Arc flash warning labels or stickers

Arc Flash Warning Label Information

All hazardous equipment installed or modified after 2002 is required to carry an electrical warning label. NEC 110.16 specifically mentions “switchboards, panel boards, industrial control panels and motor control centers that … are likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized.”

Equipment must be marked in the field, rather than by the equipment manufacturer or installer. Arc flash hazard varies depending on actual operating conditions, including upcurrent protective devices and voltage. Labeling is the responsibility of the company operating the equipment.

The Arc Flash Warning label includes:

Risk Hazard Category
Incident Energy (calories)
Flash Boundary
Required PPE
Equipment ID
Panel Voltage
Limited Approach Boundary
Restricted Approach Boundary
Prohibited Approach Boundary
Glove Rating Requirements
Glove Voltage Requirements
Maximum Available Fault Current
Date arc flash calculation was performed

Labels must be placed and sized so as to be visible to personnel before beginning maintenance or inspection.

A. These durable UV and chemical resistant 3.2 mil laminated vinyl labels include a High-Tack adhesive and rounded corners to prevent peeling. The life span of these labels is 5 years in normal conditions and are capable of withstanding temperatures beyond 165 °F and -50 °F. Sufficient label durability is now a requirement as of the November 2011 NEC (National Electrical Code) update and ITU’s arc flash warning labels more than exceed this requirement.

B. Flash Hazard Category: Represents the level of danger depending on the incident energy. Ratings range in number from 0-4. 0 represents little or no risk while 4 signifies greatest risk. For more information about the different arc flash hazard risk categories click here.

C. Minimum Arc Rating: Identifies the arc performance of a material or system of materials (PPE) and are expressed in calories per centimeter squared.

D. PPE: Identifies the Personal Protective Equipment that MUST be used according to the hazard category rating.

E. Equipment ID: Identifies panel location within facility.

F. Arc flash warning labels must have the word “WARNING” in black with an orange background and include the standard warning symbol (orange exclamation point with solid black triangle background).

G. Flash Protection Boundary: This is the closest anyone can approach the equipment that has the potential for arc flash, without the use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).

H. Limited Approach Boundary: This boundary may only be crossed by a “qualified” person who has been trained in the hazards of the component or equipment being serviced.

I. Restricted Approach Boundary and Prohibited Approach Boundary: Only a qualified person using adequate shock prevention equip¬ment and techniques may cross these boundaries.

J. Maximum Available Fault Current: This is one of the new NEC required features as of November 2011. All the required safety information provided on the label is based on the max. available fault current. If the system is altered in any way resulting in this value to change than the data must be re-evaluated. (NEC 2011 110.24)

Companies or utilities will often make changes in the electrical system to be more efficient or to increase capacity. When this is done the max. available fault current changes. As a result the PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) category and the approach boundary information becomes inaccurate and is no longer compliant. Inaccurate information could easily result in serious injury or even death in which the company would be held liable for.

K. The date that the fault current calculation was performed should be on the label. The arc flash hazard analysis shall be updated when a major modification or renovation takes place. It shall be reviewed periodically, not to exceed 5 years, to account for changes in the electrical distribution system that could affect the results of the arc flash hazard analysis. (NFPA 70E section 130.5)

Items A, J, and K are the newest additions to the arc flash warning label added by the NEC (National Electrical Code) required as of November 2011. However, there is an exception to these three additions. Those that have had an arc flash analysis performed prior to September 2011 with arc flash warning labels that are less than five years old shall be exempt. However, the labels must be updated and include these additions when the existing arc flash warning labels expire. The exception does require documentation of “the method of calculating and data to support the information for the arc flash warning label.”

NFPA 70E 2009 requires that one of two specific pieces of information appear on arc flash labels: available incident energy or required level of PPE. These values are determined by an arc flash hazard analysis, and need to be calculated separately for each piece of equipment labeled. This is a new requirement. Previous versions of the code did not specify what information should appear on labels. NFPA 70E 2009 requires that all arc flash analysis be reviewed at least every five years to “account for changes in the electrical distribution system that could affect the results of the arc flash hazard analysis.” Although this does not require changes in arc flash labels, some consultants are recommending that the date of the arc flash analysis be included on the each label.

Spanish Arc Flash Warning Labels

ITU is now offering arc flash warning labels translated into Spanish. It is required by OSHA for every employer to create a safe work environment for all personnel. So, if you have Spanish speaking employees or employee sub contractors with Spanish speaking employees then these labels are a must have. Call ITU for more information and pricing. 866-851-9993