What is a RAL colour chart?

The RAL colour charts are booklets and fan decks containing coloured rectangles which represent the different RAL colours to be used for colour identification, product colour matching, design and inspiration. RAL Classic colour charts usually only have 213 colours (2 further colours added recently as individual sheets will be incorporated into the books in due course) and are small booklets similar to paint charts but the RAL Design charts have 1825 colours so they are larger reference books more similar to Pantone books.
There are also polypropylene reference panels which can be used for colour matching of plastics and other industrial materials.