Significant Proposed Changes: 2026 NEC Article 110.16

Submitted by Mike Miller, Curriculum & Training Manager

In this and future editions of Wired In, I’ll keep you informed about some of the proposed code changes from NFPA’s First Draft Report and the Second Draft Report when it is available. While these changes have been approved by the code-making panels, they may still be amended or removed before the final publication of the 2026 NEC.

When it comes to providing cautionary arc flash hazard warning and labeling on switch gear, switchboard and panel boards, the code has seen significant changes in the past three cycles.

The 2020 NEC, in Article 110.16(B) stated:

(B) Service Equipment.

In other than dwelling units, in addition to the requirements in 110.16(A), a permanent label shall be field or factory applied to service equipment rated 1200 amps or more. The label shall contain the following information:

(1) Nominal system voltage

(2) Available fault current at the service overcurrent protective devices

(3) The clearing time of service overcurrent protective devices based on the available fault current at the service equipment

(4) The date the label was applied

Exception: Service equipment labeling shall not be required if an arc flash label is applied in accordance with acceptable industry practice.

The 2023 NEC, in Article 110.16(B) removed requirement for stating: the nominal system voltage; available fault current at the service overcurrent protective devices, and the clearing time of service overcurrent protective devices. The information on the label had to be in accordance with applicable industry practice. Informational note No. 2 stated “See NFPA 70E-2021, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, for applicable industry practices for equipment labeling." This standard provides specific criteria for developing arc-flash labels for equipment that provides nominal system voltage, incident energy levels, arc-flash boundaries, minimum required levels of personal protective equipment, and so forth.

The 2026 NEC, Proposed Article 110.16  Arc-Flash Hazard Warning Marking

Electrical In other than dwelling units, a permanent arc flash marking shall be field or factory applied to service equipment and feeder supplied equipment, such as switchboards, switchgear, enclosed panelboards, industrial control panels, meter socket enclosures, and motor control centers, that is in other than dwelling units, and is likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized, shall; be field marked to warn qualified persons of potential electric arc-flash hazards. The marking shall meet the requirements in 110.21(B) and shall, be located as to be clearly visible to qualified persons, before examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance of and be in accordance with applicable industry practice, containing the equipment following information:

(1)  The nominal system voltage

(2)  The arc flash boundary

(3)  The available incident energy or minimum required level of personal protective equipment

(4)  The date the label was applied

(A) General.

Electrical equipment, such as switchboards, switchgear, enclosed panelboards, industrial control panels, meter socket enclosures, and motor control centers, that is in other than dwelling units, and is likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized, shall be field or factory marked to warn qualified persons of potential electric arc flash hazards. The marking shall meet the requirements in 110.21(B) and shall be located so as to be clearly visible to qualified persons before examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance of the equipment.

(B) Service Equipment and Feeder Supplied Equipment.

In other than dwelling units, in addition to the requirements in 110.16(A), a permanent arc flash label shall be field or factory applied to service equipment and feeder supplied equipment rated 1000 amperes or more. The arc flash label shall be in accordance with applicable industry practice and include the date the label was applied. The label shall meet the requirements of 110.21(B).

Informational Note No. 1: See ANSI Z535.4-2011 (R2017), Product Safety Signs and Labels, for guidelines for the design of safety signs and labels for application to products.

Informational Note No. 2: See NFPA 70E-2021, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, for applicable industry practices for equipment labeling. This standard provides specific criteria for developing arc-flash labels for equipment that provides nominal system voltage, incident energy levels, arc-flash boundaries, minimum required levels of personal protective equipment, and so forth.

The 2026 Article 110.16 will require us to become familiar with making some educated determinations on personal protection methods we select which is easiest done with an in depth study of the NFPA 70 – “ A Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace.”