How should potable water piping be color-coded for differentiation?

The proper color-coding for potable water piping is blue for cold water and red for hot water. This system helps to ensure that plumbers, technicians, and anyone working with or around these pipes can easily identify which pipes carry hot and which carry cold water. This differentiation is essential for safety and efficiency; it prevents accidental handling of hot water lines that could cause burns and aids in the design and maintenance of plumbing systems.

This standardization is widely accepted and helps in achieving consistency across plumbing practices, ensuring that installations meet code requirements and that individuals can quickly and accurately identify piping systems.

Incorrect options feature color combinations that do not adhere to industry standards, which would create confusion and increase the risk of mishandling or improper installation of plumbing systems. For instance, using green for cold water or yellow for hot water is not recognized as safe or standard practice in plumbing.