Как маркируются провода по цвету: Цветовая маркировка кабеля и провода. Поиск фазы и нейтрали

различение цветовой маркировки и ее использование на практике

Большинство изделий кабельно-проводниковой продукции имеют цветовое отличие изоляции жил, называемое «маркировкой», играющее важную роль в практическом применении. Правильное использование маркировки значительно облегчает работу персонала по обслуживанию электрических сетей, позволяя быстро определять нужные проводники и производить их коммутацию в электроустановках. Окраска проводников осуществляется в соответствии с ПУЭ и каждый электрик должен быть ознакомлен с ней для обеспечения безопасности, как личной, так и людей, которые будут работать в дальнейшем. Читайте также статью ⇒ Особенности конструкций проводов, кабелей и шнуров, критерии выбора.

Основные цвета изоляции жил в бытовых электросетях

В бытовом использовании наиболее часто встречаются двух- или трехжильные провода. Основная их масса с двойной изоляцией имеет различия жил по цвету. Правилами устройства электроустановок предусмотрены следующие отличия:

• «земля» (на схемах обозначается, как РЕ-проводник) – окрашивается чередующимися желтыми и зелеными полосами, реже, в некоторых кабельных изделиях — чисто желтым или чисто зеленым цветом;
• «ноль» или «нейтраль» (на изображениях схем подписывается латинской буквой «N») – имеет синий, бело-синий или голубой окрас;
• «фаза» (именуется на электросхемах литерой «L») – может иметь любой другой цвет (даже фиолетовый), но чаще всего бывает белым, черным или коричневым.

Нужно знать, что в описаниях схем земля может называться «защитным нулем», а ноль — «рабочим нулем». Эти понятия нельзя путать, потому что они имеют абсолютно различные значения. Не менее важным условием является умение отличать проводники друг от друга.

Жила заземления обеспечивает защиту человека от поражения током на случай повреждения изоляции и утечки электричества на корпус прибора, находящегося под напряжением. В процессе подачи электроэнергии она не играет никакой роли. В отличие от нее, нулевой проводник является неотъемлемой частью электрической цепи, и при подключении нагрузки обтекается током.

Распределение по цвету фазных, нулевых и заземляющих проводов согласно ПУЭ

При проведении коммутации, синие провода соединяются между собой, либо подключаются к контакту электроприбора «N». Фазные провода направляются к контакту «L». Заземляющие жилы коммутируются с клеммой, имеющей соответствующее обозначение:

Условное обозначение контакта заземления на схемах и корпусах электроприборов

Кабеля трехфазных цепей могут иметь цвет силовых жил желтый, зеленый и красный/черный. Цвет заземляющей и нулевой жилы при этом остается неизменным – желто-зеленым и синим соответственно. Необходимо быть внимательным, чтобы на перепутать двухцветный проводник со схожим одноцветным.

Маркировка проводов сетей постоянного тока обычно производится красным «+» и черным «-» цветом.

Определение назначения жил на одноцветных проводах

Иногда изоляционные оболочки провода не имеют цветовых различий. Обычно это изделия с однослойной изоляцией типа ППВ или АППВ. Для простоты ориентирования следует знать и принять за правило, что в качестве заземляющего проводника всегда используется средняя жила. «Фазу» и «ноль» определяют с помощью индикатора напряжения (индикаторной отвертки).

Определение земли, фазы и нуля на одноцветном трехжильном проводе

Определить «ноль» и «землю» можно также с помощью тестера мультиметра. При его установке на измерение напряжения и замыкании щупов между фазой и «0» на дисплее отобразится значение напряжения близкое к 220 В. При контакте с заземляющим проводом показания будут немного выше.

Еще одним способом различения нейтральной и заземляющей жилы является использование омметра. Его показания сопротивления на заземлении не должны превышать 4 Ом.

Важным моментом является правило: измерение напряжения производится при наличии электричества, а сопротивления – при его отсутствии.

Самостоятельная маркировка проводов

В случае отсутствия цветовых различий на изоляции жил провода или кабеля, их маркировку можно осуществить своими руками для удобства последующей эксплуатации. Это делается двумя способами:

• с помощью цветной изоляционной ленты;
• с применением разноцветных ПВХ кембриков или термоусадочных трубок.

