What does the color red represent in an engineering context?

In an engineering context, the color red is commonly associated with fire-main systems. This color-coding system is used to ensure that personnel can quickly identify and navigate key safety equipment and systems in an emergency, particularly those related to firefighting. The fire-main is a crucial component of a ship's fire protection system, supplying water to hose stations, fire monitors, and other firefighting equipment.

Other colors are designated for different substances or systems to prevent confusion. For example, AFFF, which stands for Aqueous Film-Forming Foam, is typically associated with systems used for fighting flammable liquid fires and is not represented by the color red. Hydraulic oil and jet fuel are also associated with their specific colors—hydraulic oil is usually identified with either blue or yellow, while jet fuel is recognized by a different coding altogether. The use of standardized colors helps maintain safety and operational efficiency aboard ships and in engineering environments.