Colour Selection

Availability of colours may vary between regions. Where a colour is available, extended lead times may also apply in some regions. Please consult with your Fielders representative or local branch for availability. The COLORBOND® steel colours shown have been reproduced to represent actual product colours as accurately as possible. We recommend checking your chosen colour against an actual sample of the product before purchasing as colours may vary depending on your screen settings.

The COLORBOND® steel colour swatches shown have been reproduced to represent actual product colours and finish as accurately as possible. However, we recommend checking your chosen colour against an actual sample of the product before purchasing, as varying light conditions and limitations of the printing process may affect colour tones and finish. To determine the most suitable material for your project, please contact your supplier or steel.com.au/Colorbond.

COLORBOND® steel

ColoursBCA Classification
Solar AbsorptanceBasix ClassificationSwatch
Classic Cream™M0.42L
Surfmist®L0.32M
Paperbark®M0.42L
Evening Haze®M0.43L
Shale Grey™M0.43L
Dune®M0.47L
Cove®M0.54M
Windspray®M0.58M
Pale Eucalypt®M0.60M
Gully®D0.63M
Mangrove®D0.64M
Wallaby®D0.64M
Jasper®D0.68M
Basalt®D0.69M
Manor Red®D0.69M
Terrain®D0.69M
Woodland Grey®D0.71D
Monument®D0.73D
Ironstone®D0.74D
Cottage Green®D0.75D
Deep Ocean®D0.75D
Night Sky®D0.96D
Table DD ES CC 001

Key: L-Light: M-Medium: D-Dark

Notes:

  1. The classification of colours based on solar absorptance measured in accordance with ASTM E 903-96, Standard test method for solar absorptance, reflectance and transmittance of materials using integrating spheres.

  2. Solar absorptance is a thermal property and is not suitable for evaluation of visual impacts. For further information refer to Technical Bulletin TB 28 - Building Materials, Thermal Efficiency and Reflectivity (242 KB).

  3. For more information Download NSW Building & Sustainability Index (BASIX) (107 KB). This document contains information on the New South Wales Building and Sustainability Index (BASIX) for residential buildings. A BASIX Certificate is required as part of the development approval process for all new residential buildings (including new multi-unit residential developments such as villas, townhouses and low-rise, mid-rise and high-rise developments) in New South Wales. Alterations and additions requiring a development application will also require a BASIX Certificate.

  4. COLORBOND® Ultra Steel only available 1.0mm BMT.
 

COLORBOND® steel Matt

ColoursLight Reflectance ValueSolar Reflective IndexBasix ClassificationSwatch
Basalt® DD0.71
Dune® MM0.48
Shale Grey™ ML0.45
Surfmist® LL0.35
Monument® DD0.79
Table DD ES CC 001

Key: L-Light: M-Medium: D-Dark

Notes:

  1. The classification of colours based on solar absorptance measured in accordance with ASTM E 903-96, Standard test method for solar absorptance, reflectance and transmittance of materials using integrating spheres.

  2. Solar absorptance is a thermal property and is not suitable for evaluation of visual impacts. For further information refer to Technical Bulletin TB 28 - Building Materials, Thermal Efficiency and Reflectivity (242 KB).

  3. For more information Download NSW Building & Sustainability Index (BASIX) (107 KB). This document contains information on the New South Wales Building and Sustainability Index (BASIX) for residential buildings. A BASIX Certificate is required as part of the development approval process for all new residential buildings (including new multi-unit residential developments such as villas, townhouses and low-rise, mid-rise and high-rise developments) in New South Wales. Alterations and additions requiring a development application will also require a BASIX Certificate.
 

COLORBOND® Metallic steel

ColoursBCA Classification
Solar AbsorptanceBasix ClassificationSwatch
Galactic®L0.34
L
Cosmic®L0.39L
Rhea®M0.49M
Astro®D0.62M
Aries®D0.70M
Celestian®D0.93D
Table DD ES CC 001

Key: L-Light: M-Medium: D-Dark

Notes:

  1. The classification of colours based on solar absorptance measured in accordance with ASTM E 903-96, Standard test method for solar absorptance, reflectance and transmittance of materials using integrating spheres.

  2. Solar absorptance is a thermal property and is not suitable for evaluation of visual impacts. For further information refer to Technical Bulletin TB 28 - Building Materials, Thermal Efficiency and Reflectivity (242 KB).

  3. For more information Download NSW Building & Sustainability Index (BASIX) (107 KB). This document contains information on the New South Wales Building and Sustainability Index (BASIX) for residential buildings. A BASIX Certificate is required as part of the development approval process for all new residential buildings (including new multi-unit residential developments such as villas, townhouses and low-rise, mid-rise and high-rise developments) in New South Wales. Alterations and additions requiring a development application will also require a BASIX Certificate.
 

COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel

Complying ColoursBCA Classification
Solar AbsorptanceBasix ClassificationSwatch
WhitehavenL0.23L
Table DD ES CC 001

Key: L-Light: M-Medium: D-Dark

Notes:

  1. COLORBOND® Coolmax® steel may not be suitable for all profiles. Please check with your Fielders representative for availability, minimum order quantities, and lead times.

  2. The classification of colours based on solar absorptance measured in accordance with ASTM E 903-96, Standard test method for solar absorptance, reflectance and transmittance of materials using integrating spheres.

  3. Solar absorptance is a thermal property and is not suitable for evaluation of visual impacts. For further information refer to Technical Bulletin TB 28 - Building Materials, Thermal Efficiency and Reflectivity (242 KB).

