Underground Warning Tape
Buried service warning tape and pipe identification tape — standard utility colours in stock, custom text available. Manufactured in Preston, UK.
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Mark Buried Services Before You Dig
Underground warning tape is laid directly above buried cables, pipes and ducts during installation. It sits in the backfill, 150–300mm above the service, so excavations reach the tape before they reach the asset below.
Utility contractors, civil engineers and groundworkers use it for gas, water, electricity, telecoms and district heating. Correct colour at installation prevents dangerous mistakes years later when another contractor digs across the route.
Two Types of Underground Tape
Non-Detectable Warning Tape
Printed LDPE polyethylene film in the correct utility colour. No metallic layer. Visible to the eye when excavation reaches it — provides the warning at that point. Lower cost. Suitable where the service route is well-documented and cable avoidance tools will be used before digging. 150mm x 365m per roll.
Detectable Warning Tape
LDPE polyethylene film with two embedded stainless-steel wires. A standard CAT (cable avoidance tool) can locate it from surface level. Provides an electronic trace of the buried route without opening the ground. Manufactured to ENA TS 12-23 Issue 23 (2013) and approved by utility companies. Required on many utility and highways contracts. 150mm x 200m per roll.
Stock Colours — Utility Services
| Service | Tape Colour | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gas | Yellow | National standard |
| Water | Blue | National standard |
| Electricity (LV) | Black | Low voltage |
| Electricity (HV) | Red | High voltage |
| Telecommunications / Data | Green | BT, fibre, comms |
| District Heating | Orange | Heat network pipework |
| Drainage / Sewerage | White |
All standard utility colours held in stock. Custom text available on any colour.
Pipe Identification Tape
Pipe ID tape wraps around above-ground pipework to identify the service running inside. Used in plant rooms, pump houses, boiler rooms, process facilities and any installation where multiple pipe runs need to be clearly labelled.
We supply pipe ID tape to BS1710 and BS4800 colour specifications — the British Standards for identification of pipelines and services. Self-adhesive vinyl with a clear polypropylene laminate protection film. Available in 50mm, 75mm, 100mm and 150mm widths on 33m rolls.
Common BS1710 Base Colours
| Service | Base Colour |
|---|---|
| Water | Green |
| Steam | Silver-grey |
| Compressed air | Light blue |
| Gas | Yellow |
| Oil | Brown |
| Acids / alkalis | Violet |
| Electrical services | Orange |
| Drainage | Black |
Pipe ID tape is supplied in self-adhesive rolls. Apply directly to pipework, valves and fittings. Available in 25mm, 50mm and 75mm widths to suit pipe diameter.
Specifications
| Specification | Non-Detectable | Detectable | Pipe ID Tape |
|---|---|---|---|
| Width | 150mm | 150mm | 50mm, 75mm, 100mm, 150mm |
| Length per roll | 365m | 200m | 33m |
| Material | LDPE film | LDPE film + 2× stainless-steel wires | Self-adhesive vinyl + polyprop laminate |
| Compliance | — | ENA TS 12-23 Issue 23 (2013) | BS1710, BS4800 |
| Utility colour + service text | Utility colour + service text | BS1710 colour bands | |
| Custom text | Available | Available | Available |
Custom Printed Underground Tape
We print any text on underground warning tape alongside the standard utility warning. Common additions:
- Contractor or utility company name
- Asset ID or reference number
- Depth instructions ("Caution: Cable at 600mm")
- Grid reference or route marker
Custom tape uses the correct utility base colour and standard warning text, with your additional wording printed alongside. Minimum order applies.
Volume Pricing
Underground warning tape and pipe ID tape are priced per roll with reductions at standard carton, pallet and project quantities. We supply contractors, groundworkers, utility companies and facilities teams across the UK.
Fill in the quote form with your service type, quantity and any custom text requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Detectable tape has a metallic foil strip embedded in the polyethylene film. A cable avoidance tool (CAT) can locate it at depth without excavating. Standard non-detectable tape acts as a visual marker only — seen when digging reaches it.
UK standard colours: yellow for gas, blue for water, black for electricity, green for telecom/data, red for high-voltage electricity, orange for district heating. We hold these in stock.
BS1710 specifies colour coding for above-ground pipework. It defines base colours and colour bands for different services — water, steam, gas, oil, acids and drainage. Correct identification prevents dangerous errors during maintenance.
Yes. We print any text on underground warning tape — contractor name, asset reference, service description or owner details. Minimum order applies. Contact us for a quote.
All underground warning tape is 150mm wide. Non-detectable rolls are 365m. Detectable rolls are 200m (two stainless-steel wires add mass to the roll). Pipe ID tape is supplied in 50mm, 75mm, 100mm and 150mm widths on 33m rolls.
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