RAL code help

[Kayos]

I am installing some equipment in a very public location and have been asked to colour match it to the green electrical cabinets Northern Power use

The person making the request doesn't know the RAL code, I have asked NP but given what is going on I don't expect a rapid reply

Does anyone know where I can find this code out? Is there a list somewhere?

 

[Parm]

https://www.northernpowergrid.com/asset/0/document/3187.pdf

does this help? Section 3

 

[Moose McAlpine]

RAL6024 Traffic Green maybe?

 

[Spark plug]

Do it the old fashioned way:

RAL Paint Colour Chart Chips/Swatches/Fan : Amazon.co.uk: Stationery & Office Supplies

RAL Paint Colour Chart Chips/Swatches/Fan : Amazon.co.uk: Stationery & Office Supplies

www.amazon.co.uk

 

[m_c]

https://www.northernpowergrid.com/asset/0/document/3187.pdf

does this help? Section 3

RAL 7032 is pebble grey.

If it's an historically chosen colour, it may not even be a RAL colour.

 

[Parm]

RAL 7032 is pebble grey.

If it's an historically chosen colour, it may not even be a RAL colour.

Hey ho, that’s my Google foo done for the evening.

 

[octo0072000]

what about British racing green

Racing Green - Johnstone's Wood and Metal Paint Colours

Spruce up your interior wood and metal work with our Racing Green paint.

www.johnstonespaint.com

 

[Pete.]

I am installing some equipment in a very public location and have been asked to colour match it to the green electrical cabinets Northern Power use

The person making the request doesn't know the RAL code, I have asked NP but given what is going on I don't expect a rapid reply

Does anyone know where I can find this code out? Is there a list somewhere?

Tell him if he wants to get the colour matched then provide the RAL or paint mixing code. That's what we do when we have to reinstate painted surfaces. If you take the responsibility on yourself then you might be re-painting several times based on the subjective opinion of someone. Also, different pigments in different locatioons fade at different rates. What matches in one location might not match at another.

 

[julianf]

As above, always get the customer to choose the colour.

 

[Alisterdavid]

Top tips there.
1. bump the responsibility!
2. Identify the original paint and use the same product. This will probably appear different due to age of the original coating.
3. A colour match is better as it fits what is there (already faded).. however.. different lights work with pigments and swatches in different ways, so what looks to be a match usually is not.
4. Don't limit to RAL, there a various schemes and the exact match could be elsewhere. BS and pantone as examples are common in industry for paints/coatings.

I'd go with option 1 if it is an option. I spent years as a coatings inspector and got the 1st hand of how bad a little shade difference can be for people who have nothing to do with the job, and the back of the hand from those who had something to do with it. Fussy about the colour... You should be!

 

[Kayos]

Email sent this morning along the lines of "you tell me the colour, I will get it painted"

It is not a small enclosure, imagine 2 20' shipping containers side by side, on a raised concrete base

 

[8ob]

There are RAL apps for mobile phones, may do the job.

Bob

 

[bricol]

Tell him if he wants to get the colour matched then provide the RAL or paint mixing code. That's what we do when we have to reinstate painted surfaces. If you take the responsibility on yourself then you might be re-painting several times based on the subjective opinion of someone. Also, different pigments in different locatioons fade at different rates. What matches in one location might not match at another.

We might have repainted the sample . . . perfect match, everyone happy . . .

 

[pedrobedro]

It's green, pick any one from these.

 

[Alisterdavid]

I tried to find the paint specification for northern power. This would be a many page document that would detail the exact colours they use as a company and the make and model of the coatings themselves.
No such document is available that I can readily find.

I did however come across one doc, for enclosures that provides two RAL codes that are described in the same doc as "brick red" and grey.

Mention of ... a colour suited to the environment as necessary... Is an option. Sounds like this is what you have.
Unless Northern get back to you with the code and product it's pure chance.

Given that they supply energy as a critical national infrastructure they will be an Achilles company. This means everything they do must be documented with sign off and CoC. Including the paint on a box.

The asset should be identified by a unique number which they should be able to call up and have full traceability even after it is removed from service.

The only plus is that they want colour to last for 20 years... Hmm, the coating perhaps but not the colour. Especially reds.

Try to avoid epoxy top coats as they chalk and are not colour stable in UV exposed environments. Urethanes are excellent and compatible with most mid coats but are also the very coatings the green crowd want rid of because of the VOCs. - don't breath them in.

Good luck

 

[Kayos]

Should have been clearer, it will be painted by the person supplying the kit, not me

 

[Alisterdavid]

You just want the colour. Simple. I see.

The owner of the space it is in.. eg a train station, historic site etc, may well have a list of colour they mandate. Though generally they are as lax as "dark green"

It's worth an ask there.

Otherwise await NP or borrow a book of RAL/BS codes.

It should be noted that "paint specification" documents are generally intellectual property of business and are never readily shared. Lots of time, money and research go into them. Just because everything else looks to be available online doesn't mean there is no paint document at NP. It is just under lock and key. All the operation files (CoC etc) are confidential and would only see light of day after a court order. F.O.i requests would not cut it.

Hopefully this helps someone in the future.
Hopefully you get a speedy and accurate answer too.

 

[bigegg]

Is this a matter of the customer saying "<points> I like that colour", or is it "it has to match that *exactly*"?

Because the two scenarios will have very different answers.

The first is, slap on the nearest out of a RAL colour book, job done.

The second, you'll need to specify substrate (galvanised steel? Or over rust?), method of application (powder coat? Brush? Roller? Spray? Vinyl wrap(!).
Then it might need specific primer, undercoats, top coats, laquer.
There might even be an issue with the exact pigments used. (Older paints may use chromium yellow which is now disparaged/banned, but will fade in a different manner in to other less dangerous pigments).

Third: is it to match something on site which is already weathered? Or to match "new" equipment?

I suppose this is why you get paid the big £££

 

[Kayos]

Is this a matter of the customer saying "<points> I like that colour", or is it "it has to match that *exactly*"?

Because the two scenarios will have very different answers.

The first is, slap on the nearest out of a RAL colour book, job done.

The second, you'll need to specify substrate (galvanised steel? Or over rust?), method of application (powder coat? Brush? Roller? Spray? Vinyl wrap(!).
Then it might need specific primer, undercoats, top coats, laquer.
There might even be an issue with the exact pigments used. (Older paints may use chromium yellow which is now disparaged/banned, but will fade in a different manner in to other less dangerous pigments).

Third: is it to match something on site which is already weathered? Or to match "new" equipment?

I suppose this is why you get paid the big £££

Technically it was option 1, however experience has shown that vaguely pointing and mumbling has far reaching meaning and consequences

In the end I got samples of the available (read, off the shelf and cheaper) greens, asked the client to pick and confirm by emailing a photo of the chosen sample with the identification sticker clearly visible

They did not pick the one I favoured

They are brand new shipping containers, will be delivered to our contractor finished in the colour specified

 

[Ton-up]

Have you looked or have access to the NP cabinets? I’d bet they are are not made by NP so is there a manufacturers nameplate on it somewhere that you can contact.