A colour chart featuring the RAL, BS 381C and BS4800 Colours. This indispensable, lightweight, easy access tool is great for experts and enthusiasts or those looking to showcase colours professionally to customers.

The British Standard BS 4800 specifies colours of paint for building and construction works. This colour chart is a key reference for specifying a particular paint colour to use in the refurbishment of buildings – especially at Local Authority level or for major works, such as office blocks, airports, schools and hospitals. Whether you’re a seasoned professional aiming for precision or an enthusiastic individual exploring creative possibilities, this color chart caters to all needs. Its versatility extends to those looking to professionally showcase colors to customers, providing a reliable reference for accurate color representation.

Published in 1930, BS381 was the BSI’s first colour standard. BS381 was not a co-ordinated range of colours at all but rather a collection of individually specified colours; used for camouflage, identification, signalling and coding systems; by the armed forces and other government departments, public bodies and industry and is still utilised across industry today. Various colours were added in response to the requirements of London Transport and the Ministry of Defence.

RAL is a colour matching system used in Europe, that assigns unique numeric codes to colours, facilitating precise colour communication across industries. Both BS and RAL play crucial roles in maintaining consistency and accuracy in colour selection, making them essential tools for professionals in design, manufacturing, and construction but can be used both professionally as well as non-professionally.

To see HMG’s full range of colours, please see our collection of colours and find the perfect shade of paint for you! Also, for any commonly asked question regarding BS & Ral, please see our FAQ talking about the history of the colour scheme and more!

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