Stop sign “Red”…ever wonder where the color comes from?
Beginning in 1956, the General Services Administration of the United States government set up federal color standards for any color used on products manufactured for the federal government.
Think of Navy whites (what shade of white exactly?)….think of battleship gray…what shade of gray exactly?
To prevent different federal contractors from producing products that were in slightly different shades, the GSA established a definitive color standard for 692 colors used on federal government procured products. Those colors were called FED STD 595. Eventually, the GSA got tired of maintaining the standard and received an offer from SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) a standards development corporation for thousands of technical standards used in the aerospace, automotive and industrial manufacturing industries. Under SAE, the new system (adopted and reset by SAE in 2017) is called AMS-STD-595A. To order a color chip of “stop sign red” (DoT Highway Red) AMS-STD-595A-11086, click here. As a distributor of the AMS STD 595A color system on behalf of SAE, we will be bringing you stories about all 692 colors in the coming months. Learn where the most iconic symbols in the world get their color standards!
AllFacilities, Inc. helps facilities around the world to reduce operating costs, extend building life and improve building environments through maintenance and construction innovation, proactive strategies and better information. Allfacilities.com 412.721.3186 dianne@allfacilities.com.