materials conveyed in piping systems and their hazards when released into the environment." (ANSI A13.1-1996) For this reason, pipe markers should be placed in the most conspicuous place possible on the pipe.

Clear and proper labeling of pipe contents and flow direction also assists maintenance personnel and managers to make correct decisions while saving time and avoiding accidents. It lets them know where they are in the system and what's happening at any point in the system. Inadequate or missing labels cause 54% of errors according to the Electric Power Research Institute. Proper pipe labeling reduces errors, avoids waste, and saves time. To get more pipe marking information or to begin searching the pipe marking list for pipe markers:

1. Select pipe marking products for indoor and outdoor piping.

2. Choose more rugged marking products for harsher environments and for unlagged piping.

3. Identify marking products designed for labeling polyethylene piping.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy pipe marking products for normal industrial piping

For regular indoor or outdoor piping that requires marking, the following companies have marking products that will provide very bold and conspicuous identification markings, which is desirable for safety purposes.

I recommend: Silver Fox makes pipe marking banding and tape for pipe ID. Emedco carries a variety of pipe marking products, including arrow banding tape, custom-worded tape rolls, custom duromarks and economy common pipe markers.

Get pipe marking products that are made to withstand adverse conditions

Pipe markings on pipes located outside often don't last as long and should be made of materials made for the conditions in which they will be used.

I recommend: Pipe marking provider Graphic Products makes pipe marking sleeves which are durable and work well on even unlagged insulated pipes or pipes that are dirty and rusty. SafetyCal makes hundreds of different pre-printed pipe labels, that are made UV resistance to last longer in the hot sun.

Purchase pipe marking products for polyethylene (PVC) piping

Because polyethylene piping is usually white and of small diameter, the pipe marking is more of a typed-looking nature to better fit onto the pipe. If you need to find pipe marking products for polyethylene piping, see the following companies.

I recommend: Coding Products makes hot stamp marking tape for use on polyethylene pipe. Matthews Marking Products carries a variety of products for marking polyethylene piping, like indenting branding, contact printing and inkjet printing of variable information.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  In some cases, indented pipe marking on plastic pressure pipes can possibly decrease the service life of the pipe, depending on things like the pipe material and its geometry. You should use indented marking only after adequately evaluating the specific pipe compound and the specific marking. You can use long-term hydrostatic strength tests for this purpose.