Barricade tape is brightly colored tape (often incorporating a two-tone pattern of alternating yellow-black or red-white stripes or the words "Caution" or "Danger" in prominent lettering) that is used to warn or catch the attention of passersby of an area or situation containing a possible hazard. It acts as a minor impediment to prevent accidental entrance to that area or situation and as a result enhances general safety. Barricade tape is also known as construction tape or barrier tape, or in reference to the safety hazard involved as caution tape, warning tape, danger tape or hazard tape. When used by police, the tape is named police tape.
Red-and-white warning tape marking off an unsafe route
Barricade tape is made with durable, resilient, tear-proof plastic materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or nylon. Different manufacturers offer different sizes and thicknesses of barricade tape. Barricade tape often has a bright background and pre-printed bold warning text. It is also possible to purchase plain barricade tape and write a custom message on it. However, care should be taken when using custom tape, as barricade tape designs may be required to comply with regulations, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) regulations (when used for purposes subject to regulation by these organizations) in the USA.
Barricade tape is used according to the color specifications set by OSHA and ANSI. Barricade tape may be use primarily as a safety precaution for various industries and procedures.
Construction tape
This is used in construction zones to notify people about ongoing construction and that there are possible hazards within the demarcated area. Construction tape usually employs a yellow-black color combination and incorporates printed text, such as "Under Construction", "Caution", "Work Zone", and "Keep Out" (among others). This type of barrier tape is commonly found at the site of renovations, demolition, and minor repairs.
Hazard tape
This is used in locations containing a substantial danger. Examples include electrocution hazards or areas within which there is a risk of exposure to toxic chemicals. In some regions, the specific color combination indicates the type of threat. For example, yellow-black tape may be used to signal the presence of a physical hazard (e.g., a hole), while magenta-yellow can denote a radiation hazard. This type of barrier tape is commonly used in laboratories, production areas, and industrial zones.
This type of barrier tape, as its name implies is used to control traffic, whether foot traffic or vehicle traffic. Traffic control device tapes are used as temporary traffic signal to redirect traffic during parade or whenever a road is closed. These are usually brightly colored, either in solid orange or orange-white combination.
Police tape or law enforcement tape
This type of barrier tape is used to isolate, protect and preserve a crime scene. Police tape is used to notify the public that an investigation is ongoing and that a particular area is restricted. This is usually seen with a yellow-white, yellow-black or blue-white color combination, and usually say "POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS" or "CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS".
Firefighter tape
This serves the same purpose as police tape and hazard tape. Firefighter tape is used to isolate a particular area during or after a fire to keep the public away from fire-related risks (e.g., smoke inhalation, airborne particulate matter, and damaged structures).
The choice of colours of barricade tape depends on the contrast with its background, which in the case of the sky, can vary from black to white. To have a reasonable chance of being visible against most backgrounds, the tape needs a light colour (white or yellow) and a darker colour.
The seven OSHA color combinations for barricade tape.
Requirements for barricade tape vary according to the health and safety laws of the country or region it is being used in.
United Statesedit
OSHA and ANSI provide precise specification for barricade tape colors. These are found in OSHA regulations 1910.22[2] and 1910.144[3][failed verification] and ANSI Z535.5-2007, Safety Tags and Barricade Tapes (for Temporary Hazards). However, the dimension, thickness, and materials of the barricade tape are left to the discretion of the manufacturer.
OSHA-specified barricade tape colorsedit
Red / white for Fire Prevention and Protection Equipment.
