NEC 690 Labels: Complete 2023 Solar Code Requirements Guide
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NEC Article 690 requires specific labels on every solar PV installation. Key requirements include: a rapid shutdown label at service equipment (NEC 690.12(D)), conduit markings with white text on red background at 10-foot intervals (NEC 690.31(G)(4)), DC disconnect data labels (NEC 690.53), and a point-of-connection label (NEC 690.54). Power source identification now falls under NEC 705.10 in the 2023 edition.
You finish the install, flip the breaker, and everything works. Then the inspector shows up and hands you a red tag for a missing label. That label costs you a re-inspection fee, a return trip, and an unhappy homeowner who just wants their system turned on.
NEC 690 solar label requirements are some of the most detail-sensitive rules in the code. They specify exact text, exact colors, exact placement intervals, and exact section references. Getting most of them right is not good enough. Inspectors check every one.
This guide covers every label required by NEC Article 690 in the 2023 edition: the exact sections, required text, color specs, and placement rules. Use it to build your label kit before every job and pass inspection the first time. Print Pro AZ has put this together based on real installer feedback and direct experience supplying NEC 690 labels to crews in Arizona and across the country.
What Is NEC Article 690 and Why Does It Govern Solar Labels?
NEC Article 690 is the primary standard for solar photovoltaic system installation in the United States. It covers everything from conductor sizing to overcurrent protection to disconnect requirements. Labeling is covered under Part VI of Article 690 and in referenced sections of Article 705.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) publishes the NEC on a three-year cycle. The 2023 edition made meaningful changes to how solar labeling is organized. Several requirements previously scattered across Article 690 were consolidated. Power source identification requirements now live primarily in Article 705.10. If you are working from a 2020 or 2017 code reference, the section numbers may not match.
As of early 2026, the 2020 NEC is still the most widely adopted edition across U.S. states, with 21 states enforcing it. The 2023 NEC has been adopted by 17 states and is growing. Your local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) determines which edition applies to your permit. AHJs vary by city. Always confirm locally before ordering labels for a job.
You can check adoption status for your state on the NFPA NEC adoption resources page.
Which Labels Does NEC 690 Require on Every Solar Installation?
Every grid-tied solar installation requires a defined set of labels under NEC Article 690. Missing any one of them is a code violation. Here is the complete set for a standard residential install under the 2023 NEC.
| Label | NEC Section | Location | Required Content |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid Shutdown | 690.12(D) | Service equipment, each disconnect | Building diagram, "SOLAR PV SYSTEM IS EQUIPPED WITH RAPID SHUTDOWN" |
| DC Disconnect | 690.53 | Each DC PV disconnect | Max voltage, max current, max power, polarity |
| Point of Connection | 690.54 | Utility interconnection point | Max output voltage and current |
| Conduit/Raceway Marking | 690.31(G)(4) | Every raceway with PV conductors, max 10 ft intervals | "WARNING: PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SOURCE" |
| Power Source Directory | 705.10 | Service equipment | All power sources and disconnect locations |
| Equipment Identification | 690.4(B) | Listed or field-labeled equipment | Per listing requirements |
Print Pro AZ stocks NEC 2023-compliant versions of every label in this table. If you are building a label kit before the job starts, our NEC 2023 solar label packs include the full set for standard residential and commercial installs.
One important 2023 change: the plaque and directory requirements for identifying all power sources on a premises, including the solar system, moved from NEC 690.56 to NEC 705.10. If you are using a 2020-era label kit, your firefighter access and power source directory labels may not match current section references. That alone can trigger an inspection flag.
What Are the NEC 690.12 Rapid Shutdown Label Requirements?
The rapid shutdown label is the most inspection-sensitive label on any rooftop solar job. Under NEC 690.12(D), every building with a PV system that has rapid shutdown capability must have a permanent label at each service equipment location where the PV system connects.
The 2023 NEC made specific changes to this label. The required label must include:
- A simple diagram of a building with a roof
- The words: "SOLAR PV SYSTEM IS EQUIPPED WITH RAPID SHUTDOWN"
One notable change in 2023: the specific black-and-yellow color scheme and the 3/16-inch minimum letter height requirement from earlier editions were removed. The current code focuses on what the label says and where it goes, not a mandated color combination for this particular label. However, your AHJ may still have local amendments that specify colors. Confirm before assuming the color requirement was dropped.
For the rapid shutdown switch itself, NEC 690.12(D)(2) requires a separate label on or within 3 feet of the switch. That label must read "RAPID SHUTDOWN SWITCH FOR SOLAR PV SYSTEM." This label must be reflective, all letters capitalized, minimum letter height 9.5 mm (3/8 in.), white text on a red background.
INSPECTION TIP: Two separate rapid shutdown labels are required under NEC 690.12. One goes at the service equipment and includes the building diagram. A second goes at the initiating switch itself, with white on red, reflective backing. Inspectors check both locations. Missing either one is a red tag.
