Electrical contractors and electricians work with electrical wire color codes on a daily basis. But if you’re not one of these professionals, you might be wondering what the different colors of electrical wiring signify.

The simple explanation is that every color used for electrical wiring has a specific meaning, with different colors indicating different circuit types and purposes. Electrical contractors and electricians understand the color codes, but a simple guide can help you understand their significance.

Before beginning, though, it’s important to realize that different countries use different wiring color codes. In some countries, all permissible wiring colors are specified by the applicable governing body, but in others only a few specific types of wiring are required to have specific colors. In those countries, the colors used for some types of wiring are simply established by local practices followed by electrical contractors and electricians. Again, electrical contractors and electricians will be familiar with the wiring colors used in their localities.

So, the meaning of any given wiring color may vary from country to country. It can all get a bit complicated, but here’s a helpful guide to the significance of various colors used for common types of AC (alternating current) electrical wiring in different parts of the world.

American electrical contractors and electricians are required to follow the National Electrical Code (“NEC”) with regard to wiring colors. NEC imposes the following electrical wiring color standards:

In theory, wiring conducting live current in the U.S. is permitted to be any other color, although in practice, electrical contractors and electricians follow these local conventions:

Most countries in Europe, including the U.K., now follow the color conventions established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (“IEC”). These color conventions are as follows:

Electrical wiring in Canada is governed by the Canadian Electric Code (“CEC”). The following wiring color requirements apply in Canada:

It’s important to remember that the above color information applies only to AC circuits. Completely different color standards apply to wiring used in DC circuits.

If you are interested in purchasing an old building for commercial use or maybe your business is in an old building that needs a serious upgrade, you will need a specialized crew of professionals to make it happen. Commercial projects require a different set of skills and talents than the standard residential projects. Everything is on a much bigger scale, including the wiring and electrical needs. For this reason, it is absolutely critical you hire an electrical team that has experience and training to work on commercial projects. A certified electrician on your job ensures everything will be done right and up to code, which means your renovation or upgrade will chug along according to your schedule. The team at The Electric Connection has the commercial experience you want and need.

It is always best to bring the electrician in at the very beginning of a restoration project. This allows the professional to provide valuable insight and input as to where the wiring needs to be as well as the best type of materials to use for a commercial project. Bringing in the certified professional early on also makes the scheduling of the project much easier. You won’t have to worry about down days or redoing certain areas because the wiring wasn’t put in first. The construction team needs to work together and that means everyone needs to be involved from the get go.

The planning phase is an excellent time to discuss all of the commercial lighting options and various upgrades that can be put in place throughout the building. It is important these are thought about beforehand to make sure the project runs smoothly. Projects that are delayed or run into various hiccups can cost more money and end up pushing back opening dates. Give The Electric Connection a call today and talk with one of our professionals about your commercial building renovation.