IS 5 : 2019Colours for Ready Mixed Paints and Enamels

IS 5 is the standard for colours for ready-mixed paints and enamels — a comprehensive colour atlas defining ~210 standard colours by name + colour code (number). It's the BIS reference for colour specification in paint procurement, ensuring consistency across manufacturers and projects.

Use IS 5 colour codes when: - Specifying paint colour in BOQ / contract for any architectural / structural / industrial paint - Procuring paint from multiple manufacturers (ensures consistent colour) - Reviewing tender colour requirements - Government / institutional paint contracts (Public Works Department, Railways, NHAI, defence) - Standardising fleet vehicle colours (military, post, ambulance) - Industrial safety colour specifications (per IS 2932 / IS 5:2019 traditional safety colour set) - Restoration / heritage colour matching

IS 5:2019 is the latest revision (replaces 1994); aligns with current Indian colour standards used by paint industry. The colour cards (BIS publications + paint manufacturers' colour fans) reference IS 5 codes.

Key colour categories in IS 5: - General colours — ~150 named architectural colours (white, off-white, beige, blues, greens, yellows, reds, browns, greys) - Safety colours — red (danger / fire / stop), yellow (caution / warning), green (safe condition / first aid), blue (mandatory action), orange (warning of moderate hazard), white (background colour for lettering) - Defence / signal colours — specific colours for armed forces (camouflage, flag, etc.) - Roadway / traffic colours — yellow (centerline marking), white (lane / edge marking), red (stop), green (go), special marking colours per IRC:35:2015

IS 5 codes work with paint manufacturer colour fans: - BIS code: e.g., 'IS 5 No. 568' (white) or 'IS 5 No. 446' (forest green) - Asian Paints / Berger / Nerolac / Dulux all map their internal code to IS 5 reference - Same IS 5 code = same colour across manufacturers (within tolerance)

Common architectural colours (representative — subset of IS 5:2019):

| IS 5 No. | Colour name | Use | |---|---|---| | 568 | Brilliant White | Standard wall ceiling base white | | 549 | Brilliant Yellow | Highlight, school exterior | | 446 | Forest Green | Government building accent | | 626 | French Blue | Wall paint, exterior | | 538 | Lemon Yellow | Caution colour, school | | 537 | Cream | Soft interior colour | | 532 | Black | Trim, signage | | 365 | Signal Red | Safety colour (danger) | | 309 | Vermilion | Bright red for accent | | 631 | Royal Blue | Architectural accent | | 651 | Sky Blue | Interior wall, soft tone | | 675 | Anti-Sun Glare Green | Industrial machine colour | | 776 | Golden Yellow | Caution / warning | | 691 | French Grey | Architectural medium grey | | 642 | Eau-de-nil | Soft green-blue |

(Full IS 5 colour list has ~210 entries; consult full standard or reference paint manufacturer colour cards.)

Standard safety colours (per IS 5 + IS 9457):

| Colour | Safety meaning | Examples | |---|---|---| | Red (Signal Red No. 365) | Stop / Danger / Fire | Stop signs, fire equipment, emergency exits | | Yellow (No. 538 Lemon / 776 Golden) | Caution / Warning | Hazard zones, low headroom, marking on stairs | | Green (Sea Green / Eau-de-nil) | Safe Condition / First Aid | First aid box, safe zone, emergency exit (some standards) | | Blue (No. 631 Royal) | Mandatory Action | Wear PPE signs, mandatory direction | | Orange | Warning of moderate hazard | Construction zones, traffic cones | | White | Background for lettering | Reverse-text on coloured signs |

Painting application colours: - Wall + ceiling base: IS 5 No. 568 Brilliant White - Trim + skirting: IS 5 No. 537 Cream OR custom - Industrial machinery: IS 5 No. 675 Anti-Sun Glare Green (reduces eye strain) - Highway centerline: IS 5 No. 538 / 776 (Yellow) - Highway edge / lane marking: IS 5 No. 568 (White) - Fire equipment: IS 5 No. 365 Signal Red

Paint specification format (BOQ): - Type: per IS 5411 Part 1:1974 (interior emulsion) / IS 102:1962 (anti-corrosive primer) / etc. - Colour: IS 5 No. XXX (specify code) - Brand: 'Asian Paints / Nerolac / Berger / equivalent' - Finish: matt / satin / glossy - Number of coats: typical 1 primer + 2 finishes

Tolerances: - Colour matching: visually within ΔE < 2 (CIE colour difference) when measured by spectrophotometer - Batch-to-batch variation: minimal; manufacturers maintain master colour standards keyed to IS 5

