Safety orange, also known as blaze orange or vivid orange, is a color used to set things apart from their surroundings, particularly in complementary contrast to the blue color of the sky.
ANSI standard Z535.1-1998 states how safety orange is defined in the following notation systems:
- 5.0YR (Hue) 6.0/15 (Value/Chroma)
- x=0.5510 y=0.4214 Y%=30.05
- Approximate PMS (Pantone) Color (actually, mixing directions):
- 13 parts Yellow, 3 parts Warm Red, 1/4 part Black
Safety orange is the color usually used for traffic cones, stanchions, barrels, and other construction zone marking devices. OSHA requires certain construction equipment to be painted safety orange. Two large trucking companies, Allied Van Lines and Schneider National Carriers, paint their trucks and trailers safety orange.
A similar color is called international orange and is also often used for the same purpose. The difference between safety orange and international orange may be hard to distinquish. This may be because suppliers don't always adhere to standards and have their own ideas of what the colors should be. Generally, international orange is darker and has a more reddish hue. The Golden Gate Bridge is painted international orange.
The Golden Gate Bridge is painted international orange.
In some applications, especially with hunting apparel, Fluorescent orange is used for the same purpose.
(Note that the photo is an example of a dangerous sign. In a side-impact crash test the advisory plate (625 MPH?) and the edge of the sign penetrated the windshild and roof of the test car. A safer sign would have stiffer uprights, no advisory plate and the warning light would be moved to the point of the sign to spread the impact force.)
See Also
Last updated: 08-18-2005 12:20:25
