GB17381-2020
Regulation for surface colours of the visual aids to navigation
视觉航标表面色规定
GB 17381-2020 is a current mandatory Chinese national standard for Regulation for surface colours of the visual aids to navigation. It appears in the Machinery compliance cluster with a product safety focus and has an implementation date of Jun 1, 2021.
Applicability depends on product scope, certification route, competent authority notices and transition rules. Requst for the translation or verify source before using this record in a compliance decision.
Compliance overview
Scope and applicability
This standard applies to the surface colours of all visual aids to navigation deployed in China's coastal waters and inland waterways. It covers the color composition, painting methods, and chromaticity ranges for these facilities. It is mandatory for all manufacturers and operators of maritime and inland navigation markers.
Technical requirements
This standard categorizes visual aid surface colors into three types: ordinary surface colours, fluorescent colours, and retroreflective colours. It specifies the chromaticity range boundaries and luminance factors for six primary colors: red, yellow, green, blue, white, and black. The standard defines strict boundary equations and intersection coordinates on the chromaticity diagram to ensure color recognition. For ordinary and fluorescent colors, the standard dictates minimum luminance factor thresholds to guarantee visibility under standard illuminant D65. Retroreflective colors are restricted to red, yellow, green, and white, adhering to the boundary definitions of ordinary colors. Manufacturers must ensure their materials meet these precise chromatic and photometric limits.
Testing methods
Color measurement must be conducted using standard illuminant D65 with a 45/0 geometric condition and a 2-degree observer field. The standard also provides an informative appendix featuring RAL and NCS color samples for practical field verification of ordinary and fluorescent colors. These reference samples allow engineers to perform on-site validation against the required chromaticity ranges.
FAQs
What products and facilities are regulated under GB 17381-2020?
This standard applies to all visual aids to navigation, including buoys, beacons, and marking structures, deployed in both China's coastal waters and inland waterways. It is mandatory for all such visual aids operating within these jurisdictions.
What are the main updates in GB 17381-2020 compared to the previous GB 17381-1998?
Compared to the 1998 version, this update removes the term light reflectance and introduces luminance factor. It also modifies the boundary equations, intersection coordinates, and luminance factors for both ordinary and fluorescent surface colors, and updates the retroreflective color requirements. Engineers must transition to the 2020 version for current compliance.
How does GB 17381-2020 align with international color systems like RAL or NCS?
The standard defines color boundaries using specific mathematical equations and chromaticity coordinates under standard illuminant D65. For practical field verification, it provides equivalent reference colors in the RAL and NCS color systems. Manufacturers can use these specified RAL or NCS codes for on-site verification.
The summary above provides a high-level overview of GB 17381-2020. To ensure complete compliance for your maritime or inland navigation products entering the Chinese market, a precise and professional translation of the full technical specifications is essential. Purchase our high-quality English translation of GB 17381-2020 today to access all detailed boundary equations, chromaticity coordinate tables, and testing procedures.
Applicability hints
- Type
- Safety
- CCS
- R 63
- ICS
- 03.220.40
- Competent department
- Ministry of Transport
- Technical committee
- Ministry of Transport
Relationships
Replaces:GB 17381-1998