Standard colours for building and decorative finishes (with supplement)
1973 Edition

IS SP Part 1650-1973 — Overview and Applicability

• Objective: Defines a uniform spectrum of colours for building finishes including paints, distempers, tiles, and hardboards to support architects and decorators in precise colour selection and matching.

• Coverage: Applicable to multiple finishing materials with classifications for gloss levels:

  • G — Gloss
  • SG — Semi-gloss / Egg-shell
  • M — Matt

• Selection Notes:

  • Certain colours may not be reproducible across all gloss types.
  • Final colour and finish choices are determined by consensus between client and supplier.

• Munsell Colour References: Utilizes Munsell notation to specify colours for accurate communication.

Additional Highlights:

• Contains a glossary of colour terms in Appendix A.
• Provides a consolidated colour range to harmonize finishes across materials.
• Facilitates avoidance of mismatched colours by correlating diverse colour charts.

flowchart LR
    A[Building Finishes] --> B[Paint]
    A --> C[Distemper]
    A --> D[Tiles]
    A --> E[Hardboards]
    B & C & D & E --> F[Colour Selection]
    F --> G[Gloss (G)]
    F --> H[Semi-gloss (SG)]
    F --> I[Matt (M)]
    G & H & I --> J[Mutual Agreement: User & Supplier]

This framework guarantees consistent and dependable colour matching across building finishes as per IS SP Part 1650.

IS SP Part 1650: Scope and Principal Specifications

This document outlines the specifications for paint colours and finishes intended for use by architects, engineers, and decorators, focusing on gloss classifications and colour references.

1. Scope Highlights:

• Defines types of gloss finishes suitable for various colours.
• Incorporates Munsell colour references for exact colour identification.
• Guides selection among gloss (G), semi-gloss (SG), and matt (M) finishes.

2. Gloss Finish Types (Clause 5.1):

Note: Not every colour can be effectively produced in each gloss finish; final selection requires agreement between user and supplier.

3. Munsell Colour Notations (Clauses 7.5 & 2.5):

Diagram Summary:

graph LR
A[Paint Colours] --> B[Gloss Finish Types]
B --> C[G - Gloss]
B --> D[SG - Semi-gloss]
B --> E[M - Matt]
A --> F[Munsell Colour References]
F --> G[Card Numbers & Notations]

Use IS SP 1650 as a guideline for selecting paints and finishes with standardized gloss categories and Munsell colour codings.

IS SP Part 1650: Definitions for Colour Terminology — Essential Points

1. Colour Term Definitions

• Detailed in Appendix A, providing a comprehensive glossary of colour terms.
• Critical for maintaining uniform interpretation within the standard.

2. Colour Groupings (Clause 3.1)

• Colours are arranged vertically from light (top) to dark (bottom).
• Left side shows greyish tones; right side shows stronger colours.

3. Colour Reference Numbers (Clause 2.5)

• Uses Munsell notation for precise identification.
• Examples:

Summary Diagram: Colour Card Classification

graph LR
Card0("Card 0: Strong Colours")
Card1("Card 1: Red")
Card2("Card 2: Yellow-Red")
Card3("Card 3: Yellow-Red")
Card4("Card 4: Yellow")
Card5("Card 5: Green-Yellow")
Card6("Card 6: Green")
Card7("Card 7: Blue-Green and Blue")
Card8("Card 8: Purple-Blue and Red-Purple")
Card9("Card 9: Greys")

IS SP Part 1650: Colour Categorization Scheme

1. Colour Card Division (Clause 3.1)

Colours are arranged on 10 cards numbered 0 through 9 for ease of comparison:

• Within each card, colours are graded vertically from light at the top to dark at the bottom.
• The left side of cards displays greyish hues, while the right side shows stronger colours.
• Colour spacing maintains consistent lightness progression.

2. Colour Reference Numbers (Clause 7.5)

Colours are referenced using Munsell notation coupled with card numbers:

• Gloss finish symbols: G for Gloss, SG for Semi-gloss, M for Matt.

