Flagging tape is popular for many reasons, but there is one primary reason why it’s a mainstay in numerous industries: ease-of-use.
Below, we discuss what flagging tape is, what its colour code means, how to use it, and the industries that use it the most.
What Is Flagging Tape?
So, what is flagging tape? And what makes flagging tape different compared to other types of tape?
Primarily, it’s the colour and non-adhesive nature. Flagging tape, by design, ‘flags’ and highlights things. This means it tends to be brighter than other types of tape and it is made of more eye-catching PVC, vinyl, or cellulose-based materials.
What Is Flagging Tape Used For?
Flagging tape’s purpose varies on an industry-by-industry basis, but if you need to highlight something, then flagging tape will help.
Flagging tape is regularly used in the following industries:
• Forestry – for marking unhealthy trees or invasive species, as well as identifying logging requirements, saplings, or wildlife fire suppression.
• Construction – for marking numerous hazards such as drains, electrical lines, gas pipes, and cables. Wherever there is a hazard on a construction site, flagging tape will be around it.
• Surveying – signposting landmark and property boundaries.
• Outdoor recreation – it helps to mark walking paths and other methods of navigation for activities like orienteering, hunting, biking, paintballing, and caving.
• Disaster response – whenever a natural disaster occurs, flagging tape is used to set up medical triages and safety zones.
Overall, the resilience and multi-faceted nature of flagging tape is why it’s useful in numerous industries.
What Do the Flagging Tape Colours Mean?
Flagging tapes’ colour meanings can vary slightly by industry, but there is a loose colour code they follow. Each colour represents a different level of danger:
• Pink – temporary survey markers
• Red – electrical cables, lighting cables, etc.
• Orange – communication lines, cables, etc.
• Yellow – gas, oil, steam, petroleum, and gaseous pipes
• Green – sewers and drains
• Blue – water pipes
• Purple – irrigation, reclaimed water, and slurry lines
• White – proposed excavation routes
At Label Source, we also sell black flagging tape, black and white striped, and black and green striped.
The above may not be relevant to other industries such as forestry or outdoor recreation, but it is relevant for any safety-related discipline. Otherwise, the type of tape used will follow that industry’s internal colour code.
How to Use Flagging Tape
The primary aspect of good flagging tape practice is ensuring it is visible to everyone.
This means leaving plenty of space between the flagging tape and what it is marking, correctly tying it to postings, assembling postings so they stay upright in troublesome conditions, and using the correct colour.
If you follow common sense, figuring out how to use flagging tape should be rather easy. Always try to assemble it with long-term use in mind.
Is Flagging Tape Waterproof?
Thanks to the materials they’re made of, flagging tapes are generally considered water-resistant.
How Long Does Flagging Tape Last?
How long flagging tape lasts greatly depends on the environment it is being used in. However, generally, it will not last more than five years. Although it can last years in the right circumstances, we encourage regular checks and reflags as it can degrade, becoming brittle and faded, or the need may change.
Get High-Quality, Dependable Flagging Tape Today
If you’re looking for high-quality tape in a variety of colours and patterns, then try our range of flagging tapes today.
