What is RAL 1023 PPGI sheet?
RAL 1023, Verkehrsgelb, is the pure warm yellow of traffic signs and safety equipment, defined in RAL 841-GL and matched by road authorities across Europe and the Middle East; it is brighter and cleaner than the greenish RAL 1018 zinc yellow and the ochre RAL 1003. In coil coating it is a demanding colour: high-chroma yellows need a heavy pigment loading to cover the grey primer, and the affordable organic yellows (arylide, benzimidazolone) lose chroma under UV — a plain polyester 1023 on a south-facing surface is visibly paler after three to five years and chalky after seven. Two answers exist: inorganic pigments (bismuth vanadate, or lead-free replacements for the old chrome yellow) in an SMP or HDP binder, or a PVDF system, which holds ΔE ≤ 2 for 20 years and is the standard for road signs and permanent safety installations. Indoors and for parts that will be re-painted or replaced, PE 1023 is economical: machine guards, column protectors, kerb rails, warning trims, shelving and cabinet doors in factories. We roll 1023 in 0.50–1.2 mm PE (the heavier gauges for folded guards and protectors), fold column protectors, wheel stops and kerb rails from it for car-park and plant projects, slit it for chevron and hazard strips, and order PVDF 1023 per project from 5 t for signage blanks, barrier rails and gantries.
Colour data
| RAL code | Name | Approx. hex | Light reflectance (LRV) | Gloss (60°) | Colour tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAL 1023 | Traffic yellow / Verkehrsgelb | #F7B500 | ≈ 50 % | 60–80 (gloss); 30–40 semi-gloss | ΔE ≤ 1.5 to RAL 841-GL (high-chroma tolerance) |
Paint system and pigment choice
| System | Pigment | Indoor life | Outdoor life (C3) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PE polyester 25 µm, organic yellow | arylide / benzimidazolone | 15+ yr | 3–5 yr before visible fade | stock; indoor guards, protectors, short-life parts |
| SMP / HDP 25 µm, inorganic yellow | bismuth vanadate | 20+ yr | 10–15 yr | outdoor barriers and kerb rails |
| PVDF 25–35 µm | inorganic / high-performance organic | 25+ yr | 20 yr, ΔE ≤ 2 | road signs, permanent safety, signage |
| Powder coat over HDG (duplex) | polyester powder | 20 yr | 10–15 yr | alternative for fabricated guards after welding |
Yellow fades first among all RAL colours. For anything outdoors that must stay yellow beyond five years, specify PVDF or inorganic-pigment SMP and ask for the pigment on the coating certificate.
Safety and protection parts folded from 1023
| Item | Gauge | Finish | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Column protectors (folded plate, 400–600 mm high) | 1.0–1.2 mm | PE (indoor) / PVDF | concrete columns, ramps |
| Kerb rails and wheel stops | 1.0–1.2 mm | PE / PVDF | bay ends |
| Machine guards and covers | 0.8–1.2 mm | PE | with black-yellow chevron strips |
| Height restrictors and swing bars | 1.0 mm skins | PVDF | entrances |
| Signage blanks and gantry panels | 0.7–1.0 mm | PVDF | road and plant signs |
| Chevron and hazard strips | 0.5–0.7 mm | PE / PVDF | slit 50–150 mm, paired with RAL 9005 |
Guardrail posts and rails themselves are hot-dip galvanized; 1023 sheet is used for the visible protectors and markings — see the car-park guardrail service.
Thickness range and stock sizes
| Thickness | Widths × lengths | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 0.50–0.70 mm | 1 000 / 1 250 mm coil; sheet to 6 000 mm | PE from stock 3–7 days |
| 0.80–1.20 mm | 1 250 mm coil; sheet 2 500 / 3 000 | to order 2–3 weeks — guards, protectors |
| PVDF / inorganic SMP | 0.50–1.0 mm | to order, 5 t per system |
| Chevron strip | 0.50–0.70 mm | slit 50–150 mm |
Weight per m² and per sheet
| Thickness | kg/m² | 1 000 × 2 000 (kg) | 1 250 × 2 500 (kg) | 1 500 × 3 000 (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.35 mm | 2.85 | 5.7 | 8.9 | 12.8 |
| 0.4 mm | 3.24 | 6.5 | 10.1 | 14.6 |
| 0.45 mm | 3.63 | 7.3 | 11.4 | 16.3 |
| 0.5 mm | 4.03 | 8.1 | 12.6 | 18.1 |
| 0.6 mm | 4.81 | 9.6 | 15.0 | 21.6 |
| 0.7 mm | 5.60 | 11.2 | 17.5 | 25.2 |
Steel at 7.85 kg/dm³ plus Z100 zinc and the yellow 25/7 µm system (≈ 0.10 kg/m²); heavier 1.0–1.2 mm gauges are quoted by BMT.