Обычно обозначаются концы провода в местах их коммутации между собой или с клеммами потребителей электроэнергии согласно описанным выше принципам маркировки (фаза, ноль, земля). Изолента наматывается в один-два витка и держится на жилах за счет своей клейкости, а термоусадочная трубка после надевания на провод подвергается воздействию высокой температуры, в результате чего плотно обжимает его.

Цветные кембрики для производства маркировки проводов своими руками

Эти материалы рекомендуется использовать и для изоляции холодных счалок между жилами, что поможет в дальнейшем избежать путаницы.

Практическая рекомендация: Обозначение фазы и нейтрали в распределительных коробках можно осуществить также с помощью цветных соединительных изолирующих зажимов, одетых на проводные скрутки.

Использование цветовой маркировки на практике

Умение отличить «фазу» по цвету изоляции, может пригодиться при установке защитного устройства, например, автоматического выключателя. Пользователь без труда определит проводник «L», на который нужно поставить защиту.

Во время подключения розетки, знание цвета проводов согласно ПУЭ, поможет безошибочно отличить жилу заземления и произвести ее коммутацию с соответствующей клеммой. Эти же навыки пригодятся при сборке разъема (вилки).

Использование маркированных проводов при подключении люстры или осветительной сети на несколько линий даст возможность без проведения «прозвонки» осуществить подсоединение выключателя и произвести электрическую разводку, направив к каждому светильнику свою цветную линию.

Схема осветительной сети на две линии с цветовым обозначением проводов

Знание маркировки жил кабеля во многом помогает при ремонте электрического оборудования, как в быту, так и на производственных объектах. У грамотного электрика не возникнет вопроса, какого цвета провод соединить с заземляющим контактом или с «рабочим нулем».

Однако следует помнить, что быть уверенным в соблюдении правил маркировки жил кабеля можно только в тех случаях, если их подключение производилось лично или на заводе изготовителе. На незнакомых объектах перед началом работы необходимо убедиться в правильности цветовой коммутации.

Различия в цветовых обозначениях некоторых зарубежных стран

Большинство стран мира, включая Европу и США, приняли схожие правила маркировки проводов. Так, например, заземляющие жилы имеют желто-зеленую или чисто зеленую оболочку. Иногда «земля» не покрывается изоляцией вовсе.

Нулевые жилы помимо синего колера могут иметь черную, белую или серую (серебристый металлик) окраску, а фазные жилы в большинстве случаев покрываются яркими цветными оболочками.

Для сравнения, цветовая маркировка кабелей иностранных государств приведена в таблице:

Государство	Фазные проводники	Рабочий ноль	Защитный ноль
Аргентина	Черный, коричневый, серый	Синий	Желто-зеленый
Бразилия	Желтый, красный, черный, белый	Синий	Зеленый
США, Канада	Красный, желтый, коричневый, синий, черный	Белый, серебристый металлик	Зеленый, желто-зеленый, голый
Евросоюз	Коричневый, черный, серый	Синий	Желто-зеленый
Индия, Пакистан	Красный, желтый, синий	Черный	Зеленый, желто-зеленый
ЮАР	Красный, белый, желтый, синий	Черный	Желто-зеленый
Австралия, Новая Зеландия	Коричневый, белый, красный, желтый	Черный, синий	Зеленый, желто-зеленый, голый

Указанные в таблице расцветки фазных токоведущих жил являются основными и общепризнанными. Могут встречаться и другие цвета, но это больше исключение, чем правило.

Распространенные ошибки при пользовании цветовой маркировкой

Большинство ошибок, совершаемых при подключении или соединении проводов, являются следствием невнимательного отношения к цветовой маркировке жил или ее игнорирования. Среди наиболее часто допускаемых недочетов стоит отметить следующие:

1. Обустройство электрической проводки без предварительного ознакомления с правилами ПУЭ, в результате чего подключение жил производится без учета соответствия цвета жил их назначению. Следствием этого может стать путаница в обслуживании электрических сетей и сложности при осуществлении их ремонта другим специалистом
2. Подключение по невнимательности к клемме заземления токоведущего провода, имеющего схожую окраску (например, бирюзовую). Результатом станет аварийное срабатывание защитного устройства (отключение автоматического выключателя), либо короткое замыкание, способное привести к выходу оборудования из строя
3. Использование на скрутках в распределительной коробке соединительных изолирующих пластиковых колпачков (СИЗ) несоответствующего цвета. Это может ввести в заблуждение обслуживающий персонал, который будет проводить ремонт или ревизию электропроводки

