Equipment & Safety Labels

Per NFPA 70E, an arc flash label typically includes the incident energy at working distance (or PPE category), the required PPE, the arc flash boundary distance, and the equipment's nominal voltage — calculated from a facility-specific arc flash risk assessment. Labels must be updated whenever the electrical system changes in a way that affects fault current or clearing time, since an outdated label can understate the actual hazard.

ANSI Z535.4 defines DANGER (red) for hazards that will cause death or serious injury if not avoided, WARNING (orange) for hazards that could cause death or serious injury, and CAUTION (yellow) for hazards that could cause minor or moderate injury, with NOTICE (blue) reserved for property-damage-only messages. Using the correct signal word and color is important for both worker recognition and product liability.

Metal-photo (anodized aluminum) labels resist abrasion, chemical exposure, UV fading and extreme temperatures far better than vinyl, making them the standard choice for outdoor equipment, harsh chemical environments, or nameplates expected to last the life of the equipment. Vinyl is more cost-effective for general indoor labeling where extreme exposure isn't a factor.

Yes — most label suppliers offer custom printing for company logos, asset tags, equipment-specific hazard text, or facility-specific lockout point identifiers, in addition to stocked standard hazard labels. Custom labels still need to follow ANSI Z535 conventions if they're communicating a hazard, to remain recognizable and consistent with stocked signage.

ANSI/ASME A13.1 defines standard colors and legend content for pipe marking based on the fluid/gas hazard category (e.g., flammable, toxic, fire quenching), and following this standard helps ensure workers and emergency responders correctly identify pipe contents facility-wide. It's not legally mandatory everywhere but is widely adopted as best practice and sometimes referenced by OSHA or insurance requirements.