Floor Marking Guide

A best practice and applications guide to industrial floor marking

 Contents

Why Mark Your Floors? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Safety and Efficiency Improvements . . . . . . . . . . 7

Standards and Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Choosing the Best Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Floor Marking Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Glow-in-the-Dark Floor Marking . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Floor Marking Signs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Creative Safety Supply is a global supplier of Safety and Lean products and manufacturer of leading brands such
as LabelTac® Label & Sign Printers and SafetyTac® Industrial Floor Tapes. Additionally, Creative Safety Supply offers
a wide selection of floor signs, wall signs and other high visibility signage solutions.

DISCLAIMER

All contents copyright © 2019 by Creative Safety Supply. All rights contents and information provided herein as these changes progress.
reserved. No part of this document or accompanying files may be The author and/or all associated contributors take no responsibility for
reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or otherwise, by any any errors or omissions if such discrepancies exist within this document.
means without the prior written permission of the publisher.
The author and all other contributors accept no responsibility for any
This ebook is presented to you for informational purposes only and is not consequential actions taken, whether monetary, legal, or otherwise,
a substitution for any professional advice. The contents herein are based by any and all readers of the materials provided. It is the readers sole
on the views and opinions of the author and all associated contributors. responsibility to seek professional advice before taking any action on
their part.
While every effort has been made by the author and all associated
contributors to present accurate and up-to-date information within this Readers’ results will vary based on their skill level and individual
document, it is apparent technologies rapidly change. Therefore, the perception of the contents herein, and thus no guarantees, monetarily or
author and all associated contributors reserve the right to update the otherwise, can be made accurately. Therefore, no guarantees are made.

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 Why Mark Your Floors?

Utilized in every kind of professional facility, from small schools and gymnasiums to large,
full-scale manufacturing and chemical processing plants, strategically employed floor
marking makes open space easier for workers and visitors to understand.

Because it relays important information at the location and time it’s needed, floor marking
creates a safer, more efficient facility.

In many cases, floor marking lines are required by the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) and other government agencies.

In this guide we will discuss common and creative applications for floor marking, floor
marking products, and tips for using floor markings.

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 Applications

While there are many creative ways a facility can employ floor markings, the following are
among the most utilized applications.

Hazardous Areas

It is critical to visually alert employees and visitors to potentially hazardous areas. Place
floor marking in front of and around:

 Areas in a building that contain a known hazard, such as toxic chemicals or

potentially high concentrations of airborne particulates

 Electrical panels

 Potentially hazardous equipment or machinery

 “Open pit” or tripping hazards (these are the most common floor marking-related
OSHA violation)

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 Product and Material Storage

Many facilities utilize floor marking in product and material storage areas to communicate
to employees where they can find what they need. These markings can be temporary for
holding areas where products in various stages of production are kept or permanent for
long-term storage areas that house finished products or raw materials.

Considered a key component

of the 5S process in lean
manufacturing, this application
of floor marking yields gains
in efficiency and safety by
reducing worker confusion.

Equipment and Tools

Placing outlines around equipment and tools is another common application of

floor marking.

An example of this is placing white tape around the base of portable tools or machinery to
indicate its proper location. This eliminates the time employees would waste searching for
needed resources. Outlining machinery also enhances safety because the line can indicate
the reach of the machine’s components and the space it needs to operate.

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 Traffic Routes

The most common application of floor

marking is pedestrian and vehicle pathway
markings. Forklift collisions with workers
are a major cause of workplace fatalities
and are a clear indicator of the importance
of clearly marked traffic routes.

Marking emergency exit routes using

directional arrows and photoluminescent
lines is also crucial for safety. If done
properly, floor marking will allow
employees and visitors to easily navigate
your facility with no training.

Workplace Communication

Floor markings are a visual

communication tool with many
applications. They can be used to
communicate about where operators
should stand while using a tool or
machine, what areas employees must
avoid, and where smoking is allowed. The
need for thoughtful and creative visual
communication exists whenever and
wherever important information needs to
be conveyed.

