ANSI Color Codes

Why are the ANSI color codes important?

The yellow background signifies that the piping may handle hazardous material. Unfortunately, much has changed in the
typical plant over the last 70 years since this standard was originally conceived. The basic standard can be traced to the
1920's and use in the US military. Obviously, our definitions for what is "hazardous" has changed. Water, air or carbon
dioxide, under certain situations (pressure, heat, mixture with other chemicals) are not always benign. How do we
interpret, for example, materials that should be used for "fire quenching" that are also "hazardous"? Should we use the red
or the yellow ANSI scheme? Or, how do we label a pipe that carries both the liquid (which should be green) and gas form of
a chemical (which should be blue)?

Hazards, in other words, are not so easily defined. "Hazardous" may mean that the material is hazardous to a person
nearby, or to the operation of the overall plant itself. Could "hazardous" mean that the materials flowing through the
process piping, if not handled carefully, could contaminate the product. Or, if leaked into the atmosphere, could the
chemical infect the environment or cause damage to employees after cumulative exposure over a period of years? Clearly,
the ANSI standard was written for far simpler times.
Color Std Meaning Example
Red APWA
Electric Power Lines, Cables, Conduit
and Lighting Cables
Buried High Voltage
Line
Yellow APWA
Gas, Oil, Steam, Petroleum or
Gaseous Materials
Natural Gas Distribution
Line
Orange APWA
Communication, Alarm or Signal
Lines, Cables or Conduit
Buried Fiber Optic
Cable
Blue APWA Water, Irrigation and Slurry Lines Buried Water Line
Green APWA Sewers, Drain Line
Buried Storm Sewer
Line
Red Traffic Prohibition STOP, Yield
Orange Traffic Temporary Work Zone
Construction Zone
Ahead
Yellow Traffic Caution Merge Ahead, Slow
Blue Traffic Information Signs Hospital
Brown Traffic Historical or Park Picnic Area Ahead
Green Traffic Directional Signs Exit 1 Mile, Go
Red
ANSI
Sign
Danger Signs, Highest Hazard
Hazardous Voltage Will
Cause Death
Orange
ANSI
Sign
Warning Signs, Medium Hazard
Hazardous Voltage May
Cause Death
Yellow
ANSI
Sign
Caution Signs, Lowest Hazard
Turn Machine Off When
Not In Use
Blue
ANSI
Sign
Notice Signs Employees Only
Green
ANSI
Sign
Safety First Signs Wear Ear Plugs
Red
ANSI
Pipe
Fire Quenching Materials Fire Protection Water
Yellow
ANSI
Pipe
Materials Inherently Hazardous Chlorine
Blue
ANSI
Pipe
Materials of Inherently Low Hazard,
Gas
Compressed Air
Green
ANSI
Pipe
Materials of Inherently Low Hazard,
Liquid
Storm Drain
Blue/Red/Yellow
NFPA
701
Blue is used for Health Hazards, Red for Flammability and
Yellow for reactivity