Colors for pushbuttons, illuminated pushbuttons and indicator lights

The standard DIN EN 60073 (VDE 0199): 01.94, like the IEC 73, clearly defines the meaning of certain colors. This is intended to improve the safety of service personnel and to facilitate operation and maintenance of electrical installations and equipment.

In addition , the standard DIN EN 60 204-1 (VDE 0113 Part 1): 06.93 , also indicates the colors of the buttons , illuminated pushbuttons and indicator lights . Both publications agree mostly .

Table 1 indicates the significance of the colors of the lights and also provides explanations and examples of application.

According to DIN EN 60 204-1 (VDE 0113 Part 1) , the following should be considered:

Preferred colors for command devices STARTS / SI are: WHITE, GREY or BLACK , preferably by WHITE. May be used GREEN , RED , no.

The RED should be used for emergency stop. Preferred for STOP command devices / colors are NOT : BLACK , GREY or WHITE , preferably by BLACK . RED may be used , GREEN , no.

Preferred control elements for pushbutton colors are WHITE, GREY or BLACK , acting as buttons START / STOP IF and / NO. The RED, YELLOW or GREEN colors can not be used .

Preferred colors for the controls to buttons that cause a work operation while keeping them tight and complete their task when not actuated (eg inching mode ) are WHITE, GREY or BLACK . The RED, YELLOW or GREEN colors can not be used .

The color GREEN is reserved for functions that indicate a safe or normal.

The color YELLOW is reserved for functions that indicate a warning or an abnormal state.

Table 1

Colours of pushbuttons and their meaning according to DIN EN 60 204 (VDE 0113 Part 1): 06.93

Color Significance Clarification                  Application Examples                           
RED Emergency Operate in a dangerous state
or in an emergency.		 Disconnection (stop) emergency.
Start off functions (save)   emergency, conditionally   to STOP / NO.
YELLOW   Abnormal Operate in an abnormal state.

Intervention to suppress abnormal state. Intervention to restart an automatic development was interrupted.
GREEN Safe Operate in a safe condition or
prepared in normal state.

START / SI, however WHITE is preferred.
BLUE Obligatory Operate in a state that
requires a required operation.		 Reset function.
WHITE

They have assigned a special meaning 

For general initiation of functions,   Emergency disconnection except  (see also the following note).

START / SI (preferred) STOP / NO
GREY

START / STOP YES / NO
BLACK

START / STOP YES / NO (preferred)

NOTE : As an additional measure of identification is applied (eg , structure, shape, position ) for push-button control elements may thereof WHITE, GREY or BLACK colors used for different functions , for example, for STARTER WHITE / YES and STOP / NO to the controls .

The BLUE is reserved for functions required meaning.

The push for replacement must be BLUE , WHITE, GREY or BLACK , in the case that also act as STOP / NO, the WHITE, GREY or BLACK , especially BLACK are preferred colors . The GREEN can not be used .

Table 2 indicates the significance of the colors of signal lamps, depending on the state of the machine and its operation and application examples.

Table 1 and 2 also apply for illuminated pushbuttons . When problems with the allocation of the appropriate colors should be used to WHITE. The red color used in the devices used for emergency shutdown should not depend on the lighting.

Table 2

Colours for indicator lights and their meaning according to the standard DIN EN 60 204 (VDE 0113 Part 1): 06.93

Color Significance Clarification                  Action by the operator

Application Examples                            

RED Emergency       State dangerous Immediately to react to a dangerous state (eg emergency stop) action.            Pressure / temperature outside safe limits. Voltage drop, collapse of the voltage supply. Bypass a stop position.                                       
YELLOW   Abnormal

Abnormal state; imminent critical state.

Monitoring and / or intervention (eg, replacement of a required function).

Pressure / temperature exceeds the normal areas. Shot of a protective device.
GREEN Normal State Normal

Optional.

Pressure / temperature within normal areas. Authorization to proceed.
BLUE Obligatory Indication of a state that requires action by the operator.
 
Obligatory action.		 Indication to enter default values.
WHITE

Neutral

Other states may be used if there are doubts about the implementation of RED, YELLOW, GREEN or BLUE.

Supervision.

General informations.

Font: SIEMENS, Manual de baja tensión, Criterios de Selección de aparatos de maniobra e indicaciones para el proyecto de instalaciones y distribución. Pág. 70-72.