Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems
Scheme for the Identification of Piping Systems
The next edition of this Standard is scheduled for publication in 2026.
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CONTENTS
Foreword .Committee Roster .Correspondence With the A13 Committee [AIntroduction vllSummary of Changes vill
1 Scope2 Definitions3 4 References Method of Identification
Figures
4.1-1 Flow Direction to the Right .4.1-2 Flow in Both Directions (Double-Headed Arrow)4.1-3 Flow in Both Directions (Arrows Pointed in Opposite Directions) GHS Pictograms . 24.1-4 4.3-1 Location of Identification Markers .
Tables
4.2-1 Designation of Colors4.4-1 Size of Legend Letters
FOREWORD
This Foreword provides a brief history of how ASME A13.1 Scheme forthe Identification of Piping Systems came to beand how it has evolved over time.
Shortly after the turn of the twentieth century in a time of rapid industrial expansion it became apparent that someschemeshould bedevisedtoidentify pping.In1908anarticlenIdentification fPowe HousePipingby ColorswasStation Piping" was read at the meeting of the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies. read at a meeting of The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. In 1909 an article called “Standard Colors for Power
papers were published and reports made to various mittees notably the Prime Movers Committee of the National In 1920 the National Safety News pointed out the need for a color scheme for piping and the following year severalElectric Light Association The American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the U.S. Navy Department.
In the meantme manylargepanies piled theirowscheme with nothoughttostandardizationof pipecolors even in their own plants. When personnel were shifted accidents could and did happen as a result.
Sectional Committee on the Identification of Piping Systems on June 14 1922. This mittee's efforts resulted in the The American Standards Association [now called the American National Standards Institute (ANSI] organized theinitial publication of this Standard in 1928.
many meetings andmuch discussion arevision of American Stanard Scheme for Identification of Piping Systems was felt that a revision was necessary because of the tremendous number of different materials being carried in pipes. Afterapproval and designation as an American Standard. This was granted on January 27 1956.
In the late 1960s the mittee began discusslons on the possibility of revising the 1956 standard. These discussions
continued for a number of years eventually resulting in approval by ANS1. The revision was designated as an American National Standard on June 13 1975.
late 1970s. This resulted in a revised edition which was approved by ANSI and designated as an American National In accordance with the policy of ANSI the mittee began a review of the 1975 Standard fora possible revision in theStandard on November 16 1981.
Subsequent editions were approved by ANSI in 1996 and 2007.
The 2015 edition of ASME A13.1 incorporated the GHS pictograms and added a definition for oxidizing. ASMEA13.1-2015 was approved by ANSI on October 30 2015.
The 2020 edition of ASME A13.1 made a number of changes including redesignating some paragraphs revising mostdefinitions adding a reference to the GHS Globolly Harmonized System of Classificotion and Labeling of Chemicals andadding a new paragraph to adress abandoned piping ASME A13.1-2020 was approved by ANSI on September 1 2020.
The 2023 edition of ASME A13.1 makes significant changes including revising the Scope updating each of the defini-tlons expanding the Legend section and revising both theColor section andTable 4.21 Designation ofColors.Also ASME A13.1 was changed from a periodic-maintenance to a continuous-maintenance Standard. ASME A13.1-2023 wasapproved by ANSI on August 18 2023.