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 Safety and Efficiency Improvements

Improving Safety

Floor marking creates a safer work area by

Some examples of floor
making that area easier to understand. A safer
marking for safety:
workplace will result even from applications
not usually thought of as safety-related. For • Vehicular traffic paths
example, having the floor marked for tool and
• Aisle markings
equipment locations reduces trip hazards by
ensuring that tools and equipment are not out • Pedestrian walkways
of place. • Exit routes
• Glow-in-the-dark markers

Floor marking is an excellent way to reinforce • “Keep Area Clear” signs

other safety information that may have been • Safety equipment/PPE signs
overlooked or forgotten. Adding messages • Trip hazard alerts
and symbols to the floor that may already
• Mechanical hazard alerts
be present on walls or equipment serve as
reminders. For example, “Watch for Forklift • Electrical hazard alerts
Traffic” or “PPE Required Area” floor signs can • Environmental hazard alerts
be placed at dangerous locations.
• Noise hazard alerts
• Emergency egress inline
While most industrial facilities already employ printed tape
floor marking for safety purposes, few have • “Look left” floor sign
studied ways to improve the effectiveness of • “Stop” floor sign
their existing visual communication strategies.
Smart, creative floor marking is an integral
piece of this puzzle, enhancing the overall
safety of a facility when combined with
signage and labeling.

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 Improving Efficiency

A workplace where employees or visitors

can easily understand how an area operates Some examples of floor
based on signs, labels, and other visual cues marking for efficiency:
is often referred to as a visual workplace.
• Proper locations of tools and
These cues can include placards on walls equipment
and/or machinery showing operating
• Visual cues for different work
procedures, equipment labels, signs with areas: finished goods, works
important reminders, and inventory level in progress, scrap, etc.
markers, as well as floor markings.
• Dedicated recycle, trash, or
red tag areas

Most large, profitable manufacturing • Reminders of 5S or lean

initiatives in the form of floor
companies have created visual workplaces,
signs
as visuals are key to lean manufacturing and
5S processes. By placing critical workplace • Directional arrows, which
will help employees and
information where it is needed, these visitors navigate your facility
companies have experienced less ‘lost time’ more quickly
related to employee confusion and errors.
• Bilingual messaging

Floor marking is a key part of creating a

visual workplace because it makes the
space easier to understand. And an easier-
to-understand workplace is a more efficient
and productive workplace.

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 Standards and Regulations

OSHA Clarifications

One of the top OSHA violations is “Walking/Work Surface Violations” with an average fine of
$1,632 per individual violation. These violations are issued when areas where employees walk
or work are not clearly marked to identify safe pathways or highlight dangers. OSHA Standard
1910.22 dictates that all companies mark these areas to prevent accidents.

Even though fines for

violations can be common,
few U.S. governmental
regulations exist that apply
to floor marking. OSHA
documents mention floor
marking only twice, which
can lead to confusion
about the subject.

OSHA CFR 1910.22,

titled “Walking-Working
Surfaces,” reads simply:
“Permanent aisles and
passageways shall be
appropriately marked.”

OSHA has clarified in follow-up interpretations that while floor markings are usually the least
expensive and most convenient way of meeting this requirement, other methods appropriate for
marking aisles and passageways may be used. (A dirt floor, for example, would be practically
impossible to paint or apply tape to.)

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 Floor Marking Color Guidelines

Yellow Aisleways & Traffic Lanes; Paths of Egress; Work Cells

Production; Racks, Machines, Carts, Benches,

White & Other Equipment

Red Defect/Scrap Area; Red Tag Area

Orange Material or Product Inspection; Energized Equipment

Green Materials & Manufacturing: Finished Goods

Blue Materials & Manufacturing: Raw Materials

Black Materials & Manufacturing: Works in Progress

Black & Yellow Areas which present physical or health risks to employees

Red & White Areas to be kept clear for safety reasons

Black & White Areas to be kept clear for operational purposes

These color code recommendations are widely accepted and comply with any interpretation of
OSHA or American National Standards Institute (ANSI) codes.