Black / white for Housekeeping and Aisle Marking
Magenta / yellow for Radiation Hazards
Green / white for Safety and First Aid
Blue / white for Defective Machinery
Orange / white for Traffic and Caution Warning
Black / yellow for Physical Hazards
ANSI-specified barricade tape colorsedit
Yellow/Black Barricade Tape serves as CAUTION and POTENTIAL HAZARD from:
Excavation less than 1.2 meters (4 feet) in depth
Identification of trip hazards and low hanging objects
Material storage on site
Red Barrication Tape indicates DANGER and SERIOUS HAZARD from:
Overhead work
Live electrical components
Scaffold under construction
Around swing radius of equipment with a rotating superstructure
Magenta (Purple)/Yellow Tape denotes DANGER and POSSIBLE RADIATION EXPOSURE
Underground warning tape (custom) warns about:
Digging underground gas-pipeline, electric cable and OFC cable installation
Custom thickness and width are available
Underground work
Protection from overground work
United Kingdomedit
Red and white tape (top) or yellow and black tape (bottom) can both be used to mark hazards under UK health and safety regulations
Health and safety regulations state that markings should be placed around obstacles or dangerous locations. This includes where any of the following present a risk:
people tripping or falling
objects falling
people or vehicles colliding with objects
These markings should be made up of alternating red and white or yellow and black stripes of equal size at a 45 degree angle. Barricade tape can be used to satisfy this requirement as long as the tape is "commensurate with the scale of the obstacle or dangerous location in question".[4]
^Harrison, Garry. . Repair and Enclosure Treatments Manual. E. Lingle Craig Preservation Laboratory, Indiana University Bloomington. Archived from the original on 2004-04-12.
^"1910.22 - General requirements". Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
^"1910.144 - Safety color code for marking physical hazards". Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
^"The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996". www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caution tapes.
, Bureau of Reclamation
, United States Department of Energy
, National Electrical Manufacturers Association
April 04, 2024
barricade, tape, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Barricade tape news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations April 2024 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message Barricade tape is brightly colored tape often incorporating a two tone pattern of alternating yellow black or red white stripes or the words Caution or Danger in prominent lettering that is used to warn or catch the attention of passersby of an area or situation containing a possible hazard It acts as a minor impediment to prevent accidental entrance to that area or situation and as a result enhances general safety Barricade tape is also known as construction tape or barrier tape or in reference to the safety hazard involved as caution tape warning tape danger tape or hazard tape When used by police the tape is named police tape Barricade tape across a door in JapanThe tape is often wrapped and affixed as a visual warning sign and demarcation for instance against entering a dangerous area such as an industrial or commercial building site a roadworks construction site or the scene of an accident 1 or a crime for crime scene preservation or against handling inoperative machinery or appliances Contents 1 Description 2 Types 3 Foreground tape and background colours 4 Requirements for barricade tape 4 1 United States 4 1 1 OSHA specified barricade tape colors 4 1 2 ANSI specified barricade tape colors 4 2 United Kingdom 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksDescription edit nbsp Red and white warning tape marking off an unsafe routeBarricade tape is made with durable resilient tear proof plastic materials such as polyethylene polypropylene or nylon Different manufacturers offer different sizes and thicknesses of barricade tape Barricade tape often has a bright background and pre printed bold warning text It is also possible to purchase plain barricade tape and write a custom message on it However care should be taken when using custom tape as barricade tape designs may be required to comply with regulations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA and American National Standards Institute ANSI regulations when used for purposes subject to regulation by these organizations in the USA Types edit nbsp Police tape marking off a crime sceneBarricade tape is used according to the color specifications set by OSHA and ANSI Barricade tape may be use primarily as a safety precaution for various industries and procedures Construction tape This is used in construction zones to notify people about ongoing construction and that there are possible hazards within the demarcated area Construction tape usually employs a yellow black color combination and incorporates printed text such as Under Construction Caution Work Zone and Keep Out among others This type of barrier tape is commonly found at the site of renovations demolition and minor repairs Hazard tape This is used in locations containing a substantial danger Examples include electrocution hazards or areas within which there is a risk