EV Charging Station Labels: NEC 625 Requirements

You're wiring EVSE for a commercial property that also has solar. The inspector shows up and asks for the EVSE labeling documentation. You've labeled the electrical panel and the disconnects, but you haven't thought about whether the charger itself meets the NEC 625 marking requirements. Different from panel labels. Different from solar labels. Different set of requirements entirely.

EV charging is growing fast - commercial properties, fleet depots, apartment buildings, solar-plus-EV installations. And with that growth comes a code section that many solar installers are encountering for the first time: NEC Article 625. If you're wiring EVSE as part of a solar or commercial electrical job, you need to know what labels and markings are required under this article and where the electrical contractor's label responsibilities begin. This guide covers every NEC 625 label requirement for EVSE installations.

What Is NEC Article 625 and What Does It Cover?

NEC Article 625 governs Electric Vehicle Power Transfer Systems - everything related to charging electric vehicles. That includes Level 1 (120V) and Level 2 (240V) charging equipment for homes and businesses, DC fast chargers, and newer bidirectional chargers that can export power back to the building or grid.

Article 625 tells you how to install, protect, and mark EVSE. The marking requirements are split between what the manufacturer must put on the equipment before it leaves the factory, and what the installer or electrician applies in the field.

As a contractor, you need to:

1. Verify the manufacturer's required markings are present and visible after installation
2. Apply any field labels required by your installation configuration
3. Label disconnects and panels serving the EVSE per the standard electrical code requirements

The 2023 NEC brought updates to Section 625.42 that affect energy management systems controlling multiple chargers - an increasingly common commercial configuration.

What Manufacturer Labels Must Be Visible After Installation?

NEC 625.15 requires that all EVSE be marked by the manufacturer, and those markings must be clearly visible after installation. This is the contractor's verification step - when you mount the charger to the wall or pedestal, the nameplate and safety markings can't end up behind the equipment or facing the wall.

What manufacturer markings must remain visible:

• Model number and listing mark (UL Listed is required per NEC 625)
• Voltage and ampere ratings
• GFCI protection indication and reset access per 625.60(D)
• Ventilation marking ("Ventilation Required" or "Ventilation Not Required") where applicable
• Any export/bidirectional capability marking per 625.48

If you mount the charger and the nameplate ends up hidden, you've violated 625.15. The fix is simple - but it requires you to check it before calling for inspection. An inspector who can't read the listing mark on a charger will fail it immediately.

What Are the Labeling Rules for Adjustable Ampere Settings?

This is where NEC 625.42(B) comes in. Many commercial-grade EVSE units have adjustable ampere settings - useful when you're integrating multiple chargers into an energy management system (EMS) or load management setup.

Under NEC 625.42(B): If adjustments affect the rating label, the adjusted rating must appear on the label with sufficient durability to withstand the environment involved.

This means if your charger ships rated at 48A and you commission it at 32A through an EMS, the rating label must be updated to show 32A - or a supplemental label must be applied showing the adjusted setting.

The 2023 NEC updated 625.42 to delete the old restriction that limited adjustable-setting EVSE to "fixed-in-place equipment only." Cord-connected EVSE with adjustable settings can now be code compliant under the same rules as fixed equipment, provided restricted access to the adjusting means is maintained.

Restricted access to the ampere-adjusting controls must be achieved through one of these methods:

• A cover or door that requires a tool to open
• Locked doors accessible only to qualified personnel
• Password-protected commissioning software for qualified personnel only

Label the adjusted setting. Secure the access to the adjustment. Both are required.

What Labels Are Required for EVSE with Power Export?

Bidirectional chargers - also called V2G (vehicle-to-grid) or V2H (vehicle-to-home) chargers - can export power from the vehicle battery back to the building or grid. These are increasingly common as part of solar-plus-storage-plus-EV systems.

NEC 625.48 requires that EVSE with a power export function that's part of an interactive system, optional standby system, or electric power production source must be:

• Listed for that specific purpose
• Marked as suitable for power export

The marking must be visible after installation, just like the standard manufacturer marks under 625.15. If your bidirectional charger isn't specifically marked and listed for export, it doesn't comply with 625.48.

