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A Guide to Consistent, Effective Valve Tagging

Valve tags are the silent heroes of your facility. They're not just “nice-to-haves” – they're a critical line of defense against costly confusion, accidents and downtime. Whether you're running a massive plant or a small operation, using valve tags correctly shifts the safety and maintenance landscape from guesswork to informed decision making.

Why valve tags?

Valve tags do a lot more than you might think. They help with:

  • Safety: Valve tags tell you what's inside a pipe and what hazards you need to watch out for. This can mean fewer accidents and injuries.
  • Efficiency: Need to find a specific valve fast? No problem. Valve tags make maintenance and repairs easier.
  • Compliance: Valve tags can reinforce and help you stay compliant with industry regulations and standards.

Playing by the rules

Are you required by OSHA to use valve tags? Not necessarily. However, there are several OSHA standards that indirectly make the case for clear valve identification through tagging. For example, OSHA CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(ii)(B) states employers are responsible for “Specific procedural steps for shutting down, isolating, blocking and securing machines or equipment to control hazardous energy.” Valve labeling can play an important role in helping employees execute these steps. And in general, valve labeling is recommended as best practice in any environment where worker safety can be jeopardized by pipe contents.

Now, there isn't a specific set of valve tagging standards. But, they are most often tied to guidelines for pipe marking. Specifically, the ASME (ANSI) A13.1 Scheme for Identification of Pipe Systems. This color-coded system is designed to let people know what's flowing through a pipe at a glance.

For instance, if you see a red tag with white letters, that's your cue for fire-quenching fluids. Orange with black letters? Watch out for toxic or corrosive liquids. Yellow with black letters means flammable or oxidizing fluids. Brown with white letters indicates combustible fluids. Green with white letters is for water and blue with white letters is for compressed air.

Label Color Text Color Color Pipe Contents
Red White
Fire-quenching fluids
Orange Black
Toxic and corrosive fluids
Yellow Black
Flammable and oxidizing fluids
Brown White
Combustible fluids
Green White
Potable, cooling, boiler feed and other water
Blue White
Compressed air
Purple
Gray
Black 		White Defined by user
White Black
Defined by user

Other organizations offer guidelines on valve tagging for specific industries, including:

  • NFPA 99 offers guidance for medical gas and vacuum shutoff valves in health care facilities
  • IIAR Bulletin No. 114 stresses the importance of valve labeling for clear identification of systems, equipment, valve function and unique identifiers in ammonia refrigeration and piping systems
  • BS 1710-2014 is a British Standard that provides a framework for pipe marking requirements similar to ASME (ANSI) A13.1

Valve tag types and applications

Valve tags aren't universal. They should be selected carefully by material and populated with information to denote important identifying information about the valve. Here are a few types and applications where valve tags are used.

  • Shop Water Valve Tags
    Close-up image of a green and white valve tag labeled W-1 for water identification.

    Water Valve Tags

    Tags designed for water systems may include information on temperature, pressure or flow direction.

  • Shop Energy Source Valve Tags
    Close-up image of a white and black valve tag labeled V-1 for chemical identification.

    Chemical Valve Tags

    Tags for chemical pipes may identify the specific chemical, its hazards (e.g., corrosive, flammable) and appropriate safety measures.

  • Shop Gas Valve Tags
    Close-up image of a white and purple valve tag labeled 'G-1' for gas valve identification.

    Gas Tags

    Tags for gas systems should denote the type of gas, pressure and any potential hazards (e.g., asphyxiation, flammability).

  • Shop Energy Source Tags
    Close-up image of a white and red valve tag labeled E-1 for energy source identification.

    Energy Source Valve Tags

    These tags identify the energy source (e.g., steam, electricity, pneumatic) by letter, color and number. As part of lockout best practices, they are tied to steps in a lockout procedure for safer, faster execution of lockout tagout.

  • Shop Lockout Tagout Valve Tags
    Close up image of a lockout tagout tag labeled lock-out point for proper lockout identification.

    Lockout Tagout Tags

    Lockout tags can be affixed to a valve to indicate it’s in the off position and should not be operated during maintenance or repair.

Choosing the right material for the job

Choosing the right material for valve tags depends on conditions, including pipe contents, environment and more. Regulations may also play a role, specifically in the food and beverage industry, where metal-detectable materials must be used in production areas. The most common material types include the following.

  • Shop brass valve tags
    Close up image of a brass air valve system.

    Brass

    Renowned for its durability, brass excels in harsh environments where extreme temperatures, pressure or abrasion are common. It's a top choice for industrial settings, marine applications and anywhere longevity is paramount.

  • Shop stainless steel valve tags
    A main water shut off, DT 80-1, and sink shut off valve tag hanging from a steel pipe.

    Stainless Steel

    If corrosion is a concern, stainless steel is your go-to. Its resistance to rust and chemicals makes it perfect for outdoor applications, chemical processing plants and facilities with washdown procedures.

  • Shop aluminum valve tags
    A group of circle aluminum valve tags in a row.

    Aluminum

    For general-purpose use in milder environments, aluminum strikes a balance between durability and affordability. It's lightweight and resists corrosion well in most indoor settings.

  • Shop blank plastic valve tags
    A plastic valve tag with a label being peeled away displaying an air shut of identification message.

