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Brass valve tags.
Engraved for permanent valve ID.

Engraved brass valve tags for permanent valve identification, ASME A13.1 pipe scheme alignment, and mechanical system marking. Manufactured in-house in brass, aluminum, stainless steel, and engravable two-ply laminate. Engraved in Chico since 1982.

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Why engraved brass

Permanent identification of valves and isolation points.

Engraved brass has been a durable standard for permanent valve identification for over a century. ASME A13.1-2023 governs identification of aboveground piping through color coding and legend requirements; industry practice extends the same content and color scheme to valve tags mounted at each valve body for consistency between pipe markers and the valve locations they serve. For facilities running lockout/tagout programs, permanent brass or aluminum tags identify each valve as an energy-isolation point — the permanent identification that stays with the valve between LOTO events.

Permanent identification and temporary tagout devices are two different products. The temporary tagout device applied during a lockout/tagout event is a separate product category governed by OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147, with specific construction requirements: non-reusable self-locking attachment with a minimum 50-pound unlocking strength, DO NOT OPERATE or equivalent warning, and the identity of the employee applying the device. We make the permanent brass identification tag that marks the valve — not the temporary tagout device applied during the LOTO event.

We manufacture in brass, aluminum, and stainless steel, and in engravable two-ply laminate for chemical environments where metals corrode. Four core materials, one facility, no outside vendors — turnaround discipline, material consistency across reorders, and quality control at the source. Send us your valve list, tag content, color coding, and attachment preferences. We come back with pricing, material recommendations, and a proof for your approval before anything ships. Reorders match the approved layout already on file.

Where brass valve tags go

The systems and programs engraved brass identifies.

Valve tags are the point-of-use identification standard across mechanical, electrical, and life-safety systems, and across water and wastewater treatment facility identification. We engrave brass, aluminum, stainless steel, and engravable two-ply laminate to match each application's environment, color-coding standard, and attachment method. The same tags carry through our utility and substation identification work.

LOTO isolation-point identification
Permanent brass or aluminum tags that mark each valve as an energy-isolation point within your lockout/tagout program. The temporary tagout device applied during the LOTO event is a separate product we don't currently produce.
Permanent ID for LOTO programs
Mechanical rooms & HVAC
HVAC systems, boiler rooms, chilled water, hot water, condenser water. Engraved brass tags with your facility color coding and function identification, mounted on bead chain.
ASME A13.1-2023 alignment
Medical gas systems
Valve tags for hospital oxygen, nitrous oxide, medical air, and vacuum piping. Engraved to zone valve box specifications, source equipment identification, and area alarm labeling per your facility standard.
NFPA 99
Fire sprinkler control valves
Permanent identification for fire sprinkler control, drain, venting, and test-connection valves per NFPA 13 general requirements. Engraved brass with system type and portion-of-building coverage.
NFPA 13
Process plants & chemical
Engravable laminate for chemical resistance where brass corrodes; stainless steel for petrochemical and pharma clean-in-place service. Custom legends per your P&ID and facility tag scheme.
ISA-5.1-2024 · Facility spec
Refrigeration & ammonia
Aligned with IIAR bulletins for industrial refrigeration and anhydrous ammonia piping identification. Engraved aluminum tags color-coded by line function per your facility standard.
IIAR bulletins
Materials we engrave

Four materials, one shop.

We manufacture brass valve tags, aluminum tags, stainless steel tags, and engravable two-ply laminate in-house. Our fiber laser marks metal substrates, and our CO2 laser engraves laminate. We match each material to the specified alloy, chemistry, temperature, exposure, and mounting method.

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Brass — naval or C260 cartridge

Naval brass and C260 cartridge brass perform well in most indoor and general atmospheric applications. Alloy selection depends on the installation environment. Brass valve tags provide engraved valve identification for mechanical systems, piping systems, and isolation points.
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Aluminum — lightweight and anodized

Anodized aluminum is available in a range of colors, including standard hazard categories. Its light weight and cost structure suit large-scale facility identification programs.
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Stainless steel — chloride, sanitation, and heat exposure

304 or 316 stainless steel suits chloride exposure, sanitation processes, and high-temperature applications where a suitable brass alloy is not preferred. Grade selection depends on the operating environment.
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Engravable two-ply laminate — chemical-specific applications

Two-ply phenolic or acrylic laminate is available for applications where metals are not preferred. Material selection depends on chemical exposure and operating temperature. Engraving exposes the contrasting core. 28 color combinations are available.
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Attachment hardware

Attachment options include brass bead chain, S-hooks, wire ties, rivets, and adhesive backing. Brass bead chain is the standard attachment for permanent identification tags. Hardware is sized to the valve and selected for the mounting requirements.
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Standard and custom shapes

Standard rounds are available in 1.5-inch and 2-inch sizes. Standard rectangles are available in 1.5 × 3-inch and 2 × 3-inch sizes. Custom dimensions, shapes, and hole patterns are made to customer specifications. MOQ is one for standard sizes and reorders.

Send us your valve list, material requirements, dimensions, hole pattern, and attachment specifications. We come back with pricing and a proof for your approval.

Related guide
Valve tags face steam, chemicals, and wash-down depending on the system. Our materials guide covers which substrate fits which environment.
Compare valve tag materials →
Built to your spec

The standards our valve tags are made against.

Built to ASME A13.1-2023 pipe identification and your facility standard. We manufacture to customer-provided specifications, drawings, color-coding standards, and facility documentation. We don't perform pipe identification engineering, determine required color coding, or act as the authority having jurisdiction — we engrave the tag to your spec.