Summary

• 10 cards organize colours by hue and intensity.
• Vertical grading from light to dark.
• Munsell system employed for exact colour referencing.
• Finish types indicated by G, SG, and M symbols.

flowchart LR
    A[Card 0: Strong Colours] --> B[Card 1: Red]
    B --> C[Card 2: Yellow-red]
    C --> D[Card 3: Yellow-red]
    D --> E[Card 4: Yellow]
    E --> F[Card 5: Green-yellow]
    F --> G[Card 6: Green]
    G --> H[Card 7: Blue-green and Blue]
    H --> I[Card 8: Purple-blue and Red-purple]
    I --> J[Card 9: Greys]

IS SP Part 1650: Colour Numbering System

Colour Grouping (Clause 3.1)

• Colours are arranged into 10 cards (0 to 9):
  • Card 0: Strong colours
  • Card 9: Greys
  • Cards 1 through 8: Various hues with greyish shades on left and stronger colours on right.
• Eight major hue groups include:
  • Card 1: Red
  • Card 5: Green-yellow
  • Card 7: Blue-green and Blue
  • Card 8: Purple-blue and Red-purple
• Colours are ranked vertically from light (top) to dark (bottom).

Colour Numbering (Clause 4.1)

• Each colour receives a three-digit number from 001 to 101 within its card.
• Examples include 0-014, 6-072, 9-101.
• White (102) and Black (103) are excluded.
• The notation format: Card Number - Colour Number serves as the official identifier.

Gloss Finish Types (Clause 2.5)

• Gloss levels are indicated as G (Glossy), SG (Semi-gloss), and M (Matt).
• Sample references:

  Number	Gloss Finishes	Munsell Reference
  7-075	G, SG, M	5 G 9/2 / 5 B 9/2
  7-076	G, SG, M	5 G 7/1 / 5 B 7/4
  7-077	G, SG, M	7.5 BG 6/2 / 7.5 B 6/6

Card and Hue Summary Table

flowchart LR
    A[Colour Cards & Numbers]

IS SP Part 1650: Gloss Finish Categories (Clause 5.1)

This standard defines three principal gloss finish types for building colours, designated by symbols:

Important Considerations:

• Some colours cannot be consistently produced in all gloss finishes.
• The gloss symbol adjacent to each colour sample indicates applicable finish.
• Final choice of gloss finish requires coordination between user and supplier.
• Gloss level influences colour perception, affected by surface texture and lighting.

Additional Notes:

• Colour samples use Munsell-based identifiers (e.g., 0-014, 6-072).
• Colour cards are commonly printed with semi-gloss finish for daylight evaluation.

flowchart LR
    A[Colour Selection] --> B{Gloss Type}
    B -->|G| C[Gloss Finish]
    B -->|SG| D[Semi-gloss / Egg-shell Finish]
    B -->|M| E[Matt Finish]
    C & D & E --> F[Final User-Supplier Agreement]

This assists designers in selecting appropriate finishes consistent with material availability and aesthetic preferences.

IS SP Part 1650 — Munsell Colour System References (Clauses 2.5 & 7.5)

This section standardizes Munsell notation for identifying colours of soils and materials in engineering and construction.

Core Elements:

• Munsell Notation Structure:
  Hue / Value / Chroma
  Example: 5 G 9/2 implies Hue = 5 Green, Value = 9 (lightness), Chroma = 2 (color purity).

• Tables Overview:
  Listings of paired Munsell references by card numbers under categories:

  • G (General)
  • SG (Slightly Grayed)
  • M (Moist)

Sample Data Extract (Clause 2.5):

Applications:

• Identification of soil colours aiding classification and moisture assessment.
• Facilitates standardized colour communication across projects.

Additional Details:

• Hue: Dominant colour wavelength.
• Value: Lightness scale from black (0) to white (10).
• Chroma: Intensity or saturation of the colour.

flowchart LR
    A[Munsell Notation] --> B[Hue (Colour)]
    A --> C[Value (Lightness)]
    A --> D[Chroma (Saturation)]
    B --> E[Examples: 5G, 7.5BG]
    C --> F[Scale: 0 (dark) to 10 (light)]
    D --> G[Scale: 0 (neutral) and above]

Refer to IS SP 1650 Table 6 for detailed Munsell colour references.

IS SP Part 1650 — Colour Identification and Matching Guidelines

Highlights from Clause 3.1 (Colour Grouping Scheme)

• Colours are arranged on 10 cards (numbered 0 to 9) for straightforward comparison:

  • Card 0: Strong colours
  • Cards 1 through 8: Intermediate hues organized by colour groups
  • Card 9: Greys

• Each card displays colours graded from light (top) to dark (bottom).