This scheme isn’t set by any specific law, so it can be modified to fit the needs of specific
facilities. It is a useful starting point for most applications.

If modified, post a color guide in a conspicuous location.

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 Line Width Guidelines

To ensure maximum visibility, the required minimum width for facility aisle and floor marking
lines is 2”. Therefore, any width above that is considered acceptable by OSHA and ANSI.

2” 3” 4” 6”+

Most typical applications use tape or painted lines with 2” - 6” widths.

Widths above 6” tend to be much more cost prohibitive and impractical to apply.

Aisle Width Guidelines

“Sufficient safe clearances” must be provided where mechanical equipment is used. The width
required will vary depending upon how the aisle is utilized in the workplace. Aisles that see
forklift and truck traffic will need to be wider than aisles for pedestrian traffic.

A good average aisle width is 36 inches.

Storage rooms containing flammable and combustible liquids must have aisles at least 36
inches wide.

Additionally, for emergency exit access points, 28 inches is the minimum allowed width.

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 Choosing the Best Method

Advancements in adhesive tape technology make floor marking tape a preferable alternative to
floor paint in many industrial facilities.

Floor Paints Industrial Floor Tapes

• Fumes require ventilation, PPE, possible

• No fumes
facility shutdown

• Dry time required • No dry time

• Spills possible • No spills

• Difficult straight or curved lines • Easy straight or curved lines

• Requires extensive prep time • Quick and easy prep

• Requires brushes, rollers, sprayers,

• Minimal tools/accessories
compressors, masking, drop cloths, etc.
• Disruption of work/space for
• Minimal if any work interruption
extended periods
• Requires pre-treatment of • Conforms to uneven surfaces like
rough surfaces concrete, asphalt, tile, brick

• Time consuming application • Quickly applied

• Requires abrasive machine and/or harsh

• Easily removed
chemicals for removal

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 Traffic Levels

All facilities have different levels of traffic and different hazards, so know what kind of traffic
exists in the area you plan to mark before choosing your marking materials.

Using the chart below, determine which traffic level best describes your scenario.

Light Medium Heavy Extreme

• Non-traffic • Regular foot • Heavy forklift • Constant

areas traffic traffic forklift traffic

• Infrequent foot • Some cart or • Constant foot • Forklift wheel

traffic pallet jack traffic pivoting
traffic
• No carts or • Heavy cart • Dragging
pallet jacks • Infrequent or pallet jack pallets or
forklift or traffic other items
• No trucks light-duty
truck traffic • Regular floor • Class 4+
• No forklifts cleaning or truck traffic
• Potential for scrubbing
• Minimal or no water and/or • Agressive
water contact chemical • Class 2+ floor cleaners/
contact truck traffic scrubbers
• No chemical
contact • Occasional • Water and/or • Any other
floor cleaning chemical major floor
or scrubbing contact hazards

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 Tape Grades

Different floor marking tapes exist to meet the varying needs of your facility.

There are light-duty tapes perfect for temporary marking or for areas that don’t see signifcant
traffic from employees or equipment. There are tapes that can withstand repeated abuse
from forklifts, chemicals, and other industrial hazards. There are even tapes that are virtually
indestructible.

Take a look at the following pages to see more information about the different grades of tape
available.

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 Economy Vinyl Tapes
Pros
Economy vinyl tapes (often simply referred
to as “vinyl tapes”) are multipurpose tapes • Low price point
used for a number of light-duty floor
• Available in widths under 2 inches
marking applications. They are also used
to mark desks and workspaces and for
color coordination. A common economy Cons
vinyl tape is electrical tape.
• Limited durability

• No removable backing liner

Many non-industrial, low-traffic, and
office facilities are able to use these • Can easily stretch during installation
tapes for areas without hazards such as
forklifts, pallet jacks, spills, and industrial • Difficult to apply straight lines
floor cleaners. • Unable to adhere to textured or porous
surfaces

Common economy vinyl tapes include:

• 3M 471 Tape

• Creative Safety Supply “5S Vinyl Tape”

