GUIDE TO SAFETY COLOR CODING OF PHYSICAL

HAZARDS AND PIPE IDENTIFICATION

On April 28, 1971, Section 1910.144 designated the specific colors to be used in
identifying physical hazards and safety, fire fighting, and protective equipment. These
colors require specific Color Definitions as defined by the American National Standards
Institute Specification ANSI Z 53.1-1971. Finger Lakes/Castle Fans Spray OSHA Paints
are formulated to meet these color requirements and provide long life performance.

In November. 1978, OSHA reevaluated the detailed requirements for Safety Color Coding
for marking physical hazards. The use of RED to indicate Fire Protection Equipment,
Danger and Stop areas as well as YELLOW to designate Caution areas.

This Guide to Color Coding of Physical Hazards and Pip Identification provides and
identification marking system covering a wide variety of hazards. The suggested color
scheme has been utilized and accepted throughout industry. Proper employee training in
the recognition of these colors and their respective warnings is imperative.
RED

Red shall be the basic color for the identification of fire protection equipment and apparatus, danger and
stop.

RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS
Fire Protection Equipment and Apparatus
Fire Alarm Boxes
Fire Blanket Boxes
Fire Bucket or Pails
Fire Exit Signs
Fire Extinguishers and/or Location of Same
Fire Hose Location (Housing, Reel and Support Only)
Fire Hydrants (Industrial) Fire Pumps
Fire Sirens
Sprinkler Piping
Post Indicator Valves for Sprinkler System (if traffic hazard is involved, the top should be colored red
and the barrel or post yellow with black stripes).
DANGER
Danger signs
Safety cans or containers of flammable liquids with a flash point at or below 80F, (26.8C) )open cup
method)excluding shipping containers. In addition, can or containers must be circled with a yellow
band or have contents clearly identified in yellow.
STOP
Emergency stop Bars on Hazardous Machines
Emergency Stop Buttons or Electrical Switches used to stop machinery.

ORANGE
Orange or similar bright color shall be used as the color for designating dangerous parts of machines or
energized equipment which may cut, crush, shock, or otherwise injure, and to emphasize such hazards when
enclosure doors are open or when gear, belt, or other guards around moving equipment are open or removed,
exposing unguarded hazards.

RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS
Inside of Movable Guards
Safety Starting Buttons
Inside of Transmission Guards of gears, pulleys, chains, etc.
Exposed Parts (edges only) of pulleys, gears, rollers, cutting devices, power jaws, etc.
YELLOW

Yellow shall be the color for designating caution and for marking physical hazards such as striking against,
stumbling, falling, tripping, and caught in between. Solid yellow, yellow and black stripes, yellow and
black checkers should be used interchangeably, using the combination which will attract the most attention
in the particular environment.

RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS
Construction Equipment (or areas theron)
Corner markers for Storage Piles
Covering or Guards for Guy Wires
Exposed & Unguarded edges of Platforms, Pits, and Walls
Suspended Fixtures Which Extend into Normal Operating Areas
Handrails, Guardrails, or Top and Bottom Treads of Stairways
Horizontal Lips of Vertically Siding Counterbalanced Elevator Doors
Industrial Locomotives (or areas thereon)
Lower Pulley Blocks and Cranes
Markings For Projections, Doorways, Traveling Conveyors, Low Beams and Pipes, the Frames of
Elevator Gates
Material Handling Equipment (or areas thereon)
Pillars, Posts, or columns Which might Be Stuck
Stripe Along Side of Freight-Car-Loading Plate or Runways
Vertical edge of Horizontally Sliding Pairs of Fire Doors
Waste Containers for Explosive or Highly Combustible Materials should have a yellow band not more
than one third the container height, with a red-lettered warning or content identification.
Caution Signs
Piping Systems Containing Dangerous Materials

GREEN
Green or similar color can be used as the color for designating Safety and the location of First Aid
equipment (other than fire fighting equipment). Green background with a white cross is accepted as
identifying First Aid equipment.

RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS
Safety Bulletin Boards
Gas Masks
First Aid Kits
First Aid Dispensary
Stretchers
Safety Deluge Showers or their locations
BLUE
Blue shall be the color for designating caution, limited to warning against the starting, the use of, or
movement of equipment under repair or being worked on.

RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS
Warnings such as painted barriers, flags, etc., should be located at the staring point or power source of
machinery and display conspicuously on the following; Signs designating the nature of the caution are
recommended and may be blue background with contrasting legend.

Elevators Boilers Scaffolding

Ovens and Vats Electrical Controls Vaults
Tanks Dryers Ladders
Kilns Valves

BLACK & WHITE

Black, white or a combination of these two, shall be the colors for the designation of traffic and
housekeeping marking. Solid white, solid black, single color striping, alternate stripes of black and white,
or black and white checkers should be used in accordance with local conditions.

RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS - TRAFFIC

Dead Ends of Aisles of Passageways
Location and Width of Aisleways
Stairways (risers, direction and border limit lines)
Directional Signs
RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS - HOUSEKEEPING
Location of Refuse Cans
White Corners for Rooms or Passageways
Drinking Fountains and Food Dispensing Equipment Location
Clear Floor Areas around First Aid, Fire Fighting, or other Emergency Equipment
IDENTIFICATION OF PIPING SYSTEM

This suggested color code for identification of piping systems complies with the American Standards
Association ANSI A13.1-1981 recommendations. The color scheme includes pip fittings, valves, and pipe
coverings but excludes pipe supports, brackets, and other accessories as well as condults for solids carried in
air or gas.

RED This classification included sprinkler systems

ANSI Class F-Fire and other fire fighting or fire protection
Fire Protection and equipment.
Sprinkler Piping SUGGESTED APPLICATION
Sprinkler piping including post indicator
valves for sprinkler systems.. Identify or
locate alarm boxes, extinguishers, fire
blankets, fire doors, hose connections,
hydrants, and other fire fighting equipment.
This group included materials which are
YELLOW hazardous t life or property because they are
ANSI Class D easily ignited, toxic, corrosive at high
Dangerous Material temperatures and pressure, produce poisonous
gas, or are themselves poisonous.
SUGGESTED APPLICATIONS
Flammable liquids such as gasoline,
naphthas, fuel oil, etc.
Poisonous gases such as chlorine gas,
ammonia, sulphur dioxide, etc.
Corrosive liquids such as acids or alkalis.
Steam, water or air at high temperatures and
pressures.
This group includes material which are piped
BLUE through plants for the express purpose of
To code ANSI Class P being able to prevent or minimize the hazard
of dangerous materials.
SUGGESTED APPLICATIONS
Special gases to counteract or neutralize the
poisonous fumes piped for release in the event
of danger.
All protective material other than fire fighting.