  4. For more information Download NSW Building & Sustainability Index (BASIX) (107 KB). This document contains information on the New South Wales Building and Sustainability Index (BASIX) for residential buildings. A BASIX Certificate is required as part of the development approval process for all new residential buildings (including new multi-unit residential developments such as villas, townhouses and low-rise, mid-rise and high-rise developments) in New South Wales. Alterations and additions requiring a development application will also require a BASIX Certificate.
 

SuperDura™ Stainless steel

Complying ColoursBCA Classification
Solar AbsorptanceBasix ClassificationSwatch
Surfmist®L0.32L
Dune®M0.47L
Windspray®M0.58M
Deep Ocean®D0.75L
Table DD ES CC 001

Key: L-Light: M-Medium: D-Dark

Notes:

  1. The classification of colours based on solar absorptance measured in accordance with ASTM E 903-96, Standard test method for solar absorptance, reflectance and transmittance of materials using integrating spheres.

  2. Solar absorptance is a thermal property and is not suitable for evaluation of visual impacts. For further information refer to Technical Bulletin TB 28 - Building Materials, Thermal Efficiency and Reflectivity (242 KB).

  3. ZINCALUME® steel is not included in the Tables above.  Unpainted metal coated roofs, such as ZINCALUME® steel, have a low thermal emittance so perform differently to conventional painted surfaces (high emittance) from both an energy efficiency basis and impact upon urban heating.  For the purpose of BCA and NSW BASIX ZINCALUME® steel should be considered a medium colour (per ASTM E1980).

  4. For more information Download NSW Building & Sustainability Index (BASIX) (107 KB). This document contains information on the New South Wales Building and Sustainability Index (BASIX) for residential buildings. A BASIX Certificate is required as part of the development approval process for all new residential buildings (including new multi-unit residential developments such as villas, townhouses and low-rise, mid-rise and high-rise developments) in New South Wales. Alterations and additions requiring a development application will also require a BASIX Certificate.
 

COLORBOND® Ultra steel

ColoursBCA Classification
Solar AbsorptanceBasix ClassificationSwatch
Dune®M0.47L
Windspray®M0.58M
Wallaby®D0.64M
Woodland Grey®D0.71D
Surfmist®L0.32L
Monument®D0.73D
Table DD ES CC 001

Key: L-Light: M-Medium: D-Dark

Notes:

  1. The classification of colours based on solar absorptance measured in accordance with ASTM E 903-96, Standard test method for solar absorptance, reflectance and transmittance of materials using integrating spheres.

  2. Solar absorptance is a thermal property and is not suitable for evaluation of visual impacts. For further information refer to Technical Bulletin TB 28 - Building Materials, Thermal Efficiency and Reflectivity (242 KB).

  3. For more information Download NSW Building & Sustainability Index (BASIX) (107 KB). This document contains information on the New South Wales Building and Sustainability Index (BASIX) for residential buildings. A BASIX Certificate is required as part of the development approval process for all new residential buildings (including new multi-unit residential developments such as villas, townhouses and low-rise, mid-rise and high-rise developments) in New South Wales. Alterations and additions requiring a development application will also require a BASIX Certificate.
 

ZINCALUME® steel

ColoursBCA Classification
Solar AbsorptanceBasix ClassificationSwatch
----
Table DD ES CC 001
Notes:
Colours are indicative only and may vary depending on your screen settings.

Unpainted metal coated roofs, such as ZINCALUME® steel, have a low thermal emittance so perform differently to conventional painted surfaces (high emittance) from both an energy efficiency basis and impact upon urban heating. For the purpose of BCA and NSW BASIX ZINCALUME® steel should be considered a medium colour (per ASTM E1980).
 

Classification of COLORBOND® steel colours for BCA and BASIX

In order to recognise the cooling benefit of lower solar absorptance roofing some building regulations have incorporated it as an energy efficiency design parameter.

Light coloured (low solar absorptance) roofing material keeps cooler than darker coloured (high solar absorptance) roofing material. The cooler temperature has many benefits including the ability to reduce the energy costs for cooling a building. In order to recognise the cooling benefit of lower solar absorptance roofing some building regulations have incorporated it as an energy efficiency design parameter. Lower solar absorptance roofing typically qualifies for a roof insulation concession under prescriptive regulation. Alternatively, choosing low solar absorptance roofing lowers the assumed cooling (when using building verification software for compliance) helping achieve higher performance or lower building costs.

Colour Classification in Accordance with the BCA

The Building Code of Australia (BCA) has classified roof colour on the basis of their solar absorptance, referred herein as light, medium and dark, see the tables below for the ratings available for each product and colour.

Colour Classification in Accordance with the New South Wales BASIX

The New South Wales Building and Sustainability Index (BASIX) has also classified colour into light medium and dark on the basis of their solar absorptance. The light, medium and dark categories are also to be used in NatHERS accredited software if the verification path is used to meet the BASIX thermal comfort requirement. See the tables below for the solar absorptance and BASIX colour classification for our products.

SA=Solar Absorptance: The classification of colours in the BCA is based on solar absorptance, which is the inverse of solar reflectance, expressed as a ratio between 0 and 1. A SA value of 0 indicates that a roof absorbs none and a value of 1 indicates that a roof absorbs 100% of the incoming solar radiation.

The solar absorptance values shown are not applicable for SuperDura™ Stainless steel. See the individual colour swatches for the SA value for each product and colour.

BCA = The Building Code of Australia (BCA): has classified roof colour on the basis of their solar absorptance, referred herein as Light (L < 0.40), Medium (M < 0.60), Dark (D > 0.60). See the individual colour swatches for the ratings available for each product and colour. BCA classification is correct at the time of publishing but may be subject to change. Check your local state building regulations at the time of your project.