What Do the DC Disconnect Labels Under NEC 690.53 and 690.54 Require?
Per NEC 690.53, every DC photovoltaic power source disconnect switch must carry a permanent label with four specific data points. This is not a generic "WARNING: HIGH VOLTAGE" label. The code specifies the exact information required.
The NEC 690.53 label must show:
- Maximum PV system voltage (rated open-circuit voltage under worst-case temperature conditions)
- Maximum circuit current (sum of parallel source circuit short-circuit currents)
- Maximum power output in watts or kilowatts
- Polarity of conductors (positive and negative terminal identification)
All four items must be present. Voltage only, or voltage and current without polarity, will fail. This label is data-specific to the actual system being installed. Print Pro AZ can produce custom-filled NEC 690.53 labels with your system values pre-printed, so the crew installs the right data label for each job.
NEC 690.54 requires a label at the point where the solar system connects to utility or other power sources. This label must state maximum voltage and maximum current at the point of connection. Its purpose is to warn any electrician who later opens that panel that a second power source is feeding it.
Label durability matters here. The NEC requires labels to be permanent and legible for the life of the system. Solar equipment lives outdoors for 25 years. Paper labels, inkjet-printed labels, and standard vinyl labels are not rated for that environment. Use outdoor-rated polyester with UV-stable inks and aggressive adhesive backing. Print Pro AZ manufactures every solar label on outdoor-rated stock built to survive the full system lifetime.
What Are the Conduit Labeling Requirements Under NEC 690.31(G)(4)?
Per NEC 690.31(G)(4), every raceway, junction box, conduit body, and cable assembly containing PV DC circuit conductors must be permanently marked with the words "WARNING: PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SOURCE."
The specs for this label are clearly defined in the code:
- White text on a red background
- All letters capitalized
- Minimum letter height: 9.5 mm (3/8 in.)
- Reflective material required
- Permanently affixed (not temporary marking)
- Placed at intervals no greater than 10 feet (3 m)
- Required at every entry and exit point through walls, ceilings, or floors
- Required at every section of wiring separated by an enclosure or building element
This is one of the most commonly botched label requirements. Installers often mark conduit at the panel end and at the inverter, then skip the run between. If you have 30 feet of conduit running through a garage, you need at least three labels along that run, plus one at each termination point. Inspectors count and measure.
The labels must also be suitable for the environment. Outdoor conduit in Arizona is exposed to UV radiation, thermal cycling, and monsoon moisture. Labels that peel, fade, or become unreadable before the system's first re-inspection will create a compliance issue for the homeowner and a callback for your crew.
REAL SCENARIO: A crew in the Phoenix metro used standard electrical conduit labels from a hardware store on a rooftop install. The labels were not reflective and used black text on a white background. The AHJ rejected them under NEC 690.31(G)(4) because they did not meet the white-on-red, reflective spec. The crew had to relabel the entire conduit run and schedule a re-inspection. Two trips, one label spec. Print Pro AZ ships pre-cut, pre-printed NEC 690.31(G)(4) compliant conduit markers so your crew has the right ones on the truck.
How Does the 2023 NEC Change Solar Labeling Compared to 2020?
The 2023 NEC reorganized several sections that directly affect solar labeling. Knowing what moved helps you avoid using the right label in the wrong location or referencing a section number that your AHJ no longer recognizes.
Key 2023 structural changes:
- NEC 690.56 used to contain power source identification and firefighter access labeling. In 2023, NEC 690.56 now refers to NEC Article 705.10 for those requirements. If you are writing label text that cites a section number, "per NEC 705.10" is the current reference for power source directories.
- Rapid shutdown labeling moved from NEC 690.56(C) to NEC 690.12(D). The building diagram requirement and updated label text are both in 690.12(D) for 2023.
- The rapid shutdown switch label (at the initiating device) is now specifically addressed in NEC 690.12(D)(2).
- All PV definitions moved from NEC 690.2 to Article 100 of the NEC. This affects how inspection documentation is referenced.
- The terminology "PV output circuit" changed to "PV string circuit" in NEC 690.7(A). Equipment labels and diagrams using old terminology may confuse inspectors in 2023-adopting jurisdictions.
For commercial projects, the organization changes matter even more. If you are working on a commercial job with multiple power sources, NEC 705.10 is now the governing section for your power source directory plaque. Visit our commercial jobs page to see how Print Pro AZ handles multi-source labeling packages for commercial solar installs.
| Requirement | 2020 NEC Section | 2023 NEC Section |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid Shutdown Label (at service equipment) | 690.56(C) | 690.12(D) |
| Rapid Shutdown Switch Label | 690.56(C) | 690.12(D)(2) |
| Power Source Directory/Plaque | 690.56(B) | 705.10 |
| Conduit Marking | 690.31(G) | 690.31(G)(4) |
| DC Disconnect Label | 690.53 | 690.53 (unchanged) |
| Point of Connection Label | 690.54 | 690.54 (unchanged) |
What Are the Most Common NEC 690 Label Inspection Failures?