Соединительные изолирующие зажимы (СИЗ) для защиты скруток в распределительных коробках

4. Удаление РЕ проводника при установке розетки, не имеющей заземляющих контактов. Это грубая ошибка, посягающая на безопасность при использовании электроэнергии. Вместо удаления заземляющей жилы лучше поменять устаревшую розетку на изделие, соответствующее современным стандартам
5. Ошибка может быть допущена и при соблюдении цветовых маркировочных обозначений. Например, если провести счалку в виде скрутки между медным и алюминиевым проводником, то контакт будет ненадежным, хотя цвета оболочек будут совпадать

Внимательное отношение к требованиям нормативных документов и соблюдение техники безопасности поможет избежать ошибок при обслуживании электрических сетей и обезопасить их эксплуатацию.

Актуальные вопросы по теме

Вопрос: Что делать если при обустройстве домашней электропроводки используется провод с несоответствующей цветовой маркировкой жил, или вообще не имеющий ее?

Ответ: Можно отметить имеющиеся цвета и их подключение в своей памяти, но лучше произвести самостоятельную маркировку, как это указано в 3-м разделе данной статьи.

Вопрос: Не является ли нарушением использование проводника с желто-зеленой изоляцией в системе уравнивания потенциалов (СУП)?

Ответ: Это не может быть нарушением, потому что данная система является разновидностью заземления корпусов мощных электроприборов, поэтому цвет жилы должен соответствовать назначению.

Вопрос: Можно ли при самостоятельной прокладке РЕ проводника в доме, где он не предусмотрен электропроводкой, использовать обычный провод, а потом маркировать его?

Ответ: Конечно можно. Единственное условие – произвести маркировку во всех, без исключения, местах подключения, чтобы избежать путаницы при дальнейшей эксплуатации.

Вопрос: Если в розетке отсутствуют обозначения «L» и «N» значит ли это, что подключение проводов можно производить произвольно, без учета цвета оболочки жил?

Ответ: Да, в таких розетках не имеет значения, куда подключать «ноль» и «фазу», но нужно проконтролировать правильное подключение «земли» и установку защитных устройств строго на фазный провод.

В заключении можно отметить, что цветовая маркировка проводов имеет большое значение не только в практическом отношении, но и в вопросах безопасности. Поэтому каждому пользователю, сталкивающемуся с вопросами обслуживания электросетей, будет полезно ознакомиться с принципами обозначения проводников цветом и использовать полученные знания на практике. Читайте также статью: → «Провода для электропроводки».

