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ANSI Z535.1-1998
ANSI Z535.1-1998
1-1998
AMERICAN STANDARD
NATIONAL
SAFETY
COLOR
CODE
SAFETY
COLOR CODE
Secretariat
The useof American National Standards is completely voluntary; their existence does
not in any respect preclude anyone, whether he has approved the standards or not,
from manufacturing, marketing, purchasing, or using products, processes, or proce-
dures not conforming to the standards,
The American National Standards Institute does not develop standards and will in no
circumstances give an interpretation of any American National Standard. Moreover,
no person shall have the right or authority to issue an interpretationof an American
National Standardin the name ofthe American National Standards Institute. Requests
for interpretations should be addressed to the secretariat or sponsor whose name
appears on thetitle pageof this standard.
Published by
Annex A Understanding and using the color specifications set in forth the
..................................................................................................
ANSI 2535.1 Safety Color Code 15
Revisions 2001............................................................................................................................ 17
Form for Proposals...................................................................................................................... 18
ANSI 2535.1-1998
"To develop standards for the design, application, and use of signs, colors,
and symbols intended to identify and warn against specific hazards for
and
other accident prevention purposes."
2535.2 - Environmental and Facility Safety Signs, which updates 235.1 (1972).
2535.5 - Accident Prevention Tags (for Temporary Hazards), which updates 235.2 (1974).
Together, these five standards contain the information needed to specify formats, colors, and symbols for
safety signs usedin environmental and facility applications (2535.2), product applications (2535.4), and
temporary accident prevention tags (2535.5).
It is desirable that new safety signs, labels, symbols and colors comply with these standards.
This Safety Color Code Standard is the sixth revision of the American War Standard, developedat the request
of the War Department and approved by the American Standards Association (ASA) on 16,1945.July The
ASA was reconstitutedas the USA Standards institute (USASI) in August 1966, and as the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI)in October 1969. Peacetime work on revising the American War Standard
containing the Safety Color Code began in 1946 under committee procedures of the ASA,with the National
Safety Council serving as sponsor of the project. The Sectional Committee on the Safety Color Code, 253,
reviewed theWar Standard and enlargedits application to include the colors orange, blue, and purple. The
committee also approved standard definitions and limits for the colors. The revised standard was approved
by the ASA on September ,11 1953. In the 1971 revision, the 253 committee deleted the color blue and
modified the application
of the color yellow, dueto conflicts with other American National Standards.
The intent of thefifth revision(1991) of the safety color standard was to provide a series of visually
distinguishable safety colors, each with specific uses. This1998 version, the sixth revision, incorporates
corrections and additions that help to clarify theof use
this standard in conjunction with the other
2535
standards. This revision also adds an annex that explains how to relate the CIE safety color specifications
contained in Table1 with the CIE chromaticity diagrams illustratedin Figures 1,2 and 3.
The limited color gamut and aging characteristics of fluorescent colorants combine to restrictthe number and
chromaticities of fluorescent safety colors. For this reason, categories of unrestricted red-orange and
unrestricted yellow fluorescent colors have been added to supplement the restricted specifications that are
equivalent to CIE international standards. The unrestricted specifications may be used when no more than
three distinguishable fluorescent safety colors are required for outdoor use for twoupyears.
to
Recent researchis providing conclusive evidence that highly chromatic colors, in some chromaticities, serve
to increase or decrease the perception of lightness (for reflective materials) and brightness (for self-luminous
objects). The effect is more dramaticin the case of colored lights and colored retroreflective materials.
Future revisions of this standard might consider opportunities for improving the visibility of safety signs, colors
and symbols through the selective use of vividly colored retroreflectors as well as include test methods and
color specifications for retroreflective and self-luminous materials.
For this revisionof the ANSI2535.1 standard, special appreciation and thanks are extended
to Nick Hale for
his expert guidance.
Suggestions for improvement ofthis standard arewelcome. They should be sent to the American National
York 10036.
Standards Institute, 11 W. 42nd Street, New York, New
This standard was processed and approved for submittal to ANSI by the American National Standards
2535. Committee approval of this standard does not necessarily
Committee on Safety Signs and Colors,
imply that all committee members voted for its approval, but that a consensus
of all members was obtained.
