highway signs’ light colours and their meaning

1. What are the colours of highway signs traffic lights?
2. What do the signal colours mean?
3. Comparison Table Meaning of highway signs Colors
4. Light columns with several colour modules
5. Which signal colour is suitable for which type of horn?

 

In visual signalling, the choice of the colour of signal lights plays an important role, because the meaning of signal colours varies. Depending on the area of ​​application and use of the traffic light, some signal colours are more suitable for visual signalling than others.

The importance of using signal colours and metal signs can be seen in road traffic, for example. The colours red, yellow and green help to regulate traffic reliably. From childhood, we learn that the colour red means “Attention”, “Stop” and “Danger”. On the other hand, the green colour means that everything is fine. The yellow and orange colours have a very high radiance and are very well perceived from afar. This function is important for signalling from a distance, in road traffic, that a traffic light is about to turn red or green.

Depending on the colour of the traffic light, a certain action is required or assumed on the part of the observer. As in the case of road traffic, the colour of a warning light can for your specific application indicate particular conditions which require a specific action.

The meaning of the signalling colours can be found, among other things, on the push buttons of the machines and the indicator lights. In a car, indicator lights, like signal lights, are provided with certain colours to emphasize their meaning or importance.

What are the colours of traffic lights?

The six main colours of Auer Signal warning lights are:

• the Red
• yellow
• orange
• the green
• blue
• white (clear)

In addition, Auer Signal’s multi-colour lights can display different signal colours with just one cap. Depending on the model, these are the colours magenta and turquoise, as is the case with the RMM multi-colour light.

What do the signal colours mean?

The colours of the signal lights indicate different states that require actions depending on them. The colours of the warning lights and their meaning in relation to the state of a machine are standardized. The advantage is that the meaning of the colours can be understood quickly and correctly by different machines.

Also, when choosing the colour of the horns, it should be noted that light transmission decreases with coloured caps. With transparent caps, the light transmission does not change. The reduction in light transmission depends not only on the colour of the cap but also on the type of lamp (halogen or xenon).

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE COLOR RED FOR A HORN?

The red colour means that there is urgency, that the situation is dangerous and that it is necessary to act immediately. Signalling luminaires with a red cap are suitable for signalling system failures, values ​​that are outside their safe limits

(e.g. temperature) or when there is a danger related to goods in movement or under tension. Immediate actions that can then be taken include shutting down or de-energizing motors or machinery.

A red light signal indicates the highest alert level. Its illumination indicates the highest degree of urgency and not a general warning. This does not apply to two-colour signalling systems with only a red light and a green light.

Reduced light transmission:

• Halogen: -70%
• Xenon: -87%
• LEDs: -17%

WHAT DOES THE COLOR ORANGE MEAN FOR A HORN?

The orange colour, like the yellow colour, signals a warning. Orange corresponds to an imminent critical situation and requires monitoring or intervention by a human being. Typical applications where the colour orange is used are the classic traffic light system for signal columns. In three-level columns, red-orange-green colours are often used. These three signal colours can effectively and quickly display three different states of similar machines or applications.

Due to the low reduction in light transmission of the orange caps, this colour is particularly suitable for applications where a long-distance effect is desired.

Reduced light transmission:

• Halogen: -28%
• Xenon: -46%
• LEDs: -53%

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE YELLOW COLOR FOR A HORN?

The yellow-coloured signal indicates an impending critical condition and requires human attention or intervention. Signal lamps with a yellow cap are suitable for indicating overloads or exceeding standard values ​​if the duration is only permitted for a limited time. The required action steps are aimed at ending the abnormal situation and avoiding the resulting adverse effects. Precautionary measures and warnings of moderate danger are suitable for the yellow signal colour.

Like orange caps, yellow caps are often used for multi-level traffic light systems.

Reduced light transmission:

• Halogen: -70%
• Xenon: -87%
• LEDs: -13%

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE GREEN COLOR FOR A HORN?

The green colour of the highway signs signifies a normal, faultless state. No action is required. Typical applications with a green cap on a machine indicate that the machine is ready to run or is running without malfunction. By lighting up, the green traffic lights indicate the normal operation of a machine or that a part of the machine or an apparatus can be started.

The colour green should be understood as a safety colour and should not be used for warnings or safety instructions. The safety instructions already indicate a potential danger and should therefore be marked in blue.

Reduced light transmission:

• Halogen: -85%
• Xenon: -55%
• LEDs: -62%

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE COLOR BLUE FOR A HORN?

The blue colour of a warning light indicates a condition that requires definite action by the operator. The signal colour states red, yellow, orange and green are excluded. Any other meaning can be attributed to the blue colour.

Traffic lights highway signs with a blue cap are suitable, for example, for a multi-storey traffic light. The Modul-Perfect 70 tower light from Auer highway signs allows up to seven different modules. In addition to the light modules with a red, orange and green cap, the blue cap can represent another defined state.

Reduced light transmission:

• Halogen: -88%
• Xenon: -55%
• LEDs: -90%

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LIGHT COLOR FOR A HORN?

Clear light has no special meaning. In practice, the clear cap is used for other conditions when there is doubt about the application of red, yellow, green or blue. Whether illumination of the clear cap requires supervision or intervention by a member of staff should be assessed individually for each application.

Under no circumstances should a transparent cap be used for pushbuttons with a stop or start function. The illuminating power of clear caps is very high because the transmission of light is not weakened by the cap. Despite

the high light transmission, a transparent cap is not suitable for attracting attention to signal danger.

Reduced light transmission:

• Halogen: 0%
• Xenon: 0%
• LEDs: -9%

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MAGENTA COLOR FOR A HORN?

The colour magenta, often equated with violet, plays a major role, especially in the United States. There, this colour is used as an alternative to red when the colour red is attributed to the risk of fire, for example. In the oil and gas industry, in particular, this signal colour signifies a particularly dangerous situation.