Pipes serve as the glue to many sectors of the industrial industry by transporting water, oil, chemicals, and compressed air, which is crucial to many applications. The diverse materials used to create these pipes make them a powerful and indispensable tool for maintaining daily operations for industries like manufacturing, energy production, and chemical processing. While rugged pipes are essential, resilient pipe markers are nearly as important. Made with industrial label printers, these labels are tough, resilient, and stand the test of time - essential features in a tool that not only guides workers, but saves lives.
Although OSHA does not require pipe labels, they recommend following the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards, which offer some general guidelines for creating pipe labeling systems that can ensure safety in your facility.
Prolonged ultraviolet (UV) Sun exposure can affect some materials used to create pipes. Here’s a list of the most common pipes and how UV exposure affects them:
If prolonged Sun exposure can damage industrial pipes, pipe labels are also not immune to UV Sun exposure. Many labels are made using premium vinyl, a synthetic polymer made from ethylene and chlorine, the same material used to create PVC. People use vinyl because of how durable the material is, and the variety of surfaces it can be used on.
Unfortunately, vinyl is not immune to UV Sun exposure. When the sun interacts with the vinyl, over time it weakens the chemical bonds that hold the material together, creating a process called photodegradation, which causes the material to become brittle, crack, or discolor.
The time it takes for the vinyl to break down is dependent on several factors:
As we have come to find, not all materials are immune to UV radiation. Prolonged sun exposure weakens many materials over time. Still, there are ways to slow down the process, such as UV inhibitors that protect the vinyl labels from the harmful effects of UV radiation.
The average lifespan of premium vinyl labels exposed to frequent UV rays is 3-5 years before they should be considered for replacement. DuraLabel’s extended-life vinyl tape is designed to last beyond the average lifecycle and not need replacement for at least eight years. It works on a variety of indoor and outdoor labeling surfaces.
The flexible material is ideal for manufacturing operations to mark equipment, pipes, chemical containers, and outdoor surfaces. DuraLabel’s industrial label printers Toro Max and Kodiak Max use materials that have been tough tested to withstand a multitude of environmental elements, including ultraviolet radiation. Get help crafting a system that will provide the visual communication you need. Call 1-888-326-9244, and one of our experts will guide you through the process.
DuraLabel’s free Pipe Marking Instant Action Guide provides a pipe marking color guide and identifies industry-specific requirements and standards. Download a copy of the Pipe Marking Instant Action Guide today.
Learn more about pipe labeling with the free Instant Pipe Marking Safety Compliance Chart. It provides quick reference to necessary pipe labeling information, such as ANSI/ASME standards, where to place the labels, and other important content about the labels.
Get the HazCom Instant Action Guide Learn more about HazCom labeling, establish and reinforce industry best practices. |
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