NBR 7195 Color Codes

ABNT STANDARD NBR 7195

SAFETY COLORS Procedure

1. Objective

This standard establishes colors to be used in order to prevent accidents, identification and warning on hazardous conditions.

2. General Conditions

2.1 The indication of hazardous conditions by using colors does not waive the use of other means of prevention of accidents.

2.2 Except for the colors green, white and black, all other colors presented in this standard shall not be used to paint machinery.

3. Specific Conditions

3.1 Colors (1)

The following colors are listed in this standard:

a) red;

b) orange;

c) yellow;

d) green;

e) blue;

f) purple;

g) white;

h) black.

(1) – it is recommended the research of other regulations related to safety colors.

3.1.1 Red

3.1.1.1 Red is the color used to identify and distinguish equipment for protection and fire fighting and their location, including doors and emergency exit. The accessories of the equipment such as valves, filters, etc., shall be identified by the color yellow.

3.1.1.2 The colors red shall not be used to mark “danger”.

3.1.1.3 The color red shall also be used on stop signs and prohibition signs, as well as in lights to indicate barriers, temporary walls, etc., and in emergency stop push buttons.

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3.1.1.4 On gas welding equipment, the acetylene hose shall be color red (oxygen shall be green).

3.1.2 Orange

Orange is the color to identify “danger”. For example, it shall be used on:

a) moving or dangerous parts of machines and equipment;

b) internal surface and protection devices of electrical cubicles that may be opened;

c) lifesaving water equipment such as lifebuoys, life-jackets, lifesaving floating devices and similar.

3.1.3 Yellow

Yellow is the color to identify “caution”. For example, it shall be used on:

a) portable ladders, except wooden ladders, on which the painting shall be limited to the external surface up to the level of the third step to prevent hiding of defects;

b) handrails, borders, floors and lower parts of stairs that may present risks;

c) face of steps in a stair;

d) border of cargo or multi-purpose elevator doors that closes automatically;

e) stripes on cargo or multi-purpose elevator doors or cargo platform;

f) curbs or floor steps that need attention;

g) walkways used for both people and forklifts or other cargo transportation equipment;

h) stripes around fire-fighting equipment;

i) end walls of dead-end hallways or corridors;

j) upper or lateral parts of passageways that may present risks;

k) cargo transportation equipment or material handling equipment such as forklifts, bulldozers, tractors, overhead cranes, gantry cranes, cranes, wagons or trailers of industrial use, etc, including their cabins, trunks and towers;

l) warning signs background;

m) pillars, columns, beams, poles, or other protruding parts of structures that might represent collision risks;

n) barricade, barriers and other road block equipment;

o) heavy-duty vehicles bumpers;

p) fire-fighting system accessories, such as non-return valves, passage valves, etc;

q) stripes to limit storage areas.

3.1.4 Green

3.1.4.1 Green is the color to identify “safety”. It shall be used on:

a) first aid kits location;



b) boxes with personal protection equipment;

c) emergency showers and eye washers;

d) stretches location;

e) limit of safety areas;

f) stripes limiting special areas (smoking areas, resting areas, etc.);

g) emergency room entry doors;

h) safety signals.

3.1.4.2 On gas welding equipment, the oxygen hose shall be color green (acetylene shall be red).

3.1.5 Blue

Blue is the color to indicate a compulsory action:

a) to determine the use of PPE (personal protection equipment) – example: “Use ear plugs”;

b) to prohibit starting or energizing equipment – example: “Do not turn on” or Do not start”.

3.1.6 Purple

Purple is the color to indicate hazard from electromagnetic radiation or nuclear particles. It shall be used on:

a) doors or access openings to places where radioactive materials or contaminated materials are handled or stored;

b) places where radioactive materials or contaminated materials are buried;

c) containers for radioactive material or remains of radioactive materials;

d) light signals indicating equipment producing electromagnetic radiation or nuclear particles;

3.1.7 White

White is the color to be used on:

a) stripes limiting walkways or passages to be used exclusively for transit of people;

b) signaling arrows indicating traffic direction;

c) location of trash cans or dumpsters;

d) areas around emergency equipment or other emergency devices;

e) shelters and health residues collection bins.

3.1.8 Black

Black is the color to identify residues collectors, except health residues.




3.2 Contrasting colors

3.2.1 It is recommended the use of contrasting colors according to the table below to enhance the visibility of the signals.

3.2.2 The contrasting colors shall be used as stripes or squares in order to enhance the visual effect, but their area shall not be over 50% of the total area.

Table – Contrasting colors

Safety Color Contrasting color

Red White

Orange Black

Yellow Black

Green White

Blue White

Purple White

White Black

Black White

3.3 Color Specification

3.3.1 The color specification shall follow Munsell Standard (2) :

a) red: 5 R 4/14

b) orange: 2.5 YR 6/14

c) yellow: 5 Y 8/12

d) green: 10 GY 6/6

e) blue: 2.5 PB 4/10

f) purple: 10 P 4/10; 2.5 RP 4/10

(2) – Munsell Book of Colors, Ed. 1929

3.3.2 The comparison with the standard colors shall be done under daylight. When artificial light is used, it shall be white light.

3.4 Tolerances

Slight variations are accepted on the three attribute of the color: hue, value and chroma. The references of 3.3 are given more to avoid the use of any colors under the same designation (red, for example) than to establish a rigid standard that will not bring any reasonable benefit to the safety.

NBR 7195 Color Codes

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