For solar installers adding V2G or V2H capability to a solar-plus-storage system, this labeling requirement is part of the overall system labeling stack - alongside your NEC 690 labels, Article 706 labels, and the NEC 705.10 power source directory.

What Electrical Labels Apply to the EVSE Circuit?

Beyond the charger-specific Article 625 markings, EVSE installations require standard electrical labels on the serving circuit:

At the EVSE disconnect:

• The disconnect serving the charger must be labeled to identify it as the EVSE disconnect
• If it's a dedicated EVSE circuit breaker, label it "EVSE CIRCUIT" or "EV CHARGER CIRCUIT" clearly
• Location and identification requirements per NEC 690.15 / general article 100 accessible requirements

At the service panel:

• The EVSE circuit breaker must be labeled in the panel directory
• On solar-plus-EV jobs, the power source directory at the panel (NEC 705.10) must include the EVSE circuit if the charger has export capability

GFCI protection:

NEC 625.54 requires GFCI protection on all EVSE. Per 625.60(D), the GFCI protection indicator and reset must be visible on the equipment. Field-applied GFCI devices (where used instead of built-in GFCI protection) must be labeled as the GFCI protection point for the EVSE circuit.

Print Pro AZ carries electrical circuit labels and panel directory labels for EVSE circuits. For solar-plus-EV commercial jobs, contact us with your plan specs for a complete label package covering NEC 625, 690, and 705 requirements in one kit.

How Do EVSE Labels Interact with Solar Labeling on Combined Jobs?

Solar-plus-EV is the fastest growing commercial installation type. When you're doing both on the same job, your label schedule has to address:

The power source directory (705.10) is the integration point. On a solar-plus-EV job where the charger has export capability, the directory at the service panel must list both the PV system and the EVSE as potential power sources. Both their disconnect locations must be identified.

FAQ

Does every EV charger need an electrical permit?

Yes. NEC Article 625 installations require a permit in virtually every jurisdiction. Both the electrical work (panel, circuit, disconnect) and the EVSE equipment itself are subject to inspection. Check with your local AHJ for their specific EVSE permit requirements.

What UL listing does an EV charger need?

NEC 625 requires that EVSE be listed. The standard UL listing for Level 2 chargers is UL 2594. For DC fast chargers, UL 2202 is the relevant standard. For bidirectional/export chargers, UL 9741 is the export listing standard. Verify your equipment carries the correct listing before installation.

What happens if I adjust the charger's ampere setting but don't update the label?

Under NEC 625.42(B), failure to apply a label showing the adjusted ampere rating is a code violation. An inspector checking a charger commissioned at a setting different from the nameplate will ask for the adjusted rating label. Apply it at commissioning before calling for inspection.

Do I need GFCI on every EV charging circuit?

Yes. NEC 625.54 requires GFCI protection on all EV charging systems. This applies to both Level 1 and Level 2 chargers. Many modern EVSE units have built-in GFCI - verify it's present and that the test/reset indication is visible after installation per 625.60(D).

Does a solar-plus-EV installation need a modified power source directory?

Yes, if the EVSE has export (bidirectional) capability. The NEC 705.10 power source directory at the service panel must list all power production and export sources. An EVSE capable of V2G or V2H export is a power source that must be listed with its disconnect location and voltage.

3 Key Takeaways

1. NEC 625.15 requires manufacturer markings to be clearly visible after installation - your mounting orientation determines compliance. Check that the nameplate and listing marks aren't hidden before calling for inspection.
2. Adjusted ampere settings need a durable rating label per 625.42(B) - if you commission an EVSE at a different setting than the factory rating, apply the adjusted rating label at commissioning.
3. Bidirectional chargers with export capability must be listed and marked for that purpose per 625.48 - verify this marking is present if you're installing V2G or V2H equipment.

Shop our NEC 2023 compliant solar label packs: /collections/solar-electric-tags

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Brent Hanke | Print Pro AZ | (602) 649-5305 | b.hanke@printproaz.com

Brent Hanke is the founder of Print Pro AZ, supplying NEC-compliant labels to contractors across the country.

Last Updated: 2026-03-23