of exposure to toxic chemicals In some regions the specific color combination indicates the type of threat For example yellow black tape may be used to signal the presence of a physical hazard e g a hole while magenta yellow can denote a radiation hazard This type of barrier tape is commonly used in laboratories production areas and industrial zones Traffic control device tape This type of barrier tape as its name implies is used to control traffic whether foot traffic or vehicle traffic Traffic control device tapes are used as temporary traffic signal to redirect traffic during parade or whenever a road is closed These are usually brightly colored either in solid orange or orange white combination Police tape or law enforcement tape This type of barrier tape is used to isolate protect and preserve a crime scene Police tape is used to notify the public that an investigation is ongoing and that a particular area is restricted This is usually seen with a yellow white yellow black or blue white color combination and usually say POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS or CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS Firefighter tape This serves the same purpose as police tape and hazard tape Firefighter tape is used to isolate a particular area during or after a fire to keep the public away from fire related risks e g smoke inhalation airborne particulate matter and damaged structures Foreground tape and background colours edit nbsp Barricade tape used by Madeira Civil Protection during the 2010 Madeira floods and mudslidesThe choice of colours of barricade tape depends on the contrast with its background which in the case of the sky can vary from black to white To have a reasonable chance of being visible against most backgrounds the tape needs a light colour white or yellow and a darker colour Requirements for barricade tape editThe examples and perspective in this section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject You may improve this section discuss the issue on the talk page or create a new section as appropriate May 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message nbsp The seven OSHA color combinations for barricade tape Requirements for barricade tape vary according to the health and safety laws of the country or region it is being used in United States edit OSHA and ANSI provide precise specification for barricade tape colors These are found in OSHA regulations 1910 22 2 and 1910 144 3 failed verification and ANSI Z535 5 2007 Safety Tags and Barricade Tapes for Temporary Hazards However the dimension thickness and materials of the barricade tape are left to the discretion of the manufacturer OSHA specified barricade tape colors edit Red white for Fire Prevention and Protection Equipment Black white for Housekeeping and Aisle Marking Magenta yellow for Radiation Hazards Green white for Safety and First Aid Blue white for Defective Machinery Orange white for Traffic and Caution Warning Black yellow for Physical HazardsANSI specified barricade tape colors edit Yellow Black Barricade Tape serves as CAUTION and POTENTIAL HAZARD from Excavation less than 1 2 meters 4 feet in depth Identification of trip hazards and low hanging objects Material storage on site Red Barrication Tape indicates DANGER and SERIOUS HAZARD from Overhead work Live electrical components Scaffold under construction Around swing radius of equipment with a rotating superstructure Magenta Purple Yellow Tape denotes DANGER and POSSIBLE RADIATION EXPOSURE Underground warning tape custom warns about Digging underground gas pipeline electric cable and OFC cable installation Custom thickness and width are available Underground work Protection from overground workUnited Kingdom edit nbsp Red and white tape top or yellow and black tape bottom can both be used to mark hazards under UK health and safety regulationsHealth and safety regulations state that markings should be placed around obstacles or dangerous locations This includes where any of the following present a risk people tripping or falling objects falling people or vehicles colliding with objectsThese markings should be made up of alternating red and white or yellow and black stripes of equal size at a 45 degree angle Barricade tape can be used to satisfy this requirement as long as the tape is commensurate with the scale of the obstacle or dangerous location in question 4 See also editSecurity tapeReferences edit Harrison Garry Caution tape Repair and Enclosure Treatments Manual E Lingle Craig Preservation Laboratory Indiana University Bloomington Archived from the original on 2004 04 12 1910 22 General requirements Occupational Safety and Health Administration Retrieved 2021 03 03 1910 144 Safety color code for marking physical hazards Occupational Safety and Health Administration Retrieved 2021 03 03 The Health and Safety Safety Signs and Signals Regulations 1996 www legislation gov uk Retrieved 2019 12 27 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Caution tapes Signs Signals and Barricades Bureau of Reclamation Signs Signals and Barriers United States Department of Energy Safety Tags and Barricade Tapes National Electrical Manufacturers Association Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Barricade tape amp oldid 1216917731, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
