British Standard BS2660 ’Colours for building and decorative paints’, was published in 1956. The main object in developing it was to agree a range that would meet most of the demands of architects and other paint users. It is not based on manufacturers’ sales data, or on an arbitrary narrowing down of existing ranges, but on a thorough reassessment of requirements.

The chief needs were to select colours and set them forth so that good combinations could be found easily and quickly, and to have a palette moderate in size but capable nevertheless of a generous gamut of architectural expression. The Standard must demonstrate that it meets users' needs, and it is hoped that this Digest will help to make its flexibility and other advantages clear.