Your job is done. Array is up, inverter is wired, system is live. Then the AHJ walks the job and hands you a red tag — because a label is missing, or wrong, or from the last NEC edition.
That's a re-inspection fee, a wasted trip, and a homeowner calling you asking why their system isn't turned on yet. In Arizona and across the country, labeling is one of the top reasons solar installations fail inspection on the first pass. It's not because installers don't know the work — it's because NEC 690 label requirements are detailed, edition-sensitive, and easy to get partially right.
This article covers the full NEC 690 solar label requirements for 2023 — every label, every section, every required text element. By the end, you'll know exactly what goes on every system, where it goes, and what it has to say to satisfy your AHJ and pass inspection the first time.
What Is NEC Article 690 and Why Does It Control Solar Labels?
National Electrical Code Article 690 is the governing standard for solar photovoltaic systems in the United States. It covers all aspects of PV system design, installation, and safety — including labeling. If you're installing rooftop solar, ground-mount solar, or any grid-tied or off-grid PV system, Article 690 is your rulebook.
The NEC is published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and updated on a three-year cycle. The NEC 2023 edition is currently being adopted by most states, though adoption timelines vary. Some jurisdictions are still enforcing NEC 2020 or even NEC 2017, and that difference matters when it comes to label text and format requirements.
Your local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) — whether that's a city building department, county inspector, or utility — has the final say on which edition applies to your permit. Some AHJs layer additional requirements on top of NEC minimums. Always confirm with your AHJ before ordering labels for a job. You can reference the NFPA's official NEC adoption map to see which edition your state has adopted.
The labeling requirements within Article 690 are not optional markings. They are code-required safety communications — for first responders, inspectors, utility workers, and future service personnel. Getting them right protects your license, your liability, and the people who work on that system after you leave.
Which Labels Does NEC 690 Require on Every Solar Installation?
Every grid-tied solar installation in the United States requires a minimum set of labels defined in National Electrical Code Article 690. These include the rapid shutdown label, DC disconnect markings, point-of-connection label, conduit markings, and firefighter access information. Here's the full breakdown:
