True or False: A color code or bar code system is used for duct identification.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. It depends on site
• D. Not used

Answer: (A)

Color codes or bar codes on ductwork are used to identify ducts quickly and accurately. Color codes provide an immediate visual cue to what a duct carries or its service (such as supply, return, or exhaust) and sometimes its zone or system, while bar codes attach specific data to each duct segment—size, material, insulation, installation date, routing, and related drawings or maintenance records. This combination speeds up fabrication and installation, reduces labeling errors, and supports balancing, commissioning, and future maintenance by making exact information easy to retrieve with a scan. In many jobs, these tagging systems are standard practice on both the shop floor and on-site, though some projects may use alternative tagging methods.