Does anyone color code their labels based on the incident energy / category? I know one of the arc flash programs allows color coding. Would using different colors for different categories make sense? Thanks for anyone's input.

ANSI has the answer

The ANSI Z535.1 standard is the guide for what color and signal word a warning label must have. Orange and black on a white background is what we typically use for labels that are Category 4 or below. For Do Not Open labels we use Red and Black, with a "DANGER" header versus the "WARNING" header we use for the others.

Thanks for the info PDS. That's what I thought so I wonder why some programs allow using many different colors?

We have used one color for all labels, red.

Gary B

Arc Flash Labels

We are just begining to use the detailed labels. We did have the simple NEC 110.16 labels and now we are posting our study results. Yes we also use orange for everything through cat 4 and red above cat 4.

Some companies have requested the ability to color code labels so maintenance workers can easily see the PPE level at a distance. Our software has added this capability for these folks. Most users do not use colors beyond orange and red.

Colored Arc Flash Warning Labels

Doh!
Homer JS, which program do you use and does anyone use yellow which goes against color standards but would make identification easier, i.e. yellow for lower levels, orange for higher levels and red for de-energize only. I think SKM has muli color labels but not sure if anyone uses all the colo rs.

I don't remember the exact color distribution but each PPE had a color. This did include yellow, also green orange and red. Cases where live work would be prohibited were printed red.

I currently am working for a client who insists that we use a different colored label for every HRC (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, >4). Some of these labels are going outdoors so after one year the red labels will be orange, the orange labels will be pink, etc, etc... I hate the idea and I'm trying to get them to reconsider.

NEC 110.16, FPN No. 2 states: "ANSI Z535.4-1998, Product Safety Signs and Labels, provides guidelines for the design of safety signs and labels for application to products".

This standard uses the colors Red for Danger, Orange for Warning, and Yellow for Caution. I've never seen an AF label other than Orange or Red.

Besides the NEC referencing ANSI Z535.4, is there anything else I can do to try and convince them to use orange and red as label colors instead of white, pink, yellow, blue, etc.. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

Please advise. Thanks!