Floor Marking Placement

Floor marking should be used if there are two or more types of traffic, or as a way to make users aware of safety hazards. Floor marking is used to separate people from hazards, mark aisles and passageways, and establish safe zones and other specific traffic uses.

Related Resources

• Choosing the Optimal Floor Marking Tape
• Industrial Floor Tape vs. Floor Paint
• OSHA Floor Marking Requirements

The following is a transcript of the Floor Marking Placement [Infographic]:

Placement And Color Guide to Floor Marking

Floor Marking Applications:

1. Purple Tape - Finished Goods
2. White Tape - 5S Cart Storage
3. Blue Tape - Part Organization
4. Printable Tape - Traffic Marking
5. White Tape - Work Area
6. Green Tape - Part Organization
7. Black Tape - Part Organization
8. Yellow Tape - Pallet Storage
9. T's & Corners
10. Red/White Stripe - Keep Clear Area
11. Stop Sign for Traffic
12. Black/Yellow Stripe - Hazardous Area
13. Yellow Tape - Traffic Flow
14. Black/White Stripe - Keep Clear Area
15. Black/Yellow Stripe - Electrical Area
16. Green Tape - Safety Area
17. Footprint Cutouts
18. Glow-in-the-Dark Floor Marking

Widely Used Floor Marking COLORS & PATTERNS

While there are no specific floor marking color requirements, the following is a color-coding guide popular in many facilities.

YELLOW
When used for safety purposes, indicates caution. For organization purposes, used for pedestrian paths, vehicle paths, aisles, work areas and storage areas.

RED
For safety purposes, used as a hazard indicator. For organizational purposes, used to mark the boundaries of a defect product area or scrap material area.

WHITE
Often used for general purposes, to border machines, racks, workstations, and equipment.

ORANGE
For safety purposes, used to indicate a level of caution more serious than yellow. For organizational purposes, used to indicate materials or product held for inspection. 

BLACK/YELLOW STRIPE
When used for safety purposes, indicates caution. For organizational purposes, used for pedestrian paths, vehicle paths, aisles, work areas and storage areas.

RED/WHITE STRIPE
Often used to indicate areas that must be kept clear for safety reasons (like around exit points, electrical panels, or hazardous equipment).

BLACK/WHITE STRIPE
Often used for general purposes, such as identifying areas that must be kept clear for operations and workflow.

BLACK/GREEN/BLUE/PURPLE
Various colors can be used for organizational purposes, such as indicating raw materials, work-in-progress materials or finished goods.