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Using an industrial label printer, it is easy to identify every set of wires with information about how much electricity is present, where the wiring is coming from, and where it is going.90003 90002 Placing warning signs anywhere that someone might interact with electrical wires, especially high-voltage wires, is another good idea for improving overall safety. These signs can serve as a good reminder to those in the area that there are dangerous wires present. There are many signs that can be used depending on the specific situation. 90003 90002 Those who work directly with electrical wiring on a daily basis will need to be initially trained on what each of the wiring color codes means.Once they are performing their job regularly though, it will become like second nature to them. 90003 90002 Those who do not work directly with wiring all the time also need to get this type of training, and in many ways it is even more important. Without proper guidance, training, and documentation, they could put themselves or the entire facility at risk if they need to interact with wiring in any way. Anyone who will have any exposure to electrical wires should have at least a basic understanding of the wire color codes.90003 90002 Perhaps more important than the direct training is going to be making sure that everyone knows where to go to reference the color codes. Facilities should have some sort of reference material, which could be a poster, a book, a computer system, or any number of other things. However the information is conveyed, it needs to be easily accessible so people can find when it is needed. 90003 90002 If there are wires in a facility that were put in place prior to the standards that are now used, it is important to take steps to address this safety concern.One option is to remove and replace all the wiring in the facility. Older wiring may have other safety related issues, so this can be a good solution in those situations. 90003 90002 If that is not possible, applying wire labels every few feet is another way to convey the necessary information that would otherwise be indicated by the color of the cable. This can be a good, affordable solution for bringing older wring up to a better safety standard. 90003 90103 Resources 90104 .90000 Neutral Wire Color | Creative Safety Supply 90001 90002 January 22, 2018 90003 90002 It’s time to talk about neutral wire color. While all wire colors are important to understand and utilize properly, the neutral wire is a consistently overlooked piece of any electrical system. Neutral wires have the important task of returning currents to the original power source; this is a necessary function of AC power, and we need to be able to identify these wires properly and make sure we use them for the right voltage connections.90003 90002 Electricity is so omnipresent we often do not think about how it works. We can just flip a switch or plug in a cord and boom: we have light. We often do not think of it until either the power goes out or there’s some kind of wiring malfunction. 90003 90002 In industrial facilities, where electricity takes part in nearly every aspect of what workers do, the importance of adhering to proper wiring protocols and wiring color codes is all the more crucial. The best way to stay up to code and accident free electrically speaking is to adhere to wire color codes.But first, it’s best to understand exactly what a neutral wire is, why it’s important, and how to identify a neutral wire by color. 90003 90002 There are many myths and misnomers about the neutral wire and what it does. It’s commonly confused with ground wires. Some folks may not even know in what electricity systems these wires are found. 90003 90002 Neutral wires only exist in AC power; DC power consists of a positive, a negative, and a ground. AC power, on the other hand, have «hot» wires (which come in three phases), a neutral, and a ground.It’s the neutral wire that allows for the current to alternate, since the neutral wire acts as the roadway back to power source. 90003 90002 The neutral wire is often confused with ground wire, but in reality, they serve two distinct purposes. Neutral wires carry currents back to power source to better control and regulate voltage. Its overall purpose is to serve as a path to return energy. Ground wires are electrical paths designed to carry fault currents when a power abnormality occurs. They do not carry currents- their purpose is to provide operator safety.90003 90002 The best example of a ground wire doing its job is when lightning strikes a building, the ground wire will take all that excess energy and deliver it away from the house so that your TV or computer does not blow out. 90003 90002 Things to know about Neutral: 90003 90020 90021 Neutrals are NOT the same as ground wires 90022 90021 Neutrals serve to carry currents back to power source 90022 90021 The neutral is a crucial component in AC power 90022 90027 90028 90002 AC Power comes in a variety of types based on the number of volts the wires carry.There are specific wire color codes for different volt classifications. These colors have to be different because the wires need to be composed according to the amount of voltage they’ll be used for. 90003 90002 It’s important to be able to identify and correctly use the appropriate wires for the right application to avoid electrical problems. 90003 90002 AC power comes in a variety types based upon the number of volts the wires will be carrying. This voltage is often found in homes and businesses that do not require a lot of energy.90003 90002 For AC Power using these amounts of voltage, the neutral wire color will be white. 90003 90002 Common in manufacturing and industrial environments, these high-voltage connections abide by different wire colors. Since these connections have more serious potential for deadly electrocution or other critical injuries, it’s crucial to get color codes correct. 90003 90002 For AC Power using these amounts of voltage, the neutral wire color will be gray. 90003 90002 Unlike electrical wiring, Data wiring does not adhere to wire color code standards, but that does not mean that these wires should not be handled with care.While it’s true that data wires are used predominantly to transmit information rather than electricity, some of the networking cables will have enough active electricity within them to cause a hazard. 