{"id":1522,"date":"2020-04-01T20:11:52","date_gmt":"2020-04-02T00:11:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/learn5sdev.wpengine.com\/?p=660"},"modified":"2026-02-05T16:32:44","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T21:32:44","slug":"floor-marking-tape-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.compliancesigns.com\/blog\/floor-marking-tape-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Floor Marking Tape Guide: Your Ultimate Tool for 5S Tape Success"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Floor marking is one of the most common tools used to quickly and efficiently convey information to people in a space. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From warehouses to high tech factories, the ease of using simple lines and grids to direct foot traffic or show where items should rest is a simple organizational tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5S-style floor marking<\/strong><\/a> conveys information in a quick and efficient way that works to open up space while making the work area more user-friendly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 5S Store<\/strong><\/a> worked with hundreds of facilities to design and implement their 5S floor marking programs. In this guide, we share everything you need to know to create your plan and install tape in your facility. And, we\u2019ve created a handy checklist to help you on your journey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will cover the entire taping process, from where floor taping falls in the 5S process to troubleshooting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Common Applications<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Color Guidelines<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Choose the Right Tape<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Take The Tape Selection Quiz<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Troubleshooting Taping Problems<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Where tape falls in the 5S process<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Floor and aisle taping programs help to improve efficiency and fall within the Set In Order <\/em>phase<\/strong><\/a>. Although there\u2019s a lot to be implemented in Standardize <\/em>related to floor marking, as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Asking yourself what 5S is and how it can help you? Learn more about it here.<\/u><\/em><\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common Applications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Shop 5S Floor Marking:<\/h3>\n\n
\"Stacked<\/a><\/td>\"Floor<\/a><\/td>\"Sign<\/a><\/td>\"Floor<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve seen floor tape<\/a> <\/strong>used in many creative ways, but these are the most common. Which areas represent an opportunity for your facility? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Storage Indicators for Product and Materials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We find this strategy saves huge amounts of time, energy and hassle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use floor marking tape or corner markers<\/strong><\/a> to show where pallets filled with product or materials are meant to be placed. This particular application is easily used for both long term storage and short term project. Make sure to choose the appropriate type of tape (or corners) accordingly, by reading about the types of tape below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equipment and Tool Storage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Just like in the storage use-case above, utilizing tape to outline where equipment and large tools should be placed helps ensure everything has a \u201chome\u201d in your facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another important benefit of outline equipment is to help new operators understand how much space is needed to operate the equipment safely. The lines literally create an imprint in the mind of the worker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Communicating with Employees<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Use tape and other floor-adhering visual messaging tools<\/strong><\/a> to remind workers about what to avoid, where certain activities are allowed\/not allowed (such as smoking), or wherever information that requires constant reminders needs to be displayed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aisle Marking Traffic Routes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even if you\u2019ve never set foot on a manufacturing floor, you\u2019ve probably seen aisle marking to distinguish traffic routes. Gyms, schools, and other high-traffic facilities use them all the time to direct traffic. On work floors, this type of marking avoids hazards such as collisions between workers and machinery. In areas where floor tape won’t work, line projectors<\/strong><\/a> can be a good solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to regularly followed paths, using special aisle marking tape to mark emergency exits, footprints, and other elements to clearly mark emergency routes allows anyone to get in and out of your facility in an emergency safely with no training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hazardous Areas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Alert employees visually of any possible dangerous areas by utilizing caution tape or specialty decals like door swing floor signs<\/strong><\/a> in front of and around the area. Consider marking any areas that contain chemicals, electrical, potentially hazardous equipment, or tripping hazards carefully and fully (Read on to learn how improper hazard marking violates OSHA standards).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Improving Safety with Floor Marking Guidelines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Using floor marking in your facility will help to make your workers safer. This is why there are several OSHA standards around this topic. Even when regulations do not require it, floor marking is a relatively inexpensive complement to your safety program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to regulatory requirements and long-held best practices, it’s likely that you\u2019ve already deployed some floor taping and\/or aisle marking to help with safety. However, before you scroll past this section, thinking you\u2019re all set, check to see if you are taking full advantage of these common safety optimizations that not all facilities are yet utilizing. These are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n