It always seems as if we are kicking the dead horse on arc flash labels but I was just interested in your opinion of how to label a piece of equipment which is fed from a circuit breaker with an Arc Flash Reduction Switch (ARMS) or Reduced Energy Let-thru (RELT) switch.

We are currently performing a project with several new circuit breakers using the RELT switch.



Install two labels on the equipment? One with ARMS and one without?

To avoid confusion, how to distinguish between the two.

Color?
Symbol?
Wording on the label?

Any opinions welcome.

Thanks

We just installed our first two switchboards equipped with "maintenance mode" switches. I haven't labeled them yet but I'm thinking about labeling as usual with maintenance mode "off" (normal breaker settings) and putting a second label on next to the maintenance mode switch that says "Consult Engineering prior to operating this switch for maintenance mode PPE and other requirements" or similar. I haven't decided yet.

We have our own engineering department and do our own studies and labeling so while that may work for us it probably won't work for many owners who don't have this ability.

My company has recently created and printed a set of labels for RELT switches for one of our customers. A sample label is shown:

I just put on multiple labels any time that multiple scenarios apply. It keeps everything more standard than having multiple label designs.

Another option that you may consider is just putting the "worst" one on there. Then it's up to the end user to be knowledgeable enough to know when reduced conditions exist and how to achieve that. For instance you may have a different set of conditions when under generator power compared to under utility power, or you might have a maintenance switch, or you might have different conditions depending on tie/feeder connections.

One of the big "problems" by the way with maintenance switches and this why it might make more sense NOT to have it on the label is how they work. If I have maintenance switches on every breaker in a switchgear lineup, the switch on the feeder (main) is the one that matters, not the one on the breaker. It might not even be in the same building!

I'm currently thinking about adding a label like this to the equipment affected by the maintenance mode switch instead of having 2 values.

Hi All

I like "Arcad" suggestion above whether it be one label or two labels installed side- by side perhaps. Of course this has to be coupled with training and part of the overall workplace electrical safety program. The worker must understand what ARMS On and ARMS off means. I have found too many times where the company has gone to the expense of having the AFRA done and then do not train the workforce- end result is no one knows how to read or interpret the label

I am a far bigger fan of the combined label, rather than two otherwise identical labels side by side.

We developed a simple blue phenolic backdrops to affix the AMRS label. It includes simple directions to staff on where to go for the ARMS switch, (the current label depicted in my example, is not from a real location).
The non-ARMS label is posted adjacent to the ARMS plate, so staff are aware of our 'worst case' IE.

First of all let me say thanks to all of you for your excellent opinions. This is what I like most about this forum, the wealth of knowledge from its members. Kudos to Jim Phillips for starting this forum many years ago. I attended one of his training sessions back in 2007 and still to this day often refer to his papers.

I have decided to go the one label route with the arc flash information of RELT "ON" and RELT "OFF". Thanks arcad.

I like the backdrop idea suggested by Charles Aycock and the label by bbaumer, to notify employees that the maintenance switch exist on the circuit breaker feeding the equipment. Often the label will be on a downstream device, far away from the switchgear which has the RELT breaker installed. The backdrop would be a great place to tell the worker where the breaker is located in the facility.

Again, thank you all for your input and taking the time to donate your knowledge to the cause.

Keep Safe, Mike

first time poster.

just wanted to say that this thread has been really helpful. great ideas suggested here. what really surprises me is how objective the NFPA70E requirements are, and yet how subjective the interpretations can be....

i've tried my first stab at labels for my project, similar situation where incident energies are drastically high but implementation of a maintenance switch lowers it to manageable levels.

see attached screenshot.

I notice the examples above span the range from "caution" to "danger". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precautionary_statement
I would submit that warning signs are most appropriate here.

The signal word for "helpful instructions" by the way is NOTICE and the appropriate color as per ANSI Z535 is blue.

So Arcad's "Caution" isn't really the correct word or coloring but the content is the right idea. Since typically you see a whole lot of red, orange, and yellow, blue actually stands out.