Description
The Atlas 480-Colour Catalogue is the definitive physical reference for the complete Atlas SAH system — every shade reproduced as a real rendered swatch, structured as 240 pastel dominant tones paired with 240 intensive accents for full facade composition planning.
When the Atlas 480-Colour Catalogue Saves Time on UK Projects
Definitive colour specification starts with the Atlas 480-shade catalogue when a project names a precise SAH code, requires multi-tone facade composition, or needs an authoritative reference that planning officers and Building Control accept without query. Held within the render colour charts and catalogues range, it presents every shade in the Atlas SAH system as a real rendered swatch — 240 pastel and toned-down colours designed as dominant facade tones, paired with 240 more intensive shades for accents, plinths, feature panels, and detailing.
Architects, specifiers, and contractors reach for the full catalogue when the brief requires precision rather than popularity. For initial client consultations and the most frequently specified shades, the curated 24-colour set is the faster shortlisting tool — and many professionals keep both: the 24-set for first conversations, the 480-catalogue for final specification and contractual sign-off.
Why Specifiers Order the Atlas 480-Catalogue Up Front
- Complete SAH palette in one volume: Every Atlas render and paint colour is on the page, removing the need to request further samples or search online when a specification names a SAH code.
- Authentic rendered swatches, not print reproductions: Each shade is produced with real Atlas render at the specified grain, so pigment depth, aggregate pattern, and light reflection match the final wall.
- Paired pastel-and-intensive structure for composition: 240 dominant tones sit alongside 240 accent counterparts, making it intuitive to build coordinated schemes — main facade, return, and feature panel — from the same pages.
- Definitive reference for planning and Building Control: A physical swatch with its SAH code carries more weight in a submission than any printed image, accelerating approval on conservation and contentious sites.
- UV-stable pigment verification under real sunlight: Body-tinted Atlas pigments are formulated for long-term UV stability, and assessing the swatch under direct site sunlight confirms how the colour behaves across the facade's service life.
- Five Atlas render systems plus Salta paints in one catalogue: The same SAH codes apply across silicone, acrylic-silicone, silicate-silicone, acrylic, and silicate renders plus Atlas Salta facade paints.
Technical Specifications — Atlas 480-Colour Catalogue Data Highlights
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sample type | Bound physical catalogue with real rendered swatches |
| Colour system | Atlas SAH Colour Scheme for Renders and Paints |
| Total colours | 480 |
| Palette structure | 240 pastel/toned-down (dominant) + 240 intensive (accent) |
| Code format | SAH + four-digit number (e.g. SAH 0001, SAH 0397) |
| Render types represented | Silicone, acrylic-silicone, silicate-silicone, acrylic, silicate |
| Paint types represented | Atlas Salta silicone, acrylic, silicate facade paints |
| Pigment technology | UV-resistant, body-tinted (through-coloured) |
| Format | Professionally bound catalogue |
| Intended users | Architects, specifiers, contractors, homeowners, planners |
| Recommended assessment | Natural daylight at the project site |
How to Use the Atlas 480-Colour Catalogue Effectively
The catalogue delivers most value as both a colour selector and a composition planning tool, not just a lookup table for a single shade. Open it outdoors at the project site under natural daylight, hold the relevant page flat against the wall at chest height, and step back two to three metres — that mirrors how the finished elevation reads from street level and reveals undertones close inspection cannot show.
- Work the paired structure for multi-tone facades: Choose the dominant pastel shade for the main elevation first, then identify its intensive partner from the matching position in the accent half for the plinth or feature panel.
- Compare paired swatches on the wall together: Confirm the composition reads as intended under one light before the specification freezes.
- Cite the four-digit SAH code on the order: The code reads identically on the render tub label, so the approved shade carries through to production without translation.
For intensive shades on south- or west-facing elevations, confirm the colour-type notation before specifying — deeper colours absorb more solar energy, and the dark colours and solar heat guide explains how to read the notation and when a heat-reflective system is the answer. For wider methodology, the silicone render colour selection guide covers how light direction, texture, grain size, and adjacent materials shape appearance, and the guide to using colour charts sets out the staged comparison method professionals use. When the order is placed for Atlas silicone render, the four-digit SAH code ensures the exact approved shade is mixed.
Practical Tips From UK Renderers and Architects
Installers and architects consistently report that a few habits turn the catalogue from a reference volume into the item that governs the whole colour decision across a scheme.
- Carry the 24-set alongside the 480-catalogue: The 24-set closes most domestic consultations in minutes; the catalogue takes over when the client wants something outside the popular range or the architect names a specific SAH code.
- Photograph each chosen swatch page with the SAH code visible: On developer projects with multiple house types, the photograph becomes the contractual colour reference for every trade touching that elevation.