• IS 9457 — colours for ergonomic safety signs.
• IS 5411 Part 1:1974 — interior emulsion paint specification.
• IS 5410 — distemper, dry.
• IS 102:1962 — anti-corrosive red oxide zinc chromate primer.
• IS 109:1968 — ready-mixed paint for general purposes.
• IS 2932:2003 — synthetic enamel exterior.
• IS 13183:1991 — aluminium paint.
• IS 15489:2013 — exterior acrylic emulsion paint.
• IS 14209:1996 — interior emulsion primer.
• IS 101 (Parts 1-9) — methods of testing for paints, varnishes.
• IS 2074 — fire retardant paint.
• IS 8662 — synthetic enamel anti-corrosive paint for marine application.
• IRC:35:2015 — code of practice for road markings (uses traffic-colour subset of IS 5).
• IRC:67:2012 — code of practice for road signs (uses signage colours).
• NBC 2016 Part 5 — building materials (interior finishes chapter).

1. Colour specified by name only, not by IS 5 code. 'Light blue' is ambiguous; IS 5 No. 651 Sky Blue is unambiguous. Always specify code. 2. No colour matching standard reference. Approved colour sample (paint chip from approved batch) maintained at site for comparison; without it, sub-batch variation is hard to manage. 3. Direct purchase from local market without checking against IS 5. Local 'colour-matching' paint may not match BIS reference; appearance varies between batches. Purchase from BIS-licensed manufacturer with IS 5 code on label. 4. No primer specified. Topcoat applied directly on wall = poor adhesion + uneven colour absorption. Always primer + topcoat. 5. Mixed manufacturer paints in same area. Slight colour shift visible. Use single manufacturer for given colour zone. 6. Old paint stock used after expiry. Pigment settles, colour changes; results in inconsistency. Use within shelf life. 7. Substrate colour not addressed. Painting over a bright red base with light beige requires extra coats; specify primer + 2-3 finish coats accordingly. 8. Lighting affects colour appearance. Showroom shade looks different in daylight vs evening incandescent vs evening LED. Verify final paint sample under actual lighting condition. 9. No safety colour adherence in industrial settings. Random colour for fire equipment / mandatory signs = doesn't conform to IS 5 / IS 9457 — safety signage failure. 10. Colour fade in exterior application. UV affects pigment; some pigments fade faster than others (organic vs inorganic). Specify weather-resistant pigments for exterior; expect slow fade over 5-10 years. 11. Different supplier for primer and topcoat without compatibility check. Some primers don't bond well with some topcoat chemistries; peeling within 1-2 years. Use single-system from one supplier. 12. No gloss / sheen specification. Same IS 5 colour code in matt vs glossy looks different; specify finish (matt / satin / glossy). 13. Colour drift due to substrate variation. Painted over light cement plaster vs dark gypsum board → end colour different. Use base coat to neutralise.

Standard painting workflow:

1. Specification (IS 5411 Part 1 / IS 109 / IS 102 etc.): - Paint type per substrate + service condition - Colour per IS 5 code (this code) + finish (matt / satin / glossy) - Number of coats (typical 1 primer + 2 finish) - Brand / equivalent 2. Approval samples — sample painting on approved sample area; client + designer approval; approved sample becomes site reference. 3. Procurement — same brand + same IS 5 code throughout; purchase quantity for one zone in single batch (avoid batch shifts). 4. Substrate preparation — clean, smooth, dry; primer applied per substrate (cement primer for masonry, oil primer for steel, etc.). 5. Application: - Brush / roller / spray per area + finish - Recommended dry-film thickness (DFT) per coat - Recoat after manufacturer-specified drying time 6. Inspection: - Visual: uniformity, colour match, no holiday - DFT measurement (random points) - Adhesion test (IS 101 Part 5 cross-cut) 7. Maintenance: - Periodic touch-up (every 1-2 years for interior, 3-5 years for exterior) - Repaint every 5-10 years (interior) / 7-15 years (exterior)

For industrial / safety applications: - Fire equipment + safety lines + emergency exit: per safety colour standard (IS 5 + IS 9457) - Industrial machinery: anti-glare green (IS 5 No. 675) for control panels - Pipeline colour-coding: per ANSI / DIN / Indian standards (red = fire, blue = water, yellow = gas, etc.)

For heritage restoration: - Match original colour as closely as possible - Custom mix may be needed (off-IS 5 colour); supplier provides traceable formula - Document for future restorations

IS 5:2019 has been the foundational colour standard for Indian paint industry; modern paint manufacturers' colour cards still reference IS 5 codes for traceability + standardisation.