90003 90002 Certain devices- an IP phone, for example — use «power over Ethernet.» This means it get its energy from the network cable to which it’s connected. If these data wires get frayed or cut, they can cause fires or shock. 90003 90002 It’s a good practice to label or attach warning signs near these cables to remind workers to use caution.90003 90002 Since it’s important that you have a good idea of ​​the state of your facility’s wiring, it might be worth it to pay extra close attention to your electrical system on your next Gemba walk. 90003 .90000 Electrical Wire Colors | Creative Safety Supply 90001 90002 May 18, 2018 90003 90002 When running electrical wire, it is important to ensure the wires themselves are color coded according to the accepted standards. These colors will identify a lot of information about the wires, which is critical for safety. Electrical wire colors are life saving in commercial, industrial, and residential environments. They are especially important in commercial and industrial environments though because of the higher amounts of electricity being used.90003 90002 In the United States, most facilities will follow the wiring standards as laid out by the National Electrical Installation Standards, or NEiS. They offer valuable information about things like what types of wires should be used in what situation, how to properly install wires, how long different types of electrical wiring should be, and much more. They are a private organization, and do not have the ability to force any company to follow their standards or regulations. 90003 90002 Companies typically follow standards because it is required of them by the law.When there are not any legal ramifications for following a set of standards, some companies will look at it as an unnecessary expense. With wire colors, this is not typically the case. 90003 90002 Since different colored wiring all costs the same, as long as it is of the same type, there is no real downside to following the color standards that the industry has adopted. Following these standards will improve the workplace safety since most people coming into a facility will know what each color means.90003 90002 This will help to reduce the risk of shock, electrocution, fire, and other issues. Safety in the workplace can help to reduce expenses, reduce unplanned downtime, and lower risks of costly injuries or other incidents. These benefits all help to encourage companies to follow accepted practices that have been adopted across many industries. 90003 90002 This applies primarily to when new wiring is being installed. Wiring can often last for many decades though, so it is always important to be aware that the electrical wire colors used by a company might not be universally in line with the standards in that area.90003 90002 There are many different standards in place for many different reasons. Each country will likely have its own set of electrical wire color codes that they recommend, and then there are standards like those from the IEC, which make recommendations. On top of that, standards and regulations change over time, so facilities may still be operating on older color standards for many years after they have been discontinued. 90003 90002 With this in mind, all work environments should have the wire color standards that they are following well-documented and available.This will help ensure anyone who is coming into the facility to perform any type of work will be able to quickly determine what each wire is, and how they should be working on it. 90003 90020 90002 DC power is commonly used for high voltage equipment, though it is not very popular in residential environments. When working on DC electrical wires in the United States, the colors will typically be as follows: 90003 90023 90024 Positive — Positive wires will be red. 90025 90024 Negative — Negative wires will be black 90025 90024 Ground — Grounded wires will be white or grey.90025 90030 90031 90002 AC Power is much more common in the United States and will be found in almost all environments. Standard power levels include 120 volts, 208 volts, and 240 volts. In these systems, the colors are usually going to be: 90003 90023 90024 Phase 1 — Black wiring 90025 90024 Phase 2 — Red wiring 90025 90024 Phase 3 — Blue wiring 90025 90024 Neutral — White wiring 90025 90024 Ground — Green, green with a yellow stripe, or bare wire 90025 90030 90046 90002 For higher voltage AC power in the United States, a different set of colors has become the standard.These colors are: 90003 90023 90024 Phase 1 — Brown wiring 90025 90024 Phase 2 — Orange wiring 90025 90024 Phase 3 — Yellow wiring 90025 90024 Neutral — Grey wiring 90025 90024 Ground — Green, green with a yellow stripe, or bare wire (this is the same as other AC power wiring) 90025 90030 90002 When working on electrical equipment, the wiring will almost always come with plastic coloring when it is purchased. The color on the wiring does not often change the design of the wire itself, but rather tells the person using it how the wiring should be used.90003 90002 Anyone who is actually installing wiring needs to take great care to follow the standards that the facility being worked on uses. While a red wire would work a negative wire in DC current, it would be quite misleading and expose anyone who works on the system in the future to great danger. 90003 90002 If a facility has older wiring in place that does not follow modern standards, there are several options available. Ideally, the wiring could be stripped out of the facility, and new wires run that follow the latest color-coded standards.This is a potentially expensive task, and one that may have to have the facility shut down for an extended period of time. 90003 90002 An alternative option is to use wiring labels to make sure it is clear what a particular wire is for. There are many types of wire labels, and they can often be printed on to provide additional information about the wire beyond just using the color. It is also possible to use wire tape to make a specific wire a different color so that it is in compliance. 90003 90002 Whether a particular facility is following the latest standards, or they still have some outdated wire colors in place, it is important to provide training to any employees who could work on the electrical systems.Even employees who are not electricians may run into situations where they work with electrical wires, and this type of training could save lives. 