RAL colour
The European colour-matching standard used for powder coating. Quoting a RAL number — 6005 green, 9005 black — gets the exact same shade from any coater.
Also called: ral, ral colours, ral code
RAL is the European colour matching standard used for powder coating and paint. Each colour has a four-digit number, and quoting that number gets the same shade from any coater in the country — which is the whole point of it. 'Green' means nothing to a powder coater; RAL 6005 means exactly one thing.
The numbers you will actually see
Common fencing RAL colours
| RAL | Colour | Where it turns up |
|---|---|---|
| 6005 | Moss green | The default for fencing and railings |
| 9005 | Jet black | Railings, gates, urban schemes |
| 7016 | Anthracite grey | Modern commercial and domestic |
| 5010 | Gentian blue | Play areas and school schemes |
| 3020 | Traffic red | Safety barrier and bollards |
| 1023 | Traffic yellow | Warehouse and traffic safety |
Coating goes on top of galvanising
On our steel, powder coating is applied over hot dip galvanising rather than instead of it. You keep the zinc protection and get the colour, which is why a coated fence does not become a rust problem the moment somebody scratches it.
Frequently asked questions
- What does RAL mean on a fence?
It is the colour standard used for powder coating. A RAL number specifies an exact shade so any coater produces the same colour.
- Is powder coating applied over galvanising?
On our steel, yes. The zinc goes on first and the colour coat on top, so the corrosion protection does not depend on the paint film.