How to Read Labels

Equipment that operates at 50 volts or more and may be worked on while in an energized state must be labeled with arc flash and shock hazard details. The label should be visible and readily accessible to the qualified persons who are authorized to work on the energized equipment.

To learn more about the labels, click on one below:

Labeling Requirements

According to NFPA 70E 130.5(H) (2018 edition), each arc flash warning label must include:

Nominal system voltage
Arc flash boundary
At least one of the following:

Incident energy and working distance, OR arc flash PPE category (but not both).*
Minimum arc rating for clothing.
Site-specific description of required PPE.

*Note that a given piece of equipment should never be marked with both a calculated incident energy and an arc flash PPE category. Those two details reflect different methods of arc flash hazard assessment and if both are given, it may cause confusion or even provide conflicting recommendations.

What about Outdated Labels?

Previous versions of NFPA 70E had different requirements for arc flash labels. For example, the 2009 edition only required either the incident energy or the required level of PPE to be on the label. The 2004 edition didn’t even go that far, only requiring a general warning that an arc flash hazard was present.

Under the 2018 edition of NFPA 70E, an older arc flash label may be kept in place as long as the label complied with the requirements in effect at the time it was applied and the label's information remains accurate.

If your facility labeled its equipment under the 2015 edition of the standard, and the equipment and electrical distribution system have not been changed since then, your current labels may still be acceptable. However, your facility’s arc flash risk assessments must be reviewed each time the facility’s electrical system is changed and at least once every five years. Whenever a label is no longer accurate or legible, it must be replaced.