In 1999 it became apparent that a new European standard for wiring and cable colours meant that the UK would have to catch up pretty quickly and change fixed cable colours to suit. The rest of Europe however was changing over very quickly. Why Have Wire Colours Changed?Ģ8 years ago the United Kingdom agreed to adopt the colour blue for neutral conductors in flexible cables and flexible cords usually used for non fixed installations.Īt that time no move was made to harmonize the colours for fixed installations. Warning: To complete electrical works you must comply with Electrical Regulations – Click here for more information.

3-core cable was changed from red live to brown live, neutral blue to neutral grey, additional from yellow to black with earth bare or green/yellow.īefore this change, old wiring colours in the UK for 2-core wire were red = live, black = neutral and earths are either bare or yellow and green, whereas with 3-core cable live = red, blue = neutral, additional = yellow and earth either bare or yellow and green.

To harmonise wire colours, 2-core cable changed from live red to live brown, neutral black to neutral blue and earth remaining bare or green/yellow.

Create loopback cable color coding