90003 90002 In addition, having the documentation available to provide to emergency responders should an accident occur is important. Many facilities will keep this type of information on hand at a front office, or as part of their emergency response plans, so that it can be accessed right away. 90003 90002 The more readily available this type of information is, the safer the workplace will be.Some workplaces even create posters that show the different color of wire, and what it means in their facility. This can serve as a constant reminder to employees and anyone else who does work in the area. 90003 90002 Even seemingly small efforts made by facilities to follow standards and improve training can help to reduce the risk of fire, shock, machine malfunction, and fatal electrocution. The fact that these efforts are typically very affordable and easy to implement, more and more companies today are taking the necessary steps to follow electrical wire color standards throughout their facility.90003 90077 Resources 90078 .90000 Safety Colors (OSHA Guidelines and Color Codes) 90001 90002 August 30, 2016 90003 90002 The term safety colors is used to describe the standard use of colors for safety purposes in the workplace. There are many standards in place concerning safety colors from a variety of organizations including OSHA, ANSI, and others. Depending on the situation, each color is assigned a different meaning, which allows people to immediately determine what type of safety hazard is in the area, even if they are too far away to read any actual writing.90003 90002 While there are many organizations and agencies that assign safety colors different meanings, a lot of them have significant overlap. This is done intentionally to help ensure standards apply across as wide a range of situations as possible. 90003 90002 The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a number recommendations about colors that should be used to improve safety. Looking at the different sets of guidelines they provide can help facilities learn how to properly use safety colors, which will not only improve workplace safety, but will also help them stay in compliance with OSHA guidelines.90003 90010 90002 The first set of safety colors issued by OSHA covers the broad categories of hazards that exist in facilities, and how people should be warned about them. There are four main types of warning language used for this set of standards: 90003 90013 90014 90015 Danger 90016 — To alert people to a danger (which is used when there is an immediate risk), OSHA says signs and other safety signals should be red or predominantly red. Any lettering or symbols need to be a contrasting color to ensure maximum visibility.90017 90014 90015 Warning 90016 — The warning category is for when there is a risk, but it is not as severe or immediate as when danger is used. The safety color associated with warning is orange or predominantly orange. As with the red, any lettering or symbols should be a contrasting color. 90017 90014 90015 Caution 90016 — This category is for alerting people to a potential risk, and the color used is yellow or predominantly yellow. 90017 90014 90015 Biological Hazard 90016 — Biohazard dangers have gotten their own category because of the unique risks they present.When issuing a safety alert about biohazards, the color to use is fluorescent orange or orange-red. 90017 90030 90002 OSHA has laid out safety color codes that should be used when there are physical hazards in a facility. There are just two colors covered for physical hazards: 90003 90013 90014 90015 Red 90016 — Red should be used when there is a fire-related hazard in an area. This includes areas near open flames as well as flammable materials that could ignite or explode. Red can also be used to alert people to stop, which is essential for indoor or outdoor driving and other situations.90017 90014 90015 Yellow 90016 — Yellow is used for hazards related to striking, falling, slipping, tripping, pinch points, and other similar hazards that are common in many manufacturing or warehouse facilities. 90017 90030 90043 90002 The colors in this category overlap those in the other category. In most situations, however, it is possible to have them apply properly in both situations. A fire risk, for example, will be red both because it is a fire hazard and because it represents a significant danger to the facility and all employees.90003 90002 Another major organization that provides safety color recommendations is the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). ANSI is not a governmental organization and therefore has no enforcement abilities like OSHA does. Despite this fact, however, ANSI’s standard is generally followed throughout the country and even in many places around the world. 90003 90002 This is because the ANSI standards, including those that apply to safety colors, are recognized as among the best in the world.In fact, many of OSHA’s color standards are drawn from the ANSI system. 90003 90002 The following are the higher-level categories for safety colors issued by the ANSI Z535.1 code. 90003 90013 90014 90015 Red 90016 — The color red is used on any safety signs, labels, or other objects to signify danger or to alert people that they need to stop. 90017 90014 90015 Orange 90016 — The color orange is used to alert people to the fact that there are dangerous parts of a machine or equipment.The danger could be from crushing, cutting, shocking or otherwise harming people or the facility. This is most commonly used on labels that are applied to machinery, but could also be used on signs and other objects. 90017 90014 90015 Yellow 90016 — Anywhere that caution needs to be used, the color yellow should be primary on the signs or labels alerting people to this fact. Similar to OSHA, this includes risks of tripping, falling, getting burned, being caught in a pinch point, experiencing hearing damage, and almost any other common hazard that may be present.90017 90014 90015 Green 90016 — Green is used to alert people to the presence of an emergency egress. This is important for helping people escape from an area if they need to. Another place where green is used according to ANSI is to identify where first aid and other types of safety equipment are kept. 90017 90014 90015 Blue 90016 — Blue is used on signs and labels that provide information about a particular item or area. This information does not necessarily have to be safety related.90017 90014 90015 Black & White 90016 — Black & white signs or labels are used for guiding traffic or telling people which direction to go. These colors can also be for housekeeping information in the facility. While not specifically safety related, having this type of signage can directly improve the safety of the facility. 