Recommended
for traffic level: Light

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 Industrial Floor Tapes
Pros
Industrial floor tapes are heavy duty tapes
typically made from PVC material and • Strong material, no stretching
ranging between 0.02” and 0.15” in thickness.
• Removable backing liner
Most industrial tapes feature a low-profile
and a beveled edge, allowing small-wheeled • Powerful adhesive
carts to easily pass over lines.
• Can resist heavy traffic, forklifts

• Long lifespan
These tapes are specifically engineered
to withstand heavy traffic conditions
such as those found in warehouses, Cons
manufacturing floors, and other tough
environments where heavy equipment like • Higher price point than economy vinyl
forklifts and class 4 trucks operate. • May be compromised by a combination
of extreme weight and pivoting (i.e. large
forklift tires turning on tape lines)
Once applied, many of these tapes are also
resistant to water and chemicals, which
can be crucial for facilities whose floors are Common industrial floor tape lines include:
regularly cleaned with industrial scrubbers.
• SafetyTac®
• SafetyTac® Lean
These floor tapes will outlast painted lines • Brady ToughStripe
in most cases.
• Smart Stripe Tape
• SafetyTac® Inline Printed Tape

Light
Medium
Recommended
for traffic level:
Heavy

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 Specialized Floor Tapes
Pros
Specialized industrial floor tapes are
engineered to withstand specific hazards • Highly resistant to specific hazards
that may compromise regular industrial floor • Extremely durable
tapes, the most common being damage
from a combination of extreme weight paired • Powerful adhesive
with pivoting directly on the tape.
• Easy application

• Long lifespan
Even a tough industrial tape can melt or
smear when a heavy vehicle plants a tire
directly on it and pivots its wheel repeatedly. Cons
While not usually a problem, this can be an
issue in facilities with constant, extreme • Typically highest price point
equipment or vehicle traffic. To combat this,
extra-dense, rigid tapes exist to withstand
that extreme pressure and heat.
Common specialized floor tape lines include:

• SafetyTac® 2.0
Floor tapes are also available that combine
the toughness of industrial floor tapes with • SafetyTac® GRIP
the “grit” or “grip” of anti-slip floor tapes.

Light
Medium
Heavy
Recommended
for traffic level: Extreme

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 Virtual Floor Marking
Pros
Virtual floor marking products provide an
innovative option when you can’t apply • Fast installation
floor tapes or floor paint. These products • No replacing, retouching, or repainting
use high power LED light to create virtual
signs, which you can shine onto the floor • Simple to relocate
both indoors and outdoors.
• Environmentally friendly

Virtual signs are a great solution for areas

that receive an extreme amount of traffic,
where your traditional floor tape and signs Cons
may get torn up. With virtual signs, you
can mark the area clearly without worrying • High price point
about your visual communications fading
over time. You’ll be able to display signs in
different colors, including red and yellow,
Common virtual floor marking lines include:
which makes it excellent for crosswalks
and stop signs. • SignCast™ S200

• SignCast™ S300
Not only do these virtual markings improve
safety, they also reduce waste, enhance
quality control, and make a minimal impact
on the environment.
Light
Medium
Heavy
Recommended
traffic level: Extreme

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 THE TOUGHEST
FLOOR MARKING
TAPE EVER.

SAFETYTAC 2.0
®

Introducing SafetyTac® 2.0 with ARMOR Technology

SafetyTac® 2.0 is engineered from a rigid composite material

TOUGH and extra-strong adhesive, making it extremely resistant to

forklifts and other industrial traffic

Featuring a low profile and dual beveled edges, SafetyTac® 2.0

LOW PROFILE allows small-wheeled carts and foot traffic to pass over lines
with ease and without presenting any tripping hazards

7 COLORS Available in 7 bold, OSHA-standard colors: Yellow, White,

Black, Red, Green, Orange, and Blue
WITH

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for free samples at 1-866-777-1360
 Floor Marking Tips

While floor marking is a relatively simple procedure, it’s best to avoid the temptation to start
placing tape on the floor immediately. To ensure you get the best results in your facility, spend
some time considering options and developing a site-wide plan.

