CS ADR-DSN.U.935 Colours for markings, signs and panels
ED Decision 2022/006/R
(a) The specifications in surface colours given below apply only to freshly coloured surfaces. Colours used for markings, signs, and panels usually change with time and, therefore, require renewal.
(b) The specifications in paragraph (f) below for internally illuminated panels are interim in nature and are based on the CIE specifications for internally illuminated signs. It is intended that these specifications should be reviewed and updated as and when CIE develops specifications for internally illuminated panels.
(c) The chromaticities and luminance factors of ordinary colours, colours of retroreflective materials, and colours of internally illuminated signs and panels should be determined under the following standard conditions:
(1) angle of illumination: 45°;
(2) direction of view: perpendicular to surface; and
(3) illuminant: CIE standard illuminant D65.
(d) The chromaticity and luminance factors of ordinary colours for markings and externally illuminated signs and panels should be within the following boundaries when determined under standard conditions.
CIE Equations (see Figure U-2):
(1) Red
Purple boundary y = 0.345 – 0.051x
White boundary y = 0.910 – x
Orange boundary y = 0.314 + 0.047x
Luminance factor β = 0.07 (minimum)
(2) Orange
Red boundary y = 0.285 + 0.100x
White boundary y = 0.940 – x
Yellow boundary y = 0.250 + 0.220x
Luminance factor β = 0.20 (minimum)
(3) Yellow
Orange boundary y = 0.108 + 0.707x
White boundary y = 0.910 – x
Green boundary y = 1.35x – 0.093
Luminance factor β = 0.45 (minimum)
(4) White
Purple boundary y = 0.010 + x
Blue boundary y = 0.610 – x
Green boundary y = 0.030 + x
Yellow boundary y = 0.710 – x
Luminance factor β = 0.75 (minimum)
(5) Black
Purple boundary y = x – 0.030
Blue boundary y = 0.570 – x
Green boundary y = 0.050 + x
Yellow boundary y = 0.740 – x
Luminance factor β = 0.03 (maximum)
(6) Yellowish green
Green boundary y = 1.317x + 0.4
White boundary y = 0.910 – x
Yellow boundary y = 0.867x + 0.4
(7) Green
Yellow boundary x = 0.313
White boundary y = 0.243 + 0.670x
Blue boundary y = 0.493 – 0.524x
Luminance factor β = 0.10 (minimum)
The small separation between surface red and surface orange is not sufficient to ensure the distinction of these colours when seen separately.
(e) The chromaticity and luminance factors of colours of retroreflective materials for markings, signs, and panels should be within the following boundaries when determined under standard conditions.
CIE Equations (see Figure U-3):
(1) Red
Purple boundary y = 0.345 – 0.051x
White boundary y = 0.910 – x
Orange boundary y = 0.314 + 0.047x
Luminance factor β = 0.03 (minimum)
(2) Orange
Red boundary y = 0.265 + 0.205x
White boundary y = 0.910 – x
Yellow boundary y = 0.207 + 0.390x
Luminance factor β = 0.14 (minimum)
(3) Yellow
Orange boundary y = 0.160 + 0.540x
White boundary y = 0.910 – x
Green boundary y = 1.35x – 0.093
Luminance factor β = 0.16 (minimum)
(4) White
Purple boundary y = x
Blue boundary y = 0.610 – x
Green boundary y = 0.040 + x
Yellow boundary y = 0.710 – x
Luminance factor β = 0.27 (minimum)
(5) Blue
Green boundary y = 0.118 + 0.675x
White boundary y = 0.370 – x
Purple boundary y = 1.65x – 0.187
Luminance factor β = 0.01 (minimum)
(6) Green
Yellow boundary y = 0.711 – 1.22x
White boundary y = 0.243 + 0.670x
Blue boundary y = 0.405 – 0.243x
Luminance factor β = 0.03 (minimum)
(f) The chromaticity and luminance factors of colours for luminescent or internally illuminated signs and panels should be within the following boundaries when determined under standard conditions.
CIE Equations (see Figure U-4):
(1) Red
Purple boundary y = 0.345 – 0.051x
White boundary y = 0.910 – x
Orange boundary y = 0.314 + 0.047x
Luminance factor
(day condition) β = 0.07 (minimum)
Relative luminance
to white (night condition) 5 % (minimum) 20 % (max)
(2) Yellow
Orange boundary y = 0.108 + 0.707x
White boundary y = 0.910 – x
Green boundary y = 1.35x – 0.093
Luminance factor
(day condition) β = 0.45 (minimum)
Relative luminance
to white (night condition) 30 % (minimum) 80 % (max)
(3) White
Purple boundary y = 0.010 + x
Blue boundary y = 0.610 – x
Green boundary y = 0.030 + x
Yellow boundary y = 0.710 – x
Luminance factor
(day condition) β = 0.75 (minimum)
Relative luminance
to white (night conditions) 100 %
(4) Black
Purple boundary y = x – 0.030
Blue boundary y = 0.570 – x
Green boundary y = 0.050 + x
Yellow boundary y = 0.740 – x
Luminance factor
(day condition) β = 0.03 (max)
Relative luminance
to white (night condition) 0 % (minimum) 2 % (maximum)
(5) Green
Yellow boundary x = 0.313
White boundary y = 0.243 + 0.670x
Blue boundary y = 0.493 – 0.524x
Luminance factor
(day conditions) β = 0.10 minimum
Relative luminance
to white (night conditions) 5 % (minimum) 30 % (maximum)
Figure U-2. Ordinary colours for markings and externally illuminated signs and panels
Figure U-3. Colours of retroreflective materials for markings, signs and panels
Figure U-4. Colours of luminescent or internally illuminated signs and panels
[Issue: ADR-DSN/3]
[Issue: ADR-DSN/6]