NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces

The latest update to NFPA 70E provides updated PPE requirements, a requirement for field labeling, and a requirement that energized electrical work permits ensure people performing this work are properly trained and equipped.

The NFPA catalog describes 70E as covering: “the full range of electrical safety issues from safety-related work practices to maintenance, special equipment requirements, and installation. In fact, OSHA bases its electrical safety mandates—OSHA 1910 Subpart S and OSHA 1926 Subpart K—on the comprehensive information in this important Standard.”

NFPA 70-NEC Section 110.16 Flash Protection states that field labeling of switchboards, panel boards, industrial control panels, and motor control centers that are likely to require examination, adjustment, servicing, or maintenance while energized, must be field marked to warn qualified persons on the danger of electric arc flash. The marking must be clearly visible to qualified persons before they examine, adjust, service, or perform maintenance on the equipment.

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The NFPA 70E requirements also ensure a qualified employee is present wherever there is a potential for arc flash. Overall these requirements are intended to reduce the instances of serious injury or death, resulting from arc flash. The information on the field label should warn employees and other workers that a serious hazard exists and appropriate work practices and PPE should be used.

The following table shows the boundary distances for flash protection that NFPA 70E has established. Arc flash protection is required within these boundaries:

NEC Standard, Article 110.16
Introduction to Arc Flash Safety
Arc Flash Labels
NFPA 70E Electrical Safety Standards
Magazine Article - NFPA 70E PPE
Current Limiting Fuses
Arc Flash Safety Blog