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Lamacoid colours: which colour combination to use for each job

Background first, letters second. The common colour pairs, what each one tells the person reading it, and where each one belongs.

GuidesSep 26, 20262 min read

On this page

How lamacoid colours are named
The common pairs and where they belong
Colour-coding a whole building
Beyond the basics
Quick tips
Common questions

Open the builder

In short

Colours are written background / letters. Red/White means a red plate with white letters.
Black/White is the everyday choice for electrical ID. Red/White is for solar, fire and safety-critical plates.
If your spec names a colour, use that exact pair across the whole job.

Colour does real work on a lamacoid (or lamicoid, the other common spelling). Before anyone reads a word, the colour has already told them what kind of plate they are looking at. Pick the pair that matches the message, then keep it consistent across the site.

The four stocked lamacoid colours: black/white, red/white, carbon/white and white/blue

01How lamacoid colours are named

A lamacoid has a surface colour and a core colour. The engraving cuts through the surface to show the core, so the core becomes the lettering. That is why colours are always written with the background first:

RED / WHITE

WHITE / RED

Same two colours, opposite order, different plates.

02The common pairs and where they belong

Background / letters	Use it for
Black / White	General electrical ID: panels, breakers, disconnects, MCC buckets, junction boxes. The most-ordered pair.
White / Black	General ID on dark or grey enclosures, control stations and legend plates. Very easy to read up close.
Red / White	Solar PV placards, fire alarm and fire protection equipment, emergency and safety-critical plates.
Yellow / Black	Caution and warning plates: second source of supply, backfed equipment, stored energy.
Green / White	Emergency power, life safety circuits, first aid and safe-condition equipment.
Blue / White	Mandatory instructions and water or process systems.

The colour meanings follow common safety colour conventions: red for danger and fire, yellow for caution, green for safe condition and emergency, blue for mandatory action, and black or white for general information.

03Colour-coding a whole building

Many facilities give each power system its own colour so it is obvious at a glance. A typical scheme looks like this:

PANEL LP-2A

Normal power

Black/White on standard distribution.

PANEL EP-1

Emergency power

Red/White, or the colour your owner's standard uses.

PANEL LS-1

Life safety

A separate colour keeps it clearly apart from normal power.

UPS-1 OUTPUT

UPS and critical loads

White/Black or another reserved pair.

Owners, hospitals, universities and data centres often publish their own standard. When they do, it is the one to follow, and we will match it.

04Beyond the basics

The builder shows the most-used plate colours first, with more under More colours. Pick the letter colour from the row below. Metallic, wood-grain and other finishes are good for office name tags, door plates and nameplates where looks matter as much as information.

05Quick tips

One pair per purposeChoose a colour for each kind of plate and stick to it across the job.
Contrast firstBlack/White, White/Black, Red/White and Yellow/Black are the easiest to read from a distance.
Spec winsIf the drawings or the owner's standard names a colour, use exactly that pair.

06Common questions

What does Red/White mean on a lamacoid?

A red background with white letters. The first colour is always the plate and the second is the engraved lettering.

What is the most common lamacoid colour?

Black/White. It is the everyday choice for panels, breakers, disconnects and MCC buckets.

What colour lamacoid should I use for emergency power?

Red/White is common for emergency power panels. Many owners, hospitals and campuses publish their own colour standard, and that standard is the one to match.

How many lamacoid colours are there?

Dozens. The builder shows the most-used plate colours first, with more under More colours, including metallic and wood-grain finishes for name plates.

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