ASME · A13.1-2023
Piping system identification
Current edition of the U.S. pipe marking standard, revising A13.1-2020. Establishes a scheme for identification of fluids conveyed in aboveground piping through color, letter height, legend, and placement — including marker placement near valves and flanges. Industry practice extends the same color and content scheme to valve tags at each valve body.
OSHA · 1910.147
Lockout/tagout — permanent ID vs. tagout device
Permanent brass valve tags identify valves as energy-isolation points within a LOTO program. Temporary tagout devices applied during the lockout/tagout event are a separate product category with specific attachment requirements (non-reusable, self-locking, 50-lb minimum unlocking strength) — we don't currently produce the temporary tagout device.
NFPA · 99
Medical gas system identification
Health Care Facilities Code — governs identification of medical gas and vacuum systems in healthcare occupancies, including valves, source equipment, and alarms. Specific format and content requirements depend on the component and adopted edition; we engrave to your facility standard.
NFPA · 13
Fire sprinkler control valve identification
Requires permanently marked, weatherproof metal or rigid-plastic signs for control, drain, venting, and test-connection valves in fire sprinkler systems, secured with corrosion-resistant wire, chain, or approved means. A control-valve sign identifies the portion of the building the valve serves.
ANSI/ISA · 5.1-2024
Instrumentation symbols and identification
Provides standardized symbols and identification methods for instrumentation and control devices shown on P&IDs. Facility numbering structures may follow ISA conventions but are owner- or engineer-defined. We engrave valve tags to your P&ID reference and facility tag scheme.
IIAR
Ammonia refrigeration labeling
IIAR Bulletin 114 provides an ammonia refrigeration labeling scheme with recommendations for label sizes, colors, locations, materials, and identification of piping and system components. Engraved aluminum tags color-coded per your facility standard.
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Frequently asked

Common questions on brass valve tags.

What materials do you engrave valve tags in?
Brass (the traditional standard), aluminum (lightweight and anodized in a range of colors), stainless steel (for chloride, sanitation, and high-temperature applications), and engravable two-ply laminate (phenolic or acrylic for chemical environments where metals are not preferred). Material choice is matched to the installation environment — alloy, chemistry, temperature, and mounting method — at the quote stage.
How do valve tags work with ASME A13.1 pipe color coding?
ASME A13.1-2023 governs pipe identification with a scheme of color, legend, and placement requirements for aboveground piping. Industry practice extends the same content and color scheme to valve tags at each valve body for consistency between the pipe marker and the valve identification — either through material color (anodized aluminum, colored two-ply laminate) or through engraved color fills on brass. We engrave whatever your facility standard specifies. We don't determine the required color coding or act as the authority having jurisdiction.
Do brass valve tags work in LOTO programs?
Yes — for identification. Engraved brass or aluminum tags identify each valve as an energy-isolation point within your LOTO program, providing the permanent identification that stays with the valve. The temporary tagout device applied during a lockout/tagout event is a separate product category governed by OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 — with specific construction requirements including a non-reusable self-locking attachment (minimum 50-pound unlocking strength), a DO NOT OPERATE or equivalent warning, and the identity of the employee applying the device. We don't currently produce the temporary tagout device; we produce the permanent identification tag that marks the isolation point.
Can I use printed adhesive labels instead of engraved brass?
Yes, printed adhesive labels can meet applicable durability requirements when the substrate is matched to the installation environment. Engraved brass is one traditional option — the identification is placed directly on the metal surface rather than in a printed layer over an adhesive substrate. Each method has appropriate use cases; the durability profile depends on marking depth, substrate, finish, environment, and maintenance. We manufacture the engraved option.
How are valve tags attached to valves?
Standard attachment for permanent identification tags is brass bead chain around the valve body or stem. We also supply S-hooks, wire ties, rivets, and adhesive backing on request. Attachment method is specified per your valve type and facility standard at the quote stage. Note: standard bead chain is intended for permanent identification tags and does not meet the OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 attachment requirements for temporary tagout devices used during lockout/tagout events (non-reusable, self-locking, minimum 50-pound unlocking strength). Temporary tagout devices are a separate product category.
What sizes and shapes do you make?
Standard rounds at 1.5" and 2", standard rectangles at 1.5×3 and 2×3, plus any custom shape and dimension. Hole patterns to your specification. Custom shapes on both metal and engravable laminate — no tooling charges for one-off shapes. MOQ = 1 for standard sizes and reorders.
Are your brass tags suitable for outdoor and harsh environments?
A suitable brass alloy performs well in most indoor and general atmospheric applications. For saltwater exposure, food-grade or pharma clean-in-place service, ammonia refrigeration, or continuous chemical contact, stainless steel or engravable two-ply laminate is often the better material match — the specific choice depends on chloride concentration, sanitation chemistry, temperature, and galvanic conditions. Material recommendations come at the quote stage based on your specific environment.
Can you match my facility's existing tag format?
Yes. Send us a photo, a sample tag, or your facility standard document. We match material, dimensions, color coding, legend format, attachment method, and font style. Once your standard is on file, every reorder matches exactly — across sites and over decades.
What's the lead time?
Standard turnaround is 24–48 hours from proof approval. Same-day rush is available for time-critical work — post-incident replacement, imminent inspection, or emergency relabeling. Faster on request when it's a real emergency — call and ask.
How do I order?
Send us your valve list or tag content, color coding standard, material preference, size, and attachment method. We come back with pricing, material recommendations, and a proof for your approval before anything ships. Reorders match the approved layout already on file. All calls answered live, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM PT.

Get your engraved valve tag quote in one call.

Send us your valve list, tag content, and facility color-coding standard — or a sample of your existing tag for a matching reorder. We'll come back with pricing, material recommendations, and a proof for your approval. Reorders match the approved layout already on file.

Request a quote Call (530) 895-8448