Portland, Oregon -- Graphic Products, Inc. -- known worldwide for DuraLabel printers and supplies -- will conduct a free, 30-minute Pipe Marking Best Practices Webinar on Wednesday, March 14 at 10 am Pacific Time/1 pm Eastern Time, conducted by Pipe Marking specialist Shane Johnson. For more information and to register, visit https://www.graphicproducts.com/industrial-label-printers/webinars.
Proper pipe marking plays a critical role in a facility’s safety and compliance. This webinar will provide an overview of ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) and IIAR (International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration) standards for labeling pipe systems including content identification, color coding, visibility and more. This webinar provides valuable information for anyone involved with facility visual communication, compliance and safety. Pipe marking is a “hot button” for OSHA and the EPA.
“We’re reaching out to communicate interactively via a series of complimentary webinars,” said Steve Stephenson, Graphic Products. “There’s a great deal of interest in pipe marking applications including ammonia pipe marking, leak detection and repair (LDAR) and HVAC pipe marking.”
Plans for GHS, NFPA 70E and OSHA standards webinars are in the works.
According to ASME/ANSI, requirements for pipe marking include:
- Indicating flow direction with arrows at one or both ends.
- Being visible from the point of normal approach.
- Placement near valves, flanges and changes in pipe direction.
- Placement at both sides of ceiling, wall or floor penetrations.
- Visibility at any line entry or re-entry point.
- Appearing on straight pipe runs.
- Placement every 50 feet.
Pipe marking most frequently provides information for operations, inspections and is most critical for emergency responders. A lot of the use for pipe markers is in being able to identify flow direction and operate the correct valve or find the correct equipment, vessel or tank.
What all pipes have in common is the need to be properly identified so that those who operate and maintain the facility or process will have the information they need. Pipe marking labels have been created specifically to provide that information by communicating pipe contents, identifying the type of contents, and showing the direction of flow.
Because pipes may be exposed to oil and chemical spills, extreme temperatures and UV sunlight, pipe marking labels must be industrial-strength, yet easy to read from any distance.
Below are three industrial pipe marking applications:
Facilities such as ice cream manufacturing plants have anhydrous ammonia refrigeration systems which require pipe labeling as a matter of EPA and OSHA compliance. Constant relabeling is needed as companies grow and components need replacing, so the ability to make labels on-site continuously saves companies time and money vs. waiting for expensive outside suppliers.
Fugitive emission leaks from process equipment at petrochemical refineries have a profound impact on worker’s safety, community health, our environment and industry profits as production yields are negatively impacted when emissions escape. The pipes connect the process equipment. These pipes, which may number in the thousands, all need to be labeled.
Identifying pipe labels with different color tape based on pipe contents is a requirement at mines. Color choices are based on flammability, corrosive/toxic, combustible, fire quenching and compressed air. Arrows indicating flow direction are placed before and after the text. These colors give quick reference for maintenance and fire crews. Upstream or downstream vessels or machine identification numbers can be used to further clarify pipe contents. It’s recommended to include the line number or individual markings on the label as this will allow easy cross reference for future maintenance.
To sign up for the complimentary Pipe Marking Best Practices webinar, visit https://www.graphicproducts.com/industrial-label-printers/webinars.
With more than 50 unique labeling supplies providing the right label material for nearly every type of application including Arc Flash and Pipe Marking, Graphic Products, Inc. is equipped to solve problems in the industrial safety arena.
Graphic Products carries a full family of thermal transfer printers for every application, a five-year warranty on labels made with premium vinyl, free technical support and after-sale service and satisfied customers throughout the world. For more information, visit www.DuraLabel.com.