COLOR CODING

What is color coding and why is it

important?
A color code is a system for displaying
information by using different colors.
Importance?
Lets you tell things apart.
TYPES OF COLOR CODING
PIPES
WATER
OIL-mineral, vegetable or animal, flammable or
combustible
ACIDS AND ALKALIS
Other liquids, including drainage pipes
unless the drain is to a particular
service
STEAM
GASES in either gaseous or liquid form,
vapors and pneumatically conveyed
fumes and materials
AIR
FIRE fighting materials, including detection and
suppression systems
ELECTRICITY
COMMUNICATIONS
PIPE MARKER
LABELING PIPES
SIGNAGES
LIGHT AND
BUTTONS
 PUSH ILLUMINATED
BUTTON PUSH BUTTON
PILOT
LIGHT
 Color Device Type Typical Function Examples
Pushbutton Emergency Stop, Stop, Off Emergency Stop button, Master
RED
Stop button, Stop of one or more
motors.

Pilot Light Danger or alarm, abnormal Indication that a protective

condition requiring immediate device has stopped the
attention. machine, e.g. overload.

Illuminated Machine stalled because of

Pushbutton overload
 Pushbutton Return, Emergency Return, Return of machine elements
YELLOW
Intervention - suppress to safe position, override
(AMBER)
abnormal conditions. other functions previously
selected. Avoid unwanted
changes.

Pilot Light Attention, caution/marginal Automatic cycle or motors

condition. Change or
impending change of
conditions.
running; some value
(pressure, temperature) is
approaching its permissable
limit. Ground fault indication.
Overload that is permitted for
a limited time.

Illuminated Pushbutton Attention or caution/Start of Some value (pressure,

an operation intended to temperature) is approaching
avoid dangerous its permissable limit; pressing
conditions. button to override other
functions previously selected.
 Pushbutton Start-On General or machine start;
GREEN
start of cycle or partial
sequence

Pilot Light Machine Ready; Safety Indication of safe condition or

authorization to proceed.
Machine ready for operation
with all conditions nornal or
cycle complete and machine
ready to be restarted.

Illuminated Pushbutton Machine or Unit ready for Start or On after authorization

operation/Start or On by lights; start of one or more
motors for auxiliary functions;
start or energization of
machine elements.
 Pushbutton No specific function Shall be permitted to be used
BLACK
assigned for any function except for
buttons with the sole function
of Stop or Off; inching or
jogging.
 Pushbutton Any function not covered
WHITE or
by thee above.
CLEAR
Pilot Light Normal Condition
Confirmation
Illuminated Pushbutton Confirmation that a circuit
has been energized or
function or movement of
the machine has been
started/Start On, or any
preselection of a function
Control or auxiliary function
not directly related to the
working cycles.
Normal pressure,
temperature.
Energizing of auxiliary
function or circuit not related
to the working cycle; start or
preselection of direction of
feed motion or speeds.
 Pushbutton Any function not covered by the above
BLUE or GRAY
colors

Pilot Light Any function not covered by the above

colors

Illuminated Pushbutton Any function not covered by the above

colors
ELECTRICAL WIRING
AC POWER CIRCUIT WIRING
COLOR CODES

34
DC POWER CIRCUIT WIRING
COLOR CODES
FLOOR MARKINGS
 Examples

Aisle ways & traffic lanes (yellow) Work cells (yellow)

Equipment (white) Defects/scrap/rework (red)
Keep clear – operational Keep clear – safety (red/white)
(black/white)
Hazard area (black/yellow) Material storage areas (green,
blue and/or black)
Floor Marking Guidelines:
• Use as few colors as possible
• Color coding work cell and equipment borders
• Color coding material storage areas
• Color coding non-material storage fixtures
• Color coding areas to be kept clear for safety and compliance
• Color coding areas in front of electrical panels
• Color coding operational “keep clear” areas
• Color coding hazardous areas or equipment
PPE
AVOIDING ERROR AND FOREIGN OBJECT
HARD HATS
SAFETY VEST AND JACKET
MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE.
RESPIRATORY
HEARING PROTECTION
REACTION TIME TO
COLORS
● Reaction time is • visual reaction
defined as the
time with certain
colors affect the
time interval reaction time as
between the some colors tend
application of a to project a
stimulus and the quicker reaction
response by a time in
subject.
comparison to
others.
EXPERIMENTATION

Reaction time tended to but as the stimuli diameter

be faster with RED increased, reaction time
were faster with GREEN
background, but as the
and BLUE backgrounds.
stimuli diameter
● The experiment concluded
that light color does affect
reaction time, that green
yield the best reaction time,

● but since red has been

globally used for
emergencies and it has very
limited similarity to the
environment color, it is often
used.
● when human see red, reactions
become more forceful and
faster.

● Red is known as a danger cue,

and is often correlated to the
human reaction when
experiencing anger or
preparation.
DANGER AND RISK
Improper color coding
NO COLOR CODING
Sign of caution
 Emergency stop
Machine clean up service button
 Sign of safety
Palm injury
COLOR CODING FOR
COLOR BLIND
What is Color Blindness?
● The inability to distinguish red, green, or blue light.
How do you know if you’re color blind?

● Ishihara Test for Color Blindness

Color Blindness – Reason for a Job Rejection

● Whether you want

to be a chemical,
civil, electrical or
mechanical
engineer, you are
going to be put in
situations in which
accurately
identifying colors is
key.
This could involve working with colored wiring, being able to differentiate
wires instantly for safety reasons, reading complex floor plans and layouts
that have color-specific symbols, and much more.
ISHIHARA COLOR BLIND TEST
 Treatment for Color Blindness

● There is NO known cure for color blindness.

● Contact lenses and glasses are available with filters to help color
deficiencies
Engineering Revision: Use patterns and textures to show contrast