• Intermediate cards feature greyish tones on the left transitioning to vibrant colours on the right.

• The eight hue groups on cards 1 to 8 are:

Colour Matching

• Colours in IS SP 1650 are correlated with those in IS 5-1961 (Ready Mixed Paints) wherever possible.
• Appendix C lists approximate equivalents between IS SP 1650 and IS 5-1961 colours.
• Definitions of colour terms are given in Appendix A.

Summary Table for Colour Cards and Hue Groups

| Card No. | Hue Group                   |
|----------|-----------------------------|
| 0        | Strong Colours             |
| 1        | Red                       |
| 2        | Yellow-Red                |
| 3        | Yellow-Red                |
| 4        | Yellow                    |
| 5        | Green-Yellow              |
| 6        | Green                     |
| 7        | Blue-Green and Blue       |
| 8        | Purple-Blue and Red-Purple|
| 9        | Greys                     |

Visual Representation:

graph LR
    Card0[Card 0: Strong Colours]
    Card1[Card 1: Red]
    Card2[Card 2: Yellow-Red]
    Card3[Card 3: Yellow-Red]
    Card4[Card 4: Yellow]

IS SP Part 1650: Colour Terminology Glossary — Key Elements

1. Gloss Finish Types (Clause 5.1)

• Not all colours can be produced in every gloss finish.
• Final selection of finish is subject to agreement between user and supplier.

2. Colour Reference System: Munsell (Clauses 2.1 & 2.5)

• Colours are defined according to the Munsell Colour System as detailed in this appendix.
• Colours are coded using Munsell notation such as 7.5R 6/0.5 or 2.5Y 6/0.5.
• Gloss finish symbols (G, SG, M) specify applicable finishes for each colour.

3. Sample Munsell Colour Table (Clause 2.5)

This appendix ensures consistent terminology and clear colour communication by combining Munsell notation with gloss finish codes.

Munsell Colour System Explanation (IS SP Part 1650 - Clauses 2.5 & 7.5)

The Munsell system classifies colours based on three parameters:

• Hue (H): The colour family (e.g., Red, Yellow, Green).
• Value (V): Lightness, ranging from 0 (black) to 10 (white).
• Chroma (C): Saturation or intensity of the colour, starting at 0 for neutral grey.

Munsell Notation Format:

Hue Value/Chroma
Example: 5R 6/4

• 5R denotes Hue (5 Red)
• 6 indicates Value (lightness level)
• 4 specifies Chroma (colour intensity)

Excerpts from IS SP 1650 Tables:

Practical Application:

• Assists in matching soil, paint, and material colours.
• Enables consistent and precise communication of colours in engineering and construction fields.

Visual Summary:

graph LR
    A[Hue] --> B[Value]
    B --> C[Chroma]
    C --> D[Munsell Notation: Hue Value/Chroma]

Summary: The Munsell Colour System provides a standardized approach for specifying colours by hue, lightness, and saturation.

Correlation between IS SP 1650 Colours and IS 5-1961 Paint Colours

IS SP 1650 aligns its finishing colours with those specified in IS 5-1961 "Colours for ready mixed paints" using Munsell notation. This ensures consistency across paint and finishing colour standards.

Important Details:

• Colour correlations are documented in Appendix C of IS SP 1650.
• Colours utilize Munsell Notation representing Hue, Value, and Chroma (e.g., 5R 3/5).
• Near equivalents from IS 5-1961 are provided where exact matches cannot be found.
• Tables in Clauses 2.5 and 7.5 list paired colour codes from both standards.

Sample Table Extract (Clause 7.5):

Munsell Notation Format:

Hue (e.g., 5R, 2.5 YR) / Value (brightness) / Chroma (saturation)

Summary:

• Refer to Appendix C for detailed colour cross-referencing.
• Use Munsell notations for precise colour specifications.
• Harmonization of IS SP 1650 colours with IS 5-1961 supports uniformity in paint and finishing materials.

flowchart LR
    A[IS SP 1650 Colours] --> B{Munsell Notation}
    B --> C[Hue]
    B --> D[Value]
    B --> E[Chroma]
    A --> F[Appendix C Correlation]
    F --> G[IS 5-1961 Paint Colours]