- Use the paired layout for feature accents: Showing a client their chosen dominant shade then turning to its intensive partner in the same tonal family makes a plinth or feature upsell a natural extension rather than a new decision.
- Cross-check colour-type notation for any intensive shade on a sun-exposed elevation: Catching it at quotation stage protects the programme, since changes after the render is ordered cost time.
Is the Atlas 480-Colour Catalogue Right for Your Project?
The catalogue is the right reference when you need the complete Atlas SAH palette — particularly when an architect has named a precise SAH code, when matching an existing facade, or when the project calls for intensive accents and multi-tone compositions beyond popular shades. The table below shows how it sits against the curated Atlas set and the Ceresit alternative.
| Variant | Key Spec | When to Choose |
|---|---|---|
| Atlas 480-Colour Catalogue | Full SAH palette, 240 pastel + 240 intensive | Named SAH code, multi-tone composition |
| Atlas Render Sample 24 Colours | 24 curated popular SAH shades | Fast domestic shortlist |
| Ceresit Colour Sample Book 1 | Ceresit Colours of Nature palette | Project uses Ceresit renders |
- Want a quicker shortlist first? The Atlas 24-colour set covers the most frequently specified tones and is the faster starting point before committing to the full range.
- Specifying a dark or intensive shade on a sun-exposed elevation? The Ceresit CT76 Solar Protect render is formulated for darker colours on south-facing walls, managing the thermal load saturated shades create.
- Colour already settled? Browse the premium silicone render range for the products the SAH codes apply to and order full-size tubs.
FAQ — Atlas 480-Colour Catalogue Ordering, Use, and Practical Notes
How does the cost of the 480-catalogue compare to the 24-colour set?
The 480-catalogue is priced higher than the 24-set, reflecting the comprehensive scope of the full SAH palette against a curated selection. For homeowners choosing from popular tones, the 24-set delivers excellent value as an initial decision tool. For architects, specifiers, and contractors managing multiple projects or working to a named SAH code, the catalogue typically pays for itself across the first project by preventing colour mismatches, reducing sample requests, and accelerating client sign-off. Current pricing for both products shows on the Renders World product page.
Are the intensive colours suitable for all facade orientations?
Intensive shades look their best when matched to the right elevation, and the catalogue makes that straightforward — each swatch carries notation letting the specifier assess suitability for sun-exposed orientations. Deeper colours absorb more solar radiation, so for intensive shades on south- and west-facing walls, pairing the render with an elastic basecoat system accommodates the greater thermal movement, and a heat-reflective product such as Ceresit CT76 Solar Protect handles the most demanding dark-colour scenarios. Read the notation at quotation stage and every orientation has a sound specification path.
Can I match a RAL or NCS colour to a SAH code using this catalogue?
The 480-shade SAH palette covers a comparable tonal range to the most commonly specified RAL and NCS codes in UK practice. There is no published cross-reference table, but comparing the target RAL or NCS swatch physically alongside the SAH catalogue pages under natural daylight at the site identifies the closest match efficiently — with 480 shades available, the result is typically close enough to satisfy client and planning requirements. If a precise colour outside the SAH range is essential, contacting Renders World with the reference confirms whether custom tinting is available, subject to current guidance on minimum quantities and lead times.
Does this catalogue support environmentally considered specifications?
The Atlas render and paint ranges represented are water-based and low-VOC, with hydrophobic and self-cleaning properties that reduce chemical cleaning over the building's lifetime. Choosing lighter pastel tones from the dominant half of the palette reflects more solar radiation, lowering thermal gain on the envelope — a meaningful contribution to the energy-performance targets in current UK Building Regulations. Silicone renders also resist biological growth naturally, keeping the facade cleaner for longer without biocide treatments across the typical 25-year-plus service life.
What is the difference between the 480-catalogue and the 24-colour set?
The 24-colour set is a curated selection of the most frequently specified Atlas facade tones, designed as a quick-start decision tool for homeowners and contractors comparing popular shades on site. The catalogue contains every shade in the Atlas SAH system, including intensive accents, less common tonal families, and specialist shades the 24-set omits. Projects needing a specific SAH code, multi-tone compositions, or a match to an existing rendered building need the complete volume. Many professionals keep both — the 24-set for first consultations, the catalogue for final specification.
How should I store the catalogue between projects?
Store the catalogue flat in its original binding away from prolonged direct sunlight, which keeps the swatches representative for repeated use across many specifications. The applied-render finish resists UV fade better than printed charts, though sustained exposure gradually shifts pigment on any reference. Keeping the catalogue in a project folder alongside a log of previously specified SAH codes makes it straightforward to return to an approved shade on follow-on phases, maintenance work, or matched extensions years later.