Forming, cutting and handling
Folds and roll-forms at 1–2 × t with the film on; shears and punches cleanly (heavier 1.0–1.2 mm gauges bend at 2 × t); laser and plasma burn the paint and are avoided — guards that need cut-outs are punched or sheared. Yellow shows every scuff of black tyre rubber: protectors are supplied with the film on and a repair paint. Do not weld pre-painted 1023 — assemble folded parts with rivets or screws, or fabricate in galvanized steel and powder-coat afterwards.
Where it is used
- Car-park column protectors, kerb rails, wheel stops and height restrictors
- Machine guards, covers and safety trims in factories
- Road and plant signage blanks (PVDF)
- Crane, forklift and lifting-equipment sheet parts
- Industrial doors, shutters and hazard markings
- Shelving, cabinets and toolboxes in safety yellow
RAL 1023 vs 1018 vs 1003
RAL 1018 zinc yellow is greener and the stock yellow of trapezoidal sheet and panels; 1023 is the purer, warmer traffic yellow specified for signage and safety by road and plant standards. RAL 1003 signal yellow is slightly deeper and used by some national sign specifications. For the black partner of chevrons see RAL 9005; car-park barrier systems on the car-park guardrail page.
Price
RAL 1023 in PE carries about 40 USD/t over the 9002 base at 0.50 mm (pigment loading), and the heavier 0.80–1.2 mm gauges used for guards sit higher on the list (band below); PVDF or inorganic SMP 1023 is quoted per project from 5 t, typically 40–60 % over PE. Bands are the month's indicative FOB Istanbul ranges.
Bands from our weekly export list (September 2026), FOB Istanbul, full-container quantities, excluding freight and certificates. Firm price per project on RFQ within one working day.
Export and packing
RAL 1023 PPGI sheet ships as coil — eye-to-sky on a wooden cradle, 5–25 t per coil, VCI paper and steel strapping — or as cut sheet on skids of 2–3 t with paper interleaving and edge protectors. A 20' takes one coil up to 20 t; a 40' HC two coils or 24 t of sheet. HS 7210 / 7209 / 7208 by product.
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| MOQ | 3 t stock yellow; 10 t for heavier gauges or PVDF |
| Incoterms | FOB Istanbul · CIF / CFR Gulf, Africa · DAP EU, Balkans, Iraq, Caucasus · DAP Aktau |
| Lead time | Yellow 0.50–0.70 mm PE from stock in 3–7 working days; 1.0–1.2 mm and PVDF / inorganic-pigment systems 4–6 weeks |
| Packing | Coils 3–8 t on cradles with PE film and VCI paper; guard and column-protector blanks on skids with film, corners protected |
| Container / truck | Two coils per 20' (≈ 18 t); 40' HC ≈ 24 t of blanks or sheet |
| Documents | Invoice, packing list, EN 10204 3.1 (3.2 on request), certificate of origin; SASO / SONCAP / PVoC on request |
| Payment | 30% advance, balance against B/L copy; L/C at sight for orders above 100 t |
Certificates and testing
Every lot of RAL 1023 PPGI sheet carries an EN 10204 3.1 inspection certificate listing heat, chemistry, mechanical and impact results. On request we add 3.2 witnessing by a classification society or inspector, EN 10160 ultrasonic testing and supplementary impact tests at the customer's design temperature.
How to order
Specify RAL 1023, thickness (TCT), width, coil or sheet, coating system (PE for indoor / PVDF or inorganic SMP for outdoor), gloss, backing coat, film and quantity — or send the drawing of the guards / protectors to be folded; state the expected outdoor life so the right pigment is offered.
Standards
- EN 10169 — continuously organic-coated (coil-coated) steel
- EN 10346 — DX51D+Z substrate
- RAL 841-GL colour register
- EN 13523 (ECCA) test methods; EN 10204 3.1
Grades
Grade data sheets (chemistry, mechanicals, equivalents) are on our reference site: DX51D · S250GD · DX52D
Frequently asked questions
What colour is RAL 1023?
Traffic yellow — the pure warm safety yellow of road signs, guardrails, column protectors and machine guards (LRV ≈ 50 %).
Does yellow PPGI fade?
Organic-pigment polyester yellow fades visibly in 3–5 years outdoors; PVDF or inorganic-pigment SMP holds the colour 15–20 years. Choose by where the part lives.
What is the difference between RAL 1023 and RAL 1018?
1018 zinc yellow is greener and is the stock roofing yellow; 1023 is warmer and purer and is the specified safety / signage yellow.
Can you fold column protectors and guards in RAL 1023?
Yes — 1.0–1.2 mm folded protectors, kerb rails, wheel stops and guards on our press brakes, with film on and repair paint; outdoor items in PVDF.
Is RAL 1023 available from stock?
PE 0.50–0.70 mm within a week; 0.80–1.2 mm and PVDF to order (2–3 weeks, from 5 t).