A Unified Language for Swimming Pool Colors

In commercial pools, assessing the lightness of the interior finish is crucial to swimmer safety.

The primary and well-established approach to ensure the visibility of a swimmer or bather in trouble is the requirement of a white or light-colored interior finish. This creates the essential contrast for better visibility of an individual in need of assistance.

This principle has achieved consensus within the two leading model codes of the industry: the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) and the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC).

Floors and walls below the water line shall be white or light pastel in color such that, from the pool deck, a bather is visible on the pool floor and the following items can be identified: algae growth, debris, or dirt within the pool; cracks in the surface finish of the pool, and tile markers.

This requires a unified language: CIE (L*a*b*) Color System uses Lightness Value (L* value) to express lightness on a numerical range of 0 to 100 where “absolute black” = 0 (zero) and “absolute white” = 100. Based on historical acceptance of interior finishes for commercial pools by health departments, the minimum acceptable dry lightness value is 80 light reflectance value (or greater), with the wet equivalence being 50 light reflectance value (or greater).

CIE Lab Color Map

Note: Glass tiles, unlike cement, have the same wet and dry reflectance value. Cement gets darker when wet, so it requires two measurements.

To assist you effectively, we’ve established the CIE Lab values for both the Interstyle 240 Colors and the Pool & Spa Ocean Colors. Furthermore, we’ve organized these colors into three distinct categories: CIE Lab values exceeding 80, CIE Lab values within 50 and 80, and CIE Lab values less than 50.

Interstyle 240 CIE Lab

Interstyle Ocean CIE Lab

Understanding the lightness of a commercial pool’s interior finish is critical to bather safety.