Category: Field Notes

Solar labeling problems rarely come from missing equipment. They come from missing or unclear placards.

Rapid shutdown requirements have made PV labeling more visible, more specific, and more closely inspected than ever. When placards are incomplete, poorly placed, or don’t match the system installed, inspectors stop the job—even when everything else looks right.

This Field Notes breakdown focuses on what inspectors actually look for on solar PV systems, where projects get flagged, and how to avoid last-minute rework. Proper placard placement helps inspectors and emergency responders quickly identify PV systems without searching or guessing.

Fire safety labeling is one of those areas where inspectors don’t give much leeway. These labels aren’t just for documentation — they’re part of how emergency systems are identified and used under pressure.

When fire safety labels fail inspection, it’s rarely because something was completely forgotten. It’s usually because labels are unclear, inconsistent, missing required information, or don’t match the system that’s actually installed.

This Field Notes breakdown focuses on what inspectors actually look for on fire alarm and suppression systems, where projects get flagged, and how to avoid delays tied to labeling. Clear fire safety labeling allows responders, technicians, and inspectors to identify systems quickly when timing matters most.

Valve tags and mechanical equipment labels don’t usually fail inspection because they’re missing — they fail because they’re unclear, inconsistent, or don’t match how the system is actually installed.

For HVAC contractors, valve identification isn’t about aesthetics — it’s about safety, serviceability, and making sure the next person on the job doesn’t have to guess. Inspectors, maintenance teams, and facility staff all rely on clear mechanical labeling long after the install is complete.

This Field Notes breakdown covers what inspectors actually look for, where mechanical labeling goes wrong, and how to avoid issues that slow inspections or complicate service later. Clear valve tagging and equipment identification help service teams understand systems quickly and avoid unnecessary confusion during maintenance.

At first glance, vinyl stickers and engraved plastic tags can seem interchangeable. Both can display the same information and look clean when newly installed.

The difference shows up later.

When labels are revisited during inspection, service, or maintenance, durability becomes the deciding factor. This Field Notes breakdown focuses on why inspectors often question sticker-style labels, where they fail in the field, and when permanent identification is expected instead. Durability becomes especially important for labels that will be serviced, inspected, or relied on years after installation.

Label mounting is often treated like a minor detail. Inspectors don’t see it that way.

A label that isn’t securely attached doesn’t count as permanent identification, no matter how accurate the text is. When mounting is overlooked or mismatched to the environment, it’s one of the fastest ways a project gets flagged during inspection.

Here’s a practical breakdown of when adhesive mounting works, when mechanical fastening is expected, and how inspectors typically evaluate both in the field. Mounting method plays a major role in whether labels remain legible and in place over time.

Most labeling issues tied to the NEC don’t come from ignoring the code—they come from misunderstanding what inspectors actually expect to see in the field.

The NEC doesn’t exist to make labeling complicated. It exists to make systems identifiable, serviceable, and safe. When labels fail inspection, it’s usually because required identification is missing, unclear, or inconsistent with what’s installed.

Below is a practical breakdown of NEC labeling requirements, focused on where jobs actually get flagged—and how to avoid issues before inspection. Inspectors expect equipment identification labels to be legible, securely affixed, and appropriate for the environment.

If a project fails inspection because of labeling, it’s rarely because someone didn’t try.
It’s usually because a small detail got missed—material, wording, mounting, or consistency.

Here are the five most common labeling mistakes inspectors flag on jobsites, and how to avoid them before they cost time, rework, or credibility. Many of these issues can be avoided with custom engraved phenolic labels designed for long-term jobsite use.