    Plastic

    Plastic tags are budget-friendly and offer excellent versatility. They're suitable for many indoor applications, can be easily affixed with labels printed with custom information, and come in a range of colors for easy identification.

Valve tag placement and considerations

Like any safety and facility identification measures, what good is a valve tag if you can't see it? Proper placement is key to making sure valve tags do their job.

  • Visibility is key — put tags where they can catch people’s eyes from multiple angles, if possible
  • Don't block the action — tags shouldn’t get in the way of using or fixing the valve
  • Right-side up is the way to go — it may sound simple, but make sure the writing is easy to read from the approaching direction
  • Think about where the valve tag lives — Hot zone? Gets wet a lot? Match the material to the environment
Close-up image of a white and purple valve tag labeled 'G-1' for gas valve identification.

How valve tags add clarity to different systems

Valve tags and pipe marking

Valve tags and pipe markers work together to form a comprehensive identification system. While pipe markers provide a broad overview of a piping system’s contents and flow direction, valve tags can detail functions, potential hazards and operational instructions. The result is a safer, more efficient environment where the risk of accidents due to misidentification is significantly reduced.

Valve tags and lockout tagout

Valve tags play a pivotal role in lockout tagout procedures in the form of energy source tags. These tags are affixed to the valves required to stop and isolate energy as part of a lockout procedure. Using best practices and visual procedures, energy source tags are color-coded, numbered and cross-referenced in procedure steps to ensure faster safer lockout execution.

When it comes time to lock out a valve, specialized devices are applied to physically prevent the valve from being operated while locked out, including

An individual applying a lockout device to a valve handle as part of their lockout tagout process.

Valve tagging in the “real world”

Valve tagging is put into practice — and not — at countless facilities around the world. Let's take a look at hypothetical examples of what this might look like.

Valve tagging optimization at Acme Chemical Processing

Acme Chemical Processing, a mid-sized chemical manufacturer, understands the critical role of valve tagging in maintaining a safe and efficient operation.

How Acme Chemical Processing applies valve tags

  • Tag placement — Acme strategically places tags directly on the valve body so workers can identify the valve's function and associated hazards before interacting with it
  • Material selection — recognizing the corrosive nature of many chemicals used in their processes, Acme utilizes durable stainless steel tags for legibility and longevity
  • Standardized information — each tag includes critical information, including valve number, fluid name, flow direction, hazard pictograms and lockout tagout instructions

The benefits for Acme are numerous, including:

  • Enhanced safety — the clear and consistent identification of valves has significantly reduced the risk of accidental chemical releases, injuries and equipment damage
  • Improved efficiency — downtime and labor costs are reduced as technicians can quickly locate the correct valves
  • Regulatory compliance — Acme's valve labeling program has helped ensure adherence to OSHA’s hazard communication and lockout tagout requirements
  • Empowered workforce — employees are confident in their ability to identify and safely operate valves, leading to a more engaged and productive workforce

Valve Tagging Oversights at Old-Way Industries

Old-Way Industries, a manufacturing plant, relies on a mix of faded handwritten labels, inconsistent color codes and passed-down institutional knowledge.

The consequences of poor valve labeling at Old-Way Industries have included:

  • Near misses and accidents — workers have mistakenly opened wrong valves, narrowly avoiding chemical spills as well as releasing pressurized steam resulting in injury
  • Inefficient maintenance — repair and maintenance tasks are plagued by delays as technicians struggle to locate the correct valves
  • Regulatory scrutiny — during a recent OSHA inspection, Old-Way Industries received citations for failure to comply with lockout tagout requirements
  • Employee morale — the lack of clear safety protocols and frequent near-misses have eroded employee morale
  • Reputational damage — news of the safety incidents have made it harder to secure new contracts

Brady is your comprehensive valve tagging partner

Brady offers a wide array of products and assistance to help complete any valve labeling program.

  • Valve Tags

    Our extensive selection of valve tags caters to every need, from durable stainless steel tags for harsh environments to customizable options that work with any program. Choose from a variety of colors, sizes and materials to create a clear and consistent identification system throughout your facility.

    An employee applying a plastic valve tag to an air compression system.

  • Valve Lockouts

    Safeguard your workers with our comprehensive range of valve lockout devices. We offer lockouts designed for every type of valve, ensuring secure isolation during maintenance and preventing accidental energy release.

    A lockout tagout device applied to a valve.

  • Pipe Markers

    Complement your valve tags with durable pipe markers that clearly identify the contents and flow direction of your piping systems. From self-adhesive to snap-on, high temperature to chemical resistant, find the marker you need that complies with the (ASME) ANSI A13.1 standard

    A green cold water return pipe marker on an overhead pipe in a manufacturing environment.

  • Printers

    Produce high-quality, custom valve tags and pipe markers on demand with our reliable and easy-to-use valve tag and pipe marking printers. Our printers are compatible with a variety of materials, enabling you to create tags that withstand even the toughest conditions.

    A Brady S3700 on a benchtop printing out pipe markers for proper pipe identification.

Not sure what you need?

At Brady, we understand that effective valve tagging methods involves more than just products. Our team of experts is ready to guide you through the process, from assessing your current needs to developing a tailored tagging program that meets your specific requirements. Contact us today.

Not sure what you need?

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