Geoffrey
Peckham,
Chair
Nick
Hale
Norbert Johnson
vi
ANSI 2535.1-1998
and specification system based on uniform visual annotated with Munsell notations, and appropriate to
spacing as describedin Standard Practice for the color regionof interest. Such standards include
Specifying Color by the Munsell System, ASTM the Hazardous Materials Labels and Placards Color
D1535 (reference 16). Table 1 lists the Munsell Tolerance Charts, appropriate colors from the
notations for each standard and its surrounding Munsell Book of Color (reference 18), and other color
tolerance limits, and provides equivalent data in the samples whose values have been determined by
CIE 1931 system for usein section 7.3. instrumental measurement and converted to Munsell
notation, provided that the restrictions of 7.2.3 are
7.1.2 The Color Tolerance Charts designed for use observed. Visual examination shall be conducted in
with this standard (see section7.2.1 and reference accordance with ASTM D l 729 (reference 19),
17) display the standard color and three pairs of Standard Practice for Visual Examination of Color
tolerance colors, representing the upper (+) and Differences of Opaque Materials.
lower (-) limits for the visual attributes
of hue, value
and chroma. Table 1 shows the Munsell notations for 7.2.3 Testing for compliance by visual examination
each of these seven colors and the equivalent CIE shall be limited to cases in which the specimens to
x,y,Y data, for CIE Standard Illuminant C and the 2O be tested and the visual reference standards have
CIE 1931 Standard Observer. Table 1 also gives the similar spectral characteristics: that is, the specimens
boundary equations of permissible areas on the CIEshall not be noticeably metameric to the standards as
1931 Chromaticity Diagram and the luminous judged by ASTM D4086 (reference 20), Standard
reflectance of the standard (Y) . Figure 1 shows the Practice for Visual Evaluationof Metamerism. If
CIE 1931 Chromaticity Diagram on which the these condiiions are met, the test for compliance
permissible areas are defined by the boundary shall be made under actual daylight or any source
equations and the color names and Munsell designated for color matching of appropriate daylight
Notations for each Safety Color. quality, andby any observer having normal color
vision.
7.1.3 The specification for Safety White(a neutral) is
given in Table 1. The intent of the permissible color 7.3 Instrumental test method
range specifiedin Table 1for Safety Whiteis to
permit greater deviation from neutral white in the red 7.3.1 The instrumental color specification for each
to orange to yellow hue range, and lesser deviation in color is a set of CIE 1931 chromaticity coordinates,
the rest of the hue circle. This deviationis necessary x,y, and luminous reflectanceY, calculated for CIE
because most white colorants are really off-whites in Standard Illuminant C and the CIE 1931 2 O Standard
the red-to-yellow range. Ageing of white also results Observer, These data are equivalent
to theMunsell
in shifts in the same direction. Becauseit is difficult notations describedin Section 7.1 .l. From them are
to express this transition between chroma levels withderived boundary equations defining areas in CIE
change in hue without listing a large number of data color space (CIE 1931 Chromaticity Diagram) at the
points, users should be guided by the ovoid shown in luminous reflectance of the standard(Y), as listedin
Figure 2. Table 1. The permissible areas appear on Figures 1
and 2.
7.1.4 The colorsin this Safety Color Code have
been chosento provide maximum feasible 7.3.2 Testing for compliance can be done through
recognition by both normal and color-deficient the use of spectrophotometers designed to measure
(specifically red-green confusing) observers. reflecting materials, with the data processed to yield
CIE x,y,Y data for Standard Illuminant C and the CIE
7.2 Visual test method 1931 2 O Standard Observer. The primary standard
for reflectance shall be the perfect reflecting diffuser
7.2.1 The visual specifications and test methods for as defined by the CIE. See ASTM E1164 (reference
daytime color are contained in the Hazardous 21) Standard Practice for Obtaining Spectrophoto-
Materials Labels and Placards Color Tolerance metric Data for Object Color Evaluation; ASTM E308
Charts adopted by the U.S. Department of (reference 22) Standard Method for Computing the
Transportation, Research and Special Programs Colors of Objectsby Using the CIE System; or ASTM
Administration (see reference17). D2244 (reference 23), Test Method for Calculation of
Color Differences From Instrumentally Measured
7.2.2 Testing for compliance shall be by visual Color Coordinates.
examination using visual reference standards
4
ANSI 2535.1-1998
óòòoòòò 2
6
9 - l l l l l l
".-."7--.
