spencer88
New User
- Location
- WINN Army Hospital Fort Stewart Ga
- Occupation
- engineer
Did the current 2026 edition change ARC FLASH, INCIDENT ENERGY labeling requirements? for example back ground color and lettering colpr?
ARC FLASH, INCIDENT ENERGY labeling requirements
- Thread starter spencer88
- Start date
mayanees
Senior Member
- Location
- Westminster, MD
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer and Master Electrician
The 70E edition that's currently issued is 2024.
No, the labelling requirements have not changed.
Here's what that section says (from Link):
(H) Equipment Labeling.
Electrical equipment such as switchboards, panelboards, industrial control panels, meter socket enclosures, and motor control centers that are in other than dwelling units and that are likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized shall be marked with a label containing all the following information:
Unless changes in electrical distribution system(s) render the label inaccurate, labels applied prior to the effective date of this edition of the standard shall be acceptable if they complied with the requirements for equipment labeling in the standard in effect at the time the labels were applied.
Exception No. 2:
In supervised industrial installations where conditions of maintenance and engineering supervision ensure that only qualified persons monitor and service the system, the information required in 130.5(H)(1) through 130.5(H)(3) shall be permitted to be documented in a manner that is readily available to persons likely to perform examination, servicing, maintenance, and operation of the equipment while energized.
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Some clients use "RED DANGER" for labels above 40 calories, and I think that's related to item 3(c) above, where it's considered site-specific labelling.
No, the labelling requirements have not changed.
Here's what that section says (from Link):
(H) Equipment Labeling.
Electrical equipment such as switchboards, panelboards, industrial control panels, meter socket enclosures, and motor control centers that are in other than dwelling units and that are likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized shall be marked with a label containing all the following information:
- (1) Nominal system voltage
- (2) Arc flash boundary
- (3) At least one of the following:
- a. Available incident energy and the corresponding working distance, or the arc flash PPE category in Table 130.7(C)(15)(a) or Table 130.7(C)(15)(b) for the equipment, but not both
- b. Minimum arc rating of clothing
- c. Site-specific level of PPE
Unless changes in electrical distribution system(s) render the label inaccurate, labels applied prior to the effective date of this edition of the standard shall be acceptable if they complied with the requirements for equipment labeling in the standard in effect at the time the labels were applied.
Exception No. 2:
In supervised industrial installations where conditions of maintenance and engineering supervision ensure that only qualified persons monitor and service the system, the information required in 130.5(H)(1) through 130.5(H)(3) shall be permitted to be documented in a manner that is readily available to persons likely to perform examination, servicing, maintenance, and operation of the equipment while energized.
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Some clients use "RED DANGER" for labels above 40 calories, and I think that's related to item 3(c) above, where it's considered site-specific labelling.
ron
Senior Member
- Location
- New York, 40.7514,-73.9925
This was added in the 2026 NEC
(1) The marking shall be of sufficient durability to withstand the environment involved and warn of the hazards using effective words, colors, symbols, or any combination thereof.
Informational Note No. 1:
See ANSI Z535.2, Environmental and Facility Safety Signs, which describes the design, application, and use of safety signs in facilities and in the environment.
Informational Note No. 2:
See ANSI Z535.4, Product Safety Signs and Labels, which details the design, application, use, and placement of safety signs and labels on a wide variety of products.
(2) The marking shall be permanently affixed to the equipment or wiring method and shall not be handwritten.
Exception to (2): Portions of the markings that are variable, or that could be subject to changes, shall be permitted to be handwritten and shall be legible.
110.21(B) Field-Applied Hazard Markings.
Where caution, warning, or danger hazard markings such as labels or signs are required by this code, the markings shall meet the following requirements:(1) The marking shall be of sufficient durability to withstand the environment involved and warn of the hazards using effective words, colors, symbols, or any combination thereof.
Informational Note No. 1:
See ANSI Z535.2, Environmental and Facility Safety Signs, which describes the design, application, and use of safety signs in facilities and in the environment.
Informational Note No. 2:
See ANSI Z535.4, Product Safety Signs and Labels, which details the design, application, use, and placement of safety signs and labels on a wide variety of products.
(2) The marking shall be permanently affixed to the equipment or wiring method and shall not be handwritten.
Exception to (2): Portions of the markings that are variable, or that could be subject to changes, shall be permitted to be handwritten and shall be legible.
mayanees
Senior Member
- Location
- Westminster, MD
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer and Master Electrician
I missed that! I thought Spencer88 was referring to 70E.
Also in the 2026 NEC there's the requirement change in 110.16(B) which now says 1000 amps or lower and (I think) defaults to 70E as to what information to provide. But note that the NFPA 70 requirement is that it be dated.
Also in the 2026 NEC there's the requirement change in 110.16(B) which now says 1000 amps or lower and (I think) defaults to 70E as to what information to provide. But note that the NFPA 70 requirement is that it be dated.
D. Castor
Senior Member
- Location
- Port Angeles, Wash
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer
If you're referring to 70E, there are no specifics on the label layout, color, font, etc. The references to the ANSI Z standards are informational and these standards are somewhat generic in nature.
Lots of labels out there with red lettering (DANGER) and lots of labels with orange lettering (WARNING).
Lots of labels out there with red lettering (DANGER) and lots of labels with orange lettering (WARNING).
mayanees
Senior Member
- Location
- Westminster, MD
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer and Master Electrician
My preference is for Orange Warning labels, right up over 40 cals. But one of the big box stores has lots of Red Danger tags over 40, and I attribute that to Site-specific. What's your preference? I try to stay with ANSI Z535.
D. Castor
Senior Member
- Location
- Port Angeles, Wash
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer
I have always used orange WARNING for everything, unless a client insisted on something different. My reading of the ANSI signage standards is that WARNING is the appropriate label for arc-flash hazards.