ABSTRACT
The British Standards BS 5252: 1976 (237 colours with approximate Munsell references) and BS 4800: 2011 (122 colours) define colour for building purposes and paints, respectively. A specific colour is defined by the BS 4800 framework with a three-part code consist - ing of hue (two digits, 00-24), greyness (letter A-E) and weight (two further digits) (Fig. 15.3). Hue is the attribute of redness, yellowness, blueness, etc., and the framework consists of 12 rows of hue in spectral sequence plus one neutral row. Greyness is a measure of the grey content of the colour at five levels from the maximum greyness Group A, to clear Group E. The third attribute, weight, is a subjective term which incorporates both lightness (reflectivity to incident
Introduction As colour is an important factor in the description of surface finishes including paints, wood stains and varnishes, the key elements of the British Standards, Natural Colour System, RAL, Colour Palette, Pantone and Munsell are described. Colour is a key feature of architectural design, as illustrated in Figure 15.1 by the vivid spectrum colour sequence in Barajas Airport, Madrid by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and Estudio Lamela. Large electronic panels (Fig. 15.2) operated by programmed LED systems can create dynamic colour patterns or text sequences, creating eye-catching façades.