0000000 2
-
c
I I
+ I 1 + I + I 1
ANSI 2535.1-1998
(U
P!
3
U
J
i
ï
al
al
o
% 1 1 1 ~ 1 % 1 1 1 1 1
G
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+
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o
a
-
Table 2 Equations of the boundary lines for the specified chromaticity
regions of
fluorescent safety colors illuminated by a source
equivalent to CIE D, measured using
15O/Oogeometry, and expressed in the CIE 1931 system.
-
Table 3 Chromaticity coordinates of the corners ofthe recommended regions of
by a source equivalent to CIE D65, measured using
fluorescent safety colors illuminated
15O/Oogeometry, and expressedin the CIE 1931 system.
1 2 3 4
Color X Y X Y X Y X Y
Restricted Red 0.595
0.315
0.690
0.310 0.569
0.341 0.655
0.345
Green 0.313
0.682 0.209
0.383
0.313
0.453 0.013
0.486
Talble 4 - Minimum permissible values of luminance factors and/or spectral (total) radiance factors,
safety colors illuminatedby a source
within the indicated wavelength range, of fluorescent
equivalent toCIE D, and measured using4!5"/0" geometry.
10
.90
.80
.70
.60
Y
.40
.30
.20
.IO
V
O .1o .20 .30 .40 .50 .60 .70 .80
X
Note: The small circles inside each color limit area identifies the centroid
for each color.
S
'eeFigure 2 for an enlargedview of the white, grey and black limit
areas
-
Figure 1 CIE 1931 chromaticity diagram showing the areas representing the
ANSI 2535.1 Safety ColorCode
11
Legend
Munsell
Color
Munsell
Value
Chroma
Tolerance
""_ White N9 10.5 to 11.0
Grey N5 10.5
-""" Black N 1.5 10.5
-
Figure 2 Enlarged view of the CIE 1931 chromaticity diagram showing the areas representing
the ANSI 2535.1 Safety Color Code for white, grey and black
12
.90
.80
.70
.60
Green
.50
Y
.40
.30 +D65
.20
.10
O
O .20 .30 .40 .50 .60 .70
-
Figure 3 CIE 1931 chromaticity diagram showing the areas representing fluorescent safety color
illuminated by a source equivalentto CIE D, and measured using45*/0° geometry
12. American National Standard ßadio Frequency 27. American National Standard for Hazardous
Radiation Hazard Warning Symbol. ANSI C95.2- lndustrial Chemicals- Precautionary Labeling.
1982 (R 1988). ANSI Z129.1-1994.
13. Uniform Marking of Fire Hydrants. NFPA No. 28. Standard Specification for Retroreflective
291-1988. Sheeting for Traffic Control.
ASTM D4956-95.
14
Annex A
(Informative)
Understanding and usingthe color specificationsset forth in
the ANSI 2535.1 Safety Color Code
In science and industry, colors of products are specified in colorimetric terms. In each caseit is necessary to
specify a tolerance range for a color sinceit is seldom possible to exactly match a specified color. In color-
intensive industries such as paint, textiles, plastics, ceramics and printing, color measuring instruments are
ordinarily used to determineif a product's color is within a specification. These instruments are expensive
and require a trained operator, though when used frequently, their expense is justified.
Many industries only occasionally need to comply with a color specification inand
such cases the expense of
an instrument and a trained operator is difficult to justify. For such applications color tolerance charts are
often used to display the ideal color and examples of tolerances around it. Color samples are visually com-
pared to such charts to determine compliance with colorimetric specifications. Thus,is possible
it to have
to determine color conformance.
both instrumental and visual test methods
In ANSI 2535.1, Table 1 and Figures 1 and 2 provide specificatian data. Figure1 is a CIExy chromaticity
diagram. This diagram is essentially a "color map" upon which are plotted the ideal safety colors and their
tolerance regions. Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the central portion of Figure 1 that makes
it easier to plot
1, the horseshoe-shaped perimeteris called the spectrum
the neutral colors (white, gray and black). In Figure
locus and along its outer boundary lie the most vivid versions of each safety color. Wavelength numbers
appear just outside this locus. It is not currently possible to produce opaque colors vivid enough to fall on the
spectrum locus, though we can achieve these positions with colored lights.