90017 90014 90015 Purple 90016 — Purple was being reserved by ANSI for future use, but it has become a de facto standard for radiation hazards through popular use.90017 90014 90015 Gray 90016 — Gray is reserved for future use by ANSI. 90017 90030 90002 Another area where ANSI has used colors to improve safety is pipe markings. Pipes contain a wide range of liquids and gases, which are used throughout a facility. One big safety hazard related to pipes is that it is difficult or impossible to know exactly what is in them, unless they are labeled. 90003 90002 Since pipes are quite small in some cases, it can be difficult to read labels on pipes from a distance.This is why safety colors are so important. ANSI has established the following safety colors specifically for pipe labels: 90003 90090 90013 90014 90015 Yellow 90016 — This is for flammable liquids or gases. 90017 90014 90015 Brown 90016 — Brown is used for any combustible liquids or gases. 90017 90014 90015 Orange 90016 — The orange labels are for toxic and / or corrosive solutions. 90017 90014 90015 Red 90016 — Red is for fire-quenching liquids or solutions. 90017 90014 90015 Green 90016 — Water is in green pipes.Note that this can be water used for coolant, waste, or other things, so it is not necessarily potable. 90017 90014 90015 Blue 90016 — Blue is used for compressed air. 90017 90030 90002 These safety colors for pipe markings are important to remember, especially if an industrial label maker is used to create labels in the facility. 90003 90002 A facility can use safety colors anywhere they are necessary. In most cases, however, there are common ways these colors are used across multiple facilities, and even in multiple industries.One of the best ways to ensure a facility gets the best benefits from safety colors is to learn from the proven strategies of other companies. The following are some great ways to apply safety colors in any facility. 90003 90002 Once a safety manager knows which colors to use where, it is important to learn the best ways to actually add those colors to an area. There are quite a few options, and the best solution depends on the situation. Taking the time to evaluate a facility and choose the best method ensures these safety colors are easily visible and that they stay in place for a long period of time.90003 90123 90013 90014 90015 Labels 90016 — Safety labels are very common in most facilities. These labels can be ordered pre-printed or custom made in a facility with an industrial label printer. One important thing to remember when creating custom labels is to ensure the proper shade of a color is used so people are not confused about the safety message being conveyed. 90017 90014 90015 Signs 90016 — Safety signs are found in virtually every facility. These signs can be made by applying labels to sign backings or by ordering custom signs that are on metal or other materials.Signs are typically larger than labels and are easier to see from most places in the facility. 90017 90014 90015 Floor Marking Tape 90016 — By using colored floor marking tape a facility can quickly convey a lot of information. Areas where there are fire hazards, for example, may be marked with red floor marking tape. This is an easy and affordable way to convey a clear message throughout a facility. 90017 90014 90015 Floor Marking Paint 90016 — Similar to floor marking tape, this paint can come in any color and will convey a clear message.90017 90014 90015 Posters 90016 — Putting up posters in the facility is another way to convey a safety message. Some facilities even put up posters that identify the specific colors used and what they mean as a reminder to employees. 90017 90030 90002 It is clear that safety colors are widely used in facilities and that their use is often mandated by industry regulations. Just because companies are often told how and when to use safety colors, however, does not mean they can not come up with their own uses.Many facilities have found that the proper use of color can help dramatically improve the visibility of signs. 90003 90002 Conveying information to people using visual communications is very important in the often-loud environments of the workplace. While normal black text on white background is fine for some situations, others can benefit from color to add different levels of contrast and improve visibility. 90003 90002 It is even possible to get glow-in-the-dark printed signs that will be visible during a power outage.Taking the time to figure out which color combinations are the most visible in a facility is worth the effort. Make sure to avoid using the reserved colors listed above for anything other than their designated uses, though. 90003 90002 One of the biggest benefits of following standards when it comes to safety colors is that people will often know what the colors mean, even without training. A new employee who joins a facility from another company may already know what colors mean in which situation, which can help keep them safe during their initial weeks on the job.90003 90002 Just because almost all facilities follow these standards, however, does not mean that a company is able to skip or delay training. All new employees should be given detailed training about what the safety colors are and what they mean in all the situations that apply to the facility. This should be done within the first few days of employment. 90003 90002 Even seasoned employees should be trained on safety colors. All employees should be updated whenever there is a change in the colors used or where they are used.This can be done through a formal training session or just a meeting with a supervisor. 90003 90002 No matter how it is done, it is the employer’s responsibility to ensure all employees are up to date with the latest safety colors. This will not only keep the employees and facility safe, but it will also help avoid any risk of being out of compliance with OSHA regulations. 90003 90160 Resources 90161 .