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The Importance of Piping Color Coding Systems for Inspection Personnel
INSPECTIONEERING JOURNAL
The Significance of Piping Color Codes
By Ashfaq Anwer, Inspection Engineer. This article appears in the September/October 2019 issue of Inspectioneering Journal
Several years of experience as an inspector in a complex oil and gas facility or petrochemical
unit does not necessarily make one proficient enough to identify any specific piping spread
over a populated pipe rack. To know the content and the material of construction of every type
of piping is a daunting task. Since it is not a requirement of their day-to-day job, operations
personnel may know the contents of a pipe, and may not be aware of its material of
construction. If an inspector possesses knowledge of both the content and material of
construction, it would be useful to have them perform certain inspection tasks during a
regular site visit. However, this is only possible when there’s an existing system in place at the
site for identifying piping.
Figure 1. Piping content and color scheme.
Inspectors regularly evaluate equipment and make findings, both serious and nonthreatening, that need to be recorded and, in some cases, require action to repair. Often these
findings are collected manually with unconfirmed piping details, while noting things like
nearest equipment. Using the proper P&IDs, isometrics, and other detailed drawings can help
ensure accurate information is included in the inspection report. If a system of identification is
in place, the job becomes much easier. For example, if something comes up during a routine
inspection on a piping system, and the color code is already in place that includes the contents
and material of construction, the inspector can begin to analyze the situation immediately.
With a background in corrosion or input from a corrosion specialist, the inspector can
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determine the best inspection locations and methods for the situation. Then one can begin to
appreciate the severity of the service, to mechanical integrity, based upon the contents,
operating conditions and the type of inspection finding, which in turn, can end up saving time
and money.
Figure 2. Graphical representation of color schemes.
The use of piping color codes on all piping is beneficial to both inspection and maintenance
personnel fulfilling a work order-related activity, PM job, or anything else that comes at the
recommendation of the inspection findings. By utilizing piping tags, maintenance support
providing access in the form of scaffolding or insulation removal won’t have to call in someone
to show them exactly where such support is required. In the end, this saves valuable time and
effort for both maintenance and the initiator.
It’s common in oil and gas and petrochemical units to have a shutdown team comprised of
contract inspectors and other support personnel. This presents a challenge in locating the
right piping since the team is often new to the site and orientation is unclear. While piping
plans and isometrics do offer some assistance, it is still difficult for new personnel to identify a
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specific pipe out of dozens running on a pipe rack. The presence of a proper identification
system at the site could solve the problem and enable every person involved, including the
shutdown planning team, to identify the right piping.
What kind of color codes should be used for identification? Which system can be followed?
What are the minimum requirements? There are different schemes, practices and
specifications available to guide this exercise. Some of them include the following:
Recommended Practice for Color Coding of Piping Materials - PFI ES-22
Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems - ASME /ANSI A13.1
Pipelines Identification Color Code - IS 2379
Specification of Pipelines and Services - BS 1710
All of these practices and specifications provide some basic and detailed information on how
to color code piping and its material. It’s at the discretion of the user as to which practice is the
one to be followed. However, as a minimum for any inspector or any other maintenance team
member, identification should include:
1. Identification of piping content
2. Identification of piping material
3. Direction of flow
4. Identification of piping line number
Figure 3. Sample representation of a piping with identification details.
Any system providing this information to an inspector while he/she is at the site would
decrease the time taken to report and address an inspection finding and minimize the
probability of inspecting the wrong line, circuit or system. The line number would
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The Importance of Piping Color Coding Systems for Inspection Personnel
contain/provide the complete information regarding the material, rating and the fabrication of
the piping installed.
There are many sites with no piping identification system implemented, and, at a glance, it
looks like a laborious job to implement one. However, this can be addressed in a convenient
way: a risk-based approach can be followed in order to prioritize and implement the system.
No need to mark/tag N2 lines or the instrument air lines when starting. Focus on marking
process lines based upon their risk score. Look at the safety critical list of your assets. Identify
those lines that have a higher risk. These lines are most likely being inspected by the
inspection team more frequently anyways. The next time inspection personnel asks for their
inspection support, mark/ID lines at the same time, and form a task force that can manage
this marking task in an efficient manner.
Did you find this article helpful?
About the Author
Ashfaq Anwer, Inspection Engineer
Ashfaq Anwer is an Inspection professional having 13 years of experience in Ammonia-Urea Complexes,
Petrochemical Units and Oil & Gas Industries with major expertise in material selection, corrosion mapping and control,
fitness-for-service studies, defining inspection framework and implementing inspection plans for old and new units.
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