Durable Engraved Arc Flash Labels for NFPA 70E

What NFPA 70E 130.5(H) requires on an arc flash label

NFPA 70E-2024 section 130.5(H) requires electrical equipment that is likely to need examination, adjustment, servicing or maintenance while energized to be marked with a label that contains:

The nominal system voltage
The arc flash boundary
At least one of: the available incident energy and the corresponding working distance; or the arc flash PPE category (but not both); or the minimum arc rating of clothing; or site-specific PPE.

Most study software also prints the limited and restricted approach boundaries, the equipment ID and the study date. We engrave whatever fields your study provides. The values come from your engineer, not from us.

Warning vs Danger (ANSI Z535.4 colors)

ANSI Z535.4 sets the signal words and colors that 110.21(B) points to:

Signal word	Meaning	Header color
DANGER	Will cause death or serious injury if not avoided	White on red
WARNING	Could cause death or serious injury	Black on orange
CAUTION	Could cause minor or moderate injury	Black on yellow

Many companies use DANGER where incident energy exceeds 40 cal/cm² or where no PPE is rated for the hazard, and WARNING below that. That threshold is a site policy, not an NFPA 70E requirement, so follow your electrical safety program.

Turning your arc flash study output into tags (spreadsheet import)

Export the label data from your study software (SKM, ETAP, EasyPower and others all export to Excel) and load it in the builder. Map each column once: equipment ID, voltage, boundary, incident energy, working distance. The builder lays out a tag for every row and flags any value that will not fit.

Large studies with hundreds of buses are easier by email. Send the export and we will return one proof for the whole site.

Engraved vs printed: when durability matters

Printed polyester arc flash labels are fine in clean electrical rooms. Engraved tags earn their cost where labels get hot, wet, oily or cleaned with solvents: process plants, food plants, outdoor switchgear and mechanical rooms. The text is cut into the laminate, so it stays legible after the surface is scuffed. Add screw holes if adhesive will not hold.

NEC 110.16 field marking

NEC 110.16(A) requires a field or factory marking on switchboards, panelboards, industrial control panels, meter socket enclosures and motor control centers in other than dwelling units, where the equipment is likely to be worked on while energized. It warns of potential arc flash hazards. For service equipment and feeder supplied equipment rated 1200 amps or more, 110.16(B) adds the nominal voltage, available fault current, clearing time of the upstream protective device and the date the label was applied. Those labels need to be updated when the values change.

Common questions

What information goes on an arc flash label?

Under NFPA 70E-2024 130.5(H): the nominal system voltage, the arc flash boundary, and at least one of the incident energy with working distance, the arc flash PPE category, the minimum arc rating of clothing, or site-specific PPE. Incident energy and PPE category should not both appear.

When should I use a Danger instead of a Warning header?

ANSI Z535.4 uses DANGER for hazards that will cause death or serious injury and WARNING for hazards that could. Many sites switch to DANGER above 40 cal/cm², but that is a company policy. Follow your electrical safety program.

How often do arc flash labels need updating?

NFPA 70E calls for the arc flash risk assessment to be reviewed at least every five years and whenever there is a major change to the system. Labels must be updated whenever the values on them change.

Can you import data from my arc flash study?

Yes. Export the label data to Excel or CSV and load it in the builder, or email it and we will set up the tags and send one proof.

Is an engraved arc flash label OSHA compliant?

OSHA does not specify a label material. It relies on the NEC and NFPA 70E, which require labels that are permanent, legible and suited to the environment. An engraved tag with the right content meets that. The content is what determines compliance.

Code references are to NEC 2023 (NFPA 70) unless another edition is named, reviewed on 2026-10-14. Many US jurisdictions still enforce the 2017 or 2020 NEC, and some are moving to the 2026 edition, which renumbers a few sections. Local amendments apply. Your inspector (the AHJ) and your engineer of record have the final say on wording, colors and placement.

Durable engraved arc flash labels