BS 5383:1986

This standard BS 5383:1986 Specification for material identification of steel, nickel alloy and titanium alloy tubes by continuous character marking and colour coding of steel tubes is classified in these ICS categories:

• 77.140.75 Steel pipes and tubes for specific use
• 01.070 Colour coding
• 77.150.40 Nickel and chromium products
• 77.150.50 Titanium products

This British Standard specifies the requirements for material identification of steel, nickel alloy and titanium alloy tubes by continuous character marking and for the optional additional continuous colour coding of ferritic and austenitic steel tubes that are commonly used in piping systems. The colour coding can also be used for the marking of fittings and components (see 5.1).

Section 1 covers the general requirements applicable to both sections 2 and 3.

Section 2 covers specific requirements for definitive material identification in the form of printed characters which are applied continuously along the length of the tube.

Section 3 covers specific requirements for the optional colour coding of discrete groups of ferritic steels and austenitic steels, in conjunction with the definitive character marking requirements of section 2. Austenitic steels other than those specified in this standard, nickel alloys and titanium alloys cannot be considered as discrete groups and colour coding is not applicable to these materials.

This standard does not specify requirements for the minimum height of characters or minimum width of colour coding stripe for tubes with an outside diameter of less than 18 mm or for finned tubes, and the method of marking or colour coding such items should be the subject of agreement between the purchaser and the supplier.

NOTE The titles of the publications referred to in this standard are listed on the inside back cover.

Continuous colour coding of ferritic and austenitic steel tubes is an additional option.