When working to label the pipes in your facility you will want to start out by making a plan that is in line with the ANSI/ASME standards. This will help you to determine what will go on the labels, where they will be placed, and much more. Once this has been determined, you need to decide what type of pipe labels to use in your facility.
Different types of pipe labels are made for different situations, and of course, have different costs associated with them. Choosing the right one for your specific environment will help ensure the pipe markings can be as effective as possible.
Heat Shrink Labels
One option is to use heat shrink labels. These labels are printed off with the desired data, wrapped around the pipes themselves, and then heated up. As the labels are heated, they will shrink down so they fit snugly around the pipe. Heat shrink labels are good for places where it is difficult to get normal labels to stick securely to the pipe. Rather than using adhesive to get the label to stay, it is kept in place by getting the label to become tight around the pipe.
Standards Vinyl Labels
Standard vinyl labels are the most popular option because they are easy to use, very affordable, and long lasting. You can order custom vinyl labels that have the needed information printed on them, or you can use any industrial label printer to create exactly what you need. There are multiple different types of vinyl labels that are designed for specific areas including UV resistant labels for direct sunlight areas, and heat resistant labels for pipes that will get very hot.
Pipe Marking Tags
While not technically a label at all, pipe marking tags can be a good alternative in certain situations. The tags usually have a piece of string with a paper, plastic, or vinyl tag hanging off of it. The string can be tied securely onto the pipe with the tag hanging down. One downside about this option is that the tags are harder to read and usually can’t contain as much information. These are more often used right at the end of a pipe where the contents come out so that people accessing the pipe can get a quick confirmation of what is in the pipe.
Similar Questions
- Can I create custom pipe labels and still be compliant?
- What are different materials you can use for pipe labels?
- Where should I place pipe labels?
- What is a pipe marker?
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- What is the ASME standard for pipe marking?
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