NEMA Standards Publication WD 1-1999
General Color Requirements for Wiring Devices
Published by
National Electrical Manufacturers Association
th
1300 N. 17 Street
Rosslyn, Virginia 22209
© Copyright 2000 by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. All rights including translation into
other languages, reserved under the Universal Copyright Convention, the Berne Convention for the
Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, and the International and Pan American Copyright Conventions.
WD 1-1999
Page i
Contents
Page
Foreword ............................................................................................................................. ii
Section 1 GENERAL
1.1 Scope ...............................................................................................................................1-1
1.2 References .......................................................................................................................1-1
Section 2 COLORS OF MOLDED COMPOUNDS ...........................................................................2-1
© National Electrical Manufacturers Association. It is illegal to resell or modify this publication.
WD 1-1999
Page ii
Foreword
The purpose of this standard is to provide information on general color requirements for wiring devices.
In the preparation of this Standards Publication input of users and other interested parties has been
sought and evaluated. Inquiries, comments, and proposed or recommended revisions should be
submitted to the concerned NEMA product Subdivision by contacting the:
Vice President, Engineering
National Electrical Manufacturers Association
th
1300 N. 17 Street
Rosslyn, Virginia 22209
WD 1-1999 revises and supersedes NEMA Standards Publication WD 1-1983 (R 1989).
The Standards Publication was developed by the NEMA Wiring Device Section. At the time it was
approved, the Section was composed of the following members:
AMP Incorporated Lutron Electronics Company, Inc.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Coopersburg, Pennsylvania
Arrow Hart Wiring Devices Marinco/Marine Industries Company
Syracuse, New York Napa, California
Bryant Electric, Inc. Pass & Seymour/Legrand
Milford, Connecticut Syracuse, New York
Daniel Woodhead Company Steel City
Northbrook, Illinois Memphis, Tennessee
Eagle Electric Manufacturing Company, Inc. Technology Research Corporation
Long Island City, NY Clearwater, Florida
Ericson Manufacturing Company The Genlyte Group
Willoughby, Ohio Garland, Texas
GE Wiring Devices The WattStopper, Inc.
Cleveland, Ohio Santa Clara, California
Hubbell Incorporated—Wiring Device Kellems Division The Wiremold Company
Bridgeport, Connecticut West Hartford, Connecticut
Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.
Little Neck, New York
© National Electrical Manufacturers Association. It is illegal to resell or modify this publication.
WD 1-1999
Page 1-1
Section 1
GENERAL
1.1 SCOPE
This standard publication contains color references for AC switches, plugs and cord connectors,
receptacles, and other related wiring devices.
This standard does not cover dimensional requirements affecting wiring device interchangeability. These
are found in NEMA Standards Publication No. ANSI/NEMA WD 6-1997.
1.2 REFERENCES
The following standards and publications are referenced in this standard publication.
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
100 Barr Harbor Drive
West Conshohocken, PA 19428
D1535-97 Standard Practice for Specifying Color by the Munsell System
Munsell Color
GrettagMacbeth LLC
617 Little Britain Road
New Windsor, NY 12553
Munsell Book of Color, Glossy Finish Edition, 1976 ed.
National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)
th
1300 N. 17 Street
Rosslyn, VA 22209
ANSI/NEMA WD 6-1997 Wiring Devices—Dimensional Specifications
© National Electrical Manufacturers Association. It is illegal to resell or modify this publication.
WD 1-1999
Page 1-2
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© National Electrical Manufacturers Association. It is illegal to resell or modify this publication.
WD 1-1999
Page 2-1
Section 2
COLORS OF MOLDED COMPOUNDS
The following colors of molded compounds of wiring devices are defined by the following Munsell
notations:
Color Munsell Notation
Ivory 4.6Y 7.82/2.4
White N9/
Gray N6/
Brown 1.6YR 1.24/1.1
Red 6R 3.55/13.75
Yellow 6.25Y8/12
Black N1/
Orange 10R5/16
The Munsell designation guide values are for reference only. Wiring device color matches to guide
values may differ due to reasons such as: molding compound variations, color tolerance variations, or
specific wiring device manufacturer's preference for color selections.
The Munsell Notation identifies color in terms of three attributes: hue, value, and chroma.
The hue (H) notation of a color indicates its relation to a visually equally spaced scale of 100 hues.
The value (V) notation indicates the lightness or darkness of a color in relation to a neutral gray scale,
which extends from absolute black to absolute white.
The chroma (C) notation indicates the degree of departure of a given hue from a neutral gray or the same
value. The scale of chroma extends from 0 for a neutral gray out to /12, /14 or further, depending upon
the strength (saturation) of the sample to be evaluated.
The complete Munsell Notation for a chromatic color is written symbolically: Hv/C. The complete notation
for a sample of ivory color for example, is 5Y8/2, while the notation for a neutral color is written NV/. The
notation of black color is N1/.
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard Method of Specifying Color by the Munsell
System D 1535 provides description of the Munsell Notations (see Section 1). For detailed description
and understanding of the Munsell Color System, refer to the Munsell Book of Color (see Section 1).
© National Electrical Manufacturers Association. It is illegal to resell or modify this publication.
