YELLOW TAG MEANING

Yellow Tag – Confined Spaces

(As presented by UGI Heating, Cooling & Plumbing)

Your HVAC technician just ‘yellow-tagged’ your equipment. Why was this done and what does it mean?

• The definition of a Yellow Tag (Confined Spaces) is when a field employee observes or encounters a condition that is not an immediate hazard (but has the potential of becoming one in the future) and permanent repairs could be delayed, or when the space that provides combustion air is potentially insufficient to supply the required combustion air for an appliance.
• The piece of equipment or fuel line that is creating the condition may be turned on or left operating.
• The field employee is responsible for completely filling out the Yellow Caution or Yellow Caution Insufficient Combustion Air tag.
• A field employee will explain to you why your system has been tagged, they will also explain to you what needs to be done to bring your system up to code.
• You will be asked to sign the yellow tag, verifying that you understand why your system has been tagged as well as what you can do to bring it back up to code.
• If a potential confined space problem is present, the field employee must ask you a list of questions pertaining to the possibility of the presence of carbon monoxide. If you answer yes to any of these questions (without an alternate reason), then the employee must follow specific actions.

If your answer is no to these questions, the appliance or service should be yellow tagged and the Yellow Tag Insufficient Air for Combustion letter shall be left with you (if available.)

“But another HVAC company was here and did not yellow-tag my equipment.”

At UGI Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, we are especially concerned with safety and striving to raise the bar regarding safety for both you, our valued customer and our employees. By “Yellow Tagging” your equipment, our field technician has determined that corrective measures need to be applied to ensure your safety. Yellow Tag means that the issue can be corrected once the appropriate measures have been completed.

A note about Carbon Monoxide:

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas and poisonous gas that burns with a pale-blue to yellow flame, produced when carbon burns with insufficient air. Any fuel – natural gas , propane, oil, kerosene, wood, coal or charcoal – can produce Carbon Monoxide when there is insufficient air for the combustion process.

Assessing the Potential Presence of Carbon Monoxide (CO)

1. Do you have a Carbon Monoxide Detector that has alarmed?
2. Are any members of the household ill with the following symptoms: headache, fatigue, shortness of
   breath, nausea, dizziness? Do these symptoms improve when they leave the house?
3. Have you noticed moisture/condensation on your walls and windows, other than in bathrooms or
   above your kitchen sink?
4. Is there any water streaking, rusting, debris or soot on chimney, vents, or equipment?
5. Have you smelled any unfamiliar burning odors from your fuel burning equipment?
6. Are many of your houseplants dying?
7. Have any pets become sluggish or ill??

If you answered yes to any of the above could indicate the potential presence of CO. You should call an expert immediately to assess the situation and to ensure that you and your family are safe in your home.