Utility color code

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yellow spray paint indicating below street gas service line. New York City, 2007.
Yellow spray paint indicating below street gas service line. New York City, 2007.

Utility color codes are used for identifying existing underground utilities in construction areas with the intent of protecting them from damage during excavation.

Public utility systems are often run underground; some by the very nature of their function, others for convenience or aesthetics. Before digging, municipalities often require that the underground systems' locations be denoted and approved. Colored lines and/or flags are used to mark the location and denote the type of underground utility.

Call before you dig or Miss Utility is a service that allows construction workers to contact utility companies, who will then denote where underground utilities are located via color coding those locations. The 8-1-1 telephone number will soon be used for this purpose.

The American Public Works Association (APWA) Uniform Color Codes for temporary marking of underground utilities are listed below:

Red Electric power lines, cables, conduit, and lighting cables
Orange Communication, alarm or signal lines, cables, or conduit
Yellow Gas, oil, steam, petroleum, or gaseous material
Green Sewers and drain lines
Blue Potable water
Violet Reclaimed water, irrigation, and slurry Lines
Pink Temporary survey markings, unknown/unidentified facilities
White Proposed excavation limits or route


[edit] External links