OSHA Pipe Labeling Requirements

OSHA does not directly require that pipe labeling be done. Thus there are no direct OSHA pipe labeling requirements. However, in 29 CFR 1910.6, which is a list of standards referenced by OSHA, the ANSI A13.1 pipe labeling code requirements are included for some applications and industries:

1910.6(e)(6) - ANSI A13.1-56 Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems, Included By Reference (IBR) approved for §§1910.253(d)(4)(ii) (welding and cutting gases); 1910.261(a)(3)(iii) (pulp and paper industry); 1910.262(c)(7) (textiles).
Does this mean there are no OSHA pipe labeling requirements outside of the above three areas?  No.  Pipe labeling also falls within the OSHA General Duty clause (Section 5(a)(1) (General Duty Clause) of the OSH Act ).
What this means is that OSHA, although not directly stated, requires labeling on pipes in compliance with the ANSI A13.1 standard.

FREE Pipe Marking Guide

Pipe marker labels indicate which pipelines are dangerous, direction of flow, and pipe contents.

Pipes Must be Labeled in Compliance
with ANSI A13.1 or You Will Face
an OSHA Citation

This means that the OSHA pipe labeling requirements are that pipe labels must be placed:

• Adjacent to all valves and flanges
• Adjacent to all changes in pipe direction
• On both sides of wall, floor or ceiling penetrations
• Every 50 feet on straight runs of pipe

Pipe labels must comply with the following color coding:
Fire quenching fluids – white text on red
Toxic and corrosive fluids – black text on orange
Flammable fluids – black text on yellow
Combustible fluids – White text on brown
Water – White text on green
Compressed air – White text on blue

There are minimum requirements for label size and the text size on the labels.  The label size is defined by the size of the color area.

Pipe O.D.                    Min. Label Length                  Min. Letter Height
.75-1.25”                                 8 inches                                  ½ inch
1.5 – 2.0”                                8 inches                                  ¾ inch
2.5 – 6.0”                               12 inches                                1.25 inch
6.0-10.0”                                24 inches                               2.5 inch
greater than 10.0”                32 inches                               3.5 inch

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