Get the most out of your floor marking:

 Solicit employee input for floor marking improvements.

 Develop detailed location plans before laying the first piece of tape.

 To avoid confusion, use as few colors as possible.

 Select colors and color patterns that are easy to recognize and distinguish.
Simple and bright is best.

 Avoid colors and patterns too close to existing safety markings.

 Do not cover access doors, electrical outlets, and important equipment with
floor markings.

 Colors chosen for pathways should not be used for other floor
marking applications.

 Continuous lines of tape are not always needed. In many cases, corner markers
are sufficient to show the edges of an area.

 Post your floor marking color code in a conspicuous location and train all
employees on your new system.

 Be aware that in some cases, colored floor tape alone may not be sufficient. Keep
an eye out for situations when additional visual communication, such as floor
signs or inline printed tape, may be required.

 To determine which type of floor marking is best for you, take careful
consideration of the traffic levels in your facility. This alone will be a large factor in
selecting the type of floor tape, floor signs, or virtual signs that you need.

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 Glow-in-the-Dark Floor Marking

The use of photoluminescent (glow-in-the-dark) technology has increased dramatically in

commercial and industrial facilities. In some regions it is a legal requirement. Why? These
materials clearly highlight egress pathways during power outages or smoky conditions.

Phosphorescent tape is a type of photo-luminescent tape that absorbs energy from a light source
during normal operating situations and then releases that energy as ‘glow’ when the light source is
removed. The ‘glow’ provided, while not sufficient to illuminate an area, will make paths and doors
visible if the lights go out.

Largely as the result of a report indicating that glow-in-the-dark markings in the World Trade
Center buildings played a crucial role in leading survivors to safety, in 2004, New York City
approved a building code law making phosphorescent markings mandatory at exit doors and in
emergency exit stairwells of commercial high-rise buildings over 75 feet.

New York’s initiative has been adopted as a model for other cities and organizations across the
country, including the California Building Code (CABC), the International Code Council (ICC), the
State of Connecticut, and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

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Floor Marking Signs

A variety of industries have begun to incorporate floor marking signs to enhance their visual
communications. These signs can be used for wide variety of applications, from area awareness
to reinforcing traffic patterns. They also identify the location of specific safety items, such as fire
extinguishers, and indicate which way to look as workers approach an intersection in your facility.

With pictograms, colors, and symbols that are OSHA compliant, floor signs are an excellent
addition to any existing floor marking program. They can also be used to enhance the organization
of your workplace by indicating red tag areas, pointing out the storage of specific tools, and more.
When implemented alongside floor tape, these signs help improve both safety and efficiency.

This type of floor marking sign

was specifically designed to be
applied alongside floor tape; each
sign has a flat side that is meant to
directly align with either a vertical
or horizontal section of floor tape.
They’re created with low-profile
material that withstands forklift
and pedestrian traffic, and matches
evenly with floor tape to prevent
tripping hazards.

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 SafetyTac® Inline Printed Tape

Floor marking is essential to a successful visual communications system, and floor tape that
conveys specific messaging can further enhance the safety and efficiency of your workplace.
Inline printed tape has custom messaging that can be used in a variety of situations. It warns
against potential hazards, indicates emergency egress, reminds workers to put safety first, and
marks out areas for trash and recycling. All of this keeps your workers safe and helps them
navigate, making your facility more efficient overall.

These messages can be bilingual, in English, or in other languages such as Spanish to ensure that
everyone in your facility is accommodated and able to receive communication about the safety of
their environment. Inline printed tape is also fully customizable, meaning you can label your facility
with tape that’s relevant to your unique environment, or create floor marking lines that have your
company’s logo embedded.

Like other types of floor marking, inline printed floor tape was designed to hold up to heavy traffic,
whether from vehicles or pedestrians, and is resistant to spills. Its reinforced adhesive stays in
place for years, so you’ll have it for as long as all of your other floor markings.

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 Label + Sign Printers 5S + Lean Tools

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a safer,
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DVDs + Training Floor Marking Tapes

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