NEMA SSL 7A-2015

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NEMA Standards Publication WD 1-1999 (R2005, R2010, R2015, R2020)

General Color Requirements for Wiring Devices

Published by:

National Electrical Manufacturers Association

1300 North 17th Street, Suite 900
Rosslyn, Virginia 22209

www.nema.org

© 2021 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.

© 2015 National Electrical Manufacturers Association

NEMA SSL 7A-2015
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NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER

The information in this publication was considered technically sound by the consensus of persons
engaged in the development and approval of the document at the time it was developed. Consensus
does not necessarily mean that there is unanimous agreement among every person participating in the
development of this document.

National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Standards and guideline publications, of which the
document contained herein is one, are developed through a voluntary consensus Standards development
process. This process brings together volunteers and/or seeks out the views of persons who have an
interest in the topic covered by this publication. While NEMA administers the process and establishes
rules to promote fairness in the development of consensus, it does not write the document and it does not
independently test, evaluate, or verify the accuracy or completeness of any information or the soundness
of any judgments contained in its Standards and guideline publications.

NEMA disclaims liability for any personal injury, property, or other damages of any nature whatsoever,
whether special, indirect, consequential, or compensatory, directly or indirectly resulting from the
publication, use of, application, or reliance on this document. NEMA disclaims and makes no guaranty or
warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein,
and disclaims and makes no warranty that the information in this document will fulfill any of your particular
purposes or needs. NEMA does not undertake to guarantee the performance of any individual
manufacturer or seller’s products or services by virtue of this Standard or guide.

In publishing and making this document available, NEMA is not undertaking to render professional or
other services for or on behalf of any person or entity, nor is NEMA undertaking to perform any duty owed
by any person or entity to someone else. Anyone using this document should rely on his or her own
independent judgment or, as appropriate, seek the advice of a competent professional in determining the
exercise of reasonable care in any given circumstances. Information and other Standards on the topic
covered by this publication may be available from other sources, which the user may wish to consult for
additional views or information not covered by this publication.

NEMA has no power, nor does it undertake to police or enforce compliance with the contents of this
document. NEMA does not certify, test, or inspect products, designs, or installations for safety or health
purposes. Any certification or other statement of compliance with any health or safety–related information
in this document shall not be attributable to NEMA and is solely the responsibility of the certifier or maker
of the statement.

© 2021 National Electrical Manufacturers Association

 NEMA WD 1-1999 (R2005, R2010, R2015, R2020)
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Foreword

The purpose of this Standards publication 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:

NEMA Technical Operations Department

National Electrical Manufacturers Association
1300 North 17th Street, Suite 900
Rosslyn, Virginia 22209

WD 1-1999 revises and supersedes NEMA Standards Publication WD 1-1983 (R1989).

This 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

© 2021 National Electrical Manufacturers Association

NEMA WD 1-1999 (R2005, R2010, R2015, R2020)
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© 2021 National Electrical Manufacturers Association

 NEMA WD 1-1999 (R2005, R2010, R2015, R2020)
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Contents
Page

Foreword .............................................................................................................................. i

Section 1 General
1.1 Scope .................................................................................................................................. 1
1.2 References .......................................................................................................................... 1

Section 2 Colors of Molded Compounds ............................................................................................ 2

© 2021 National Electrical Manufacturers Association

NEMA WD 1-1999 (R2005, R2010, R2015, R2020)
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© 2021 National Electrical Manufacturers Association

 NEMA WD 1-1999 (R2005, R2010, R2015, R2020)
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Section 1
General

1.1 Scope
This Standards 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 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)

1300 N. 17th Street, Suite 900
Rosslyn, VA 22209

ANSI/NEMA WD 6-1997 Wiring Devices—Dimensional Specifications

© 2021 National Electrical Manufacturers Association

NEMA WD 1-1999 (R2005, R2010, R2015, R2020)
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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).

© 2021 National Electrical Manufacturers Association