Marking Flags & Tape (31 items found)

Lay out boundaries and mark important locations with tough, tear-resistant flags and tapes. Ace Hardware has marker flags and tapes available in a variety of sizes and bright colors to get the job done. Learn more about the meanings of the different flag marker colors and how to use flagging tape in our guide below.

What Do Marking Flag Colors Mean?

Color-coded wire stake flags work better in outdoor settings when compared to flagging tape. They can withstand harsh weather conditions and can stay in place in strong winds.

Keep reading to find out what each survey flag color means, as per the American Public Works Association (APWA) Uniform Color Codes:

• Red: Red flags indicate electric utilities including cables, conduit lines and power lines that connect to a neighboring power grid. Marking these areas helps prevent power outages.
• White: White flags mark proposed excavation routes and limits.
• Pink: Use pink flags alongside your measuring tool to mark a survey area or an unknown underground utility.
• Yellow: Yellow flags mark gas lines, oil, petroleum, steam or other potentially flammable material. If disturbed, the area can potentially contaminate the soil around it or cause an explosion.
• Orange: Use orange flags for landlines or other telecommunication systems such as cable TV, signal or alarm lines.
• Blue: Mark water and irrigation lines with a blue flag. You can also use this color to indicate drinking water.
• Purple: Purple flags indicate recycled waste water, irrigation or slurry.
• Green: Green flags indicate sewer lines and drains. These types of lines and drains are very important to mark since they can release poisonous gasses or flood the area if cut.

What is Flagging Tape Used For?

Flag marker color codes also apply to flagging tapes. Some common applications for colored tapes include:

• Forestry: Used to mark unhealthy trees, invasive species or saplings, flagging tape can also help fire fighters navigate through wildfire.
• Construction: Can identify where potential hazards may lay, like water pipes, electrical lines, gas pines and more, helping workers avoid costly mistakes.
• Surveying: Allows clear identification of property lines and special interest sites.
• Recreation: Enabling safer navigation of outdoor recreational activities including hiking trails, off-road vehicle routes and more.
• Emergency Response: Used to flag escape routes, indicate medical triages and safety zones, identifying who may need immediate attention and more.

Find the Right Marking Flags & Tapes at Ace

Flag markers and tapes keep people safe when used appropriately. If you are unsure if an area is safe to dig, call 811 for more information. Alert people nearby by marking these areas with a colored marking flag or flagging tape immediately. Find the marking tape or stake flag you need at Ace from top brands like C.H. Hanson and Empire, and make sure to find other measuring and marking tools your job calls for.