Within each permissible color region in Figure1 is a circle denoting the position
of the ideal, or Standard
Color. These are the colors definedin Table 1 of this standard. For each color region there is a rangeof hue
defined by the lines extending to the spectrum locus, plus a line connecting two these
toward the center of the
diagram which represents the boundary of minimum saturation. You can duplicate these plots by solving the
linear equations in Table 1 (Boundary Equations) and xy data pairs on graph paper.
plotting the resulting
To instrumentally test a colored sample you need to measure it on a spectrophotometer and then compute the
data forCIE Illuminant C and the CIE 1931 2" Standard Observer. These computations are made automati-
cally once the computer menu is programmed accordingly. The instrumental result in terms Yxyofdata are
recorded. Plot x and y on the xy diagram, andif this data point is within the boundary, the chromaticity is
satisfactory. The capitalY value is compared with the range Yofvalues in Table 1 under "Specification" and
"CIE Data." If the color is neutral (white, grayor black) use Figure2 for plotting thexy data.
The visual test method differs from the instrument one because people see colors differently from how
instruments measure colors. However both methods give related results, though the instrumental results are
so the inaccuracy inherent
more accurate. The actual color tolerances for each Safety Color are quite liberal
in the visual test method is seldom a problem.
Figure 5 is an example showing how the color specification test methods are used in practice. This illustration
- the solid square corner points are
is an enlargementof the xy chromaticity diagram region for Safety Yellow
the same as the comer points for this color
in Figure 1. For conveniencethe spectrum locus, the red and
green boundary lines, and the minimum saturation boundary are also identified.
The solid circles identify points along the red, green and low saturation boundaries and is athere
"HIGH
CHROMA" color which is a typical color more vividthan the idealor standard color. Examples of high chroma
(saturation) colors appear on color tolerance charts for orientation purposes.
15
The RED LIMIT H- color on Figure 5 is shownin Table 1 as Safety Yellow Hue- and has a Munsell notation of
6.5Y 8.0/12. Visually itis clearly redder than the Standard Safety Yellow Color
(5.0Y 8.0/12). All colors falling
along the Red Boundary will have the same visual hue as this Red Limit, permitting the observer to determine
if a color sampleis too red or visually between the Standard Safety Yellow Color and the Red hue Tolimit.
compare a sample color with a color tolerance chart, the sample
is placed under the cutout portionof the
chart and viewedin daylight. A visual determination can then be made to ifsee
the sample color falls within
the chart's visual color tolerances.
When a Yellow color sampleis compared with the Standard Safety color on a Yellow color tolerance it chart,
will either be seen as a good match or as redder or greener.If it is redder or greener than the standard color,
the sample is then compared to the appropriate tolerance color tooifsee it falls within the permissible range
of color. The same is true with respectto the saturation minimum (C-) and to the light and dark limit colors.If
the sample coloris visually between each pair or limits shown in the color tolerance chart, and more saturated
than theC-color shown on the chart, the sample complies with the specification.
.53
.49
.45
.44
.43
X
Figure 5 - Enlarged view ofCIE 1931 chromaticity diagram showing the areas representing
2535.7 Safety Yellow
the Color Tolerance Area for ANSI
16
Revisions 2001
The ANSI Accredited Standards Committee2535 plans to issue the next revisions of the
2535 Standards (.1 through.5) in December 2001. Zn order to meet that deadline,the committee
developed the following tentative timetable:
June due:Allare
changes
proposed 30,1999
Revisionswill
fmalized
be forletter
balloting:
April 11,2000
Letter
balloting
will be completed
July
by: 18,2000
completed
Public
March
reviews
beby:
will 1,2001
Draftswill be ready to submit to the publisher:
May 21,2001
Published: 15,2001
All proposed changes must be submitted by June 30,1999. Any proposals received after
that date will be deferred to subsequent revisions.In order to facilitate the next revision, proposed
changes mustbe submitted on aform for that specific purppse, which is on the back of this page.
t Please
send this form
to:
17
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18