Labeling failures follow predictable patterns on solar inspections. Here are the six most common failures, with the exact code violation:
1. Rapid shutdown label missing the building diagram (NEC 690.12(D)). The 2023 NEC requires a simple building-with-roof diagram on the service equipment label. Older label kits do not have this graphic.
2. Missing or incomplete DC disconnect label (NEC 690.53). Voltage is present but power output or polarity data is missing. All four data points are required.
3. No point-of-connection label at the interconnection point (NEC 690.54). The label is on the inverter, not at the actual utility connection. Location matters.
4. Conduit not marked at 10-foot intervals (NEC 690.31(G)(4)). Marked at endpoints only. Inspectors measure the run.
5. Conduit labels not reflective or wrong colors. Labels must be white text on red background, reflective. Black-on-white or non-reflective red-on-white fails.
6. Using labels from the wrong NEC edition. A 2017 rapid shutdown label on a 2023-jurisdiction job. Section numbers and label text differ enough to fail inspection.
Print Pro AZ builds edition-specific solar label kits. If you are not sure which edition your AHJ enforces, call us at (602) 649-5305 before you order. One phone call beats a re-inspection trip every time.
Frequently Asked Questions About NEC 690 Solar Labels
Does every solar installation need NEC 690 labels?
Yes. Any PV system installed in a jurisdiction that has adopted the National Electrical Code requires the labeling under Article 690. This includes residential rooftop, commercial rooftop, and ground-mounted systems. Off-grid systems in NEC-adopting jurisdictions are also subject to Article 690. A handful of jurisdictions have not adopted any version of the NEC, but they are rare in the continental US.
What does the NEC 690.53 DC disconnect label need to show?
The NEC 690.53 label must show four items: maximum system voltage, maximum circuit current, maximum power output, and polarity of conductors. All four are required. A label with only voltage and current will fail inspection. The values must reflect the actual installed system, not generic ratings.
What are the conduit label color requirements under NEC 690.31(G)(4)?
Conduit labels must use white text on a red background, all letters capitalized, minimum letter height 9.5 mm (3/8 in.), and the material must be reflective. Labels must be permanently affixed, not painted or taped. This color spec has not changed between NEC 2020 and NEC 2023. If your conduit labels are not reflective or are not white on red, they will fail.
Do ground-mounted solar systems need the same labels as rooftop installs?
Ground-mounted systems have the same base labeling requirements: DC disconnect (690.53), point-of-connection (690.54), and conduit markings (690.31(G)(4)). Rapid shutdown requirements under NEC 690.12 differ for ground-mounted systems, particularly for non-enclosed structures like carports and parking shade structures, which may qualify for exceptions under 690.12(A). Always verify with your AHJ, as some apply rooftop requirements to all PV systems regardless of mount type.
Can I use printed labels or do they have to be engraved?
Printed labels are acceptable under the NEC as long as they are permanent and suitable for the installation environment. For outdoor solar equipment, that means UV-resistant, weatherproof materials, typically outdoor-rated polyester or vinyl with permanent adhesive. Some AHJs require engraved or embossed labels for disconnect switches. Confirm with your AHJ. Print Pro AZ manufactures outdoor-rated printed labels accepted by AHJs across the country, and we can produce engraved alternatives when required.
Get the Right Labels. Pass First Time.
Three things determine whether your solar labels pass inspection: the right label for each required location, the correct NEC edition language, and durable materials that survive outdoor conditions. Get all three right and the inspector walks past without stopping.
Here are the three key things to take from this guide:
- The 2023 NEC moved several key labeling sections. Rapid shutdown labeling is now in 690.12(D), not 690.56(C). Power source directories are now under 705.10. Using old section references on new jobs creates confusion with inspectors.
- Conduit markings under NEC 690.31(G)(4) require white text on red background, reflective, at 10-foot intervals. This is one of the most frequently failed label requirements in the field.
- NEC adoption varies by state and city. The 2020 NEC is still the most widely enforced edition in the US. Always confirm with your AHJ before ordering your label kit.
Print Pro AZ manufactures NEC-compliant solar labels in Phoenix, Arizona, and ships to installers across the country. Every label is USA-made, edition-matched, and built for outdoor electrical environments.
For more on solar labeling requirements, see our guide on Solar Disconnect Labels: Placement and Code Requirements.
Shop our NEC 2023 compliant solar label packs →
Need a full install kit with site maps and rapid shutdown labels? See our residential solar bundle or browse our site map and rapid shutdown label collection.
Questions about a specific job or AHJ requirement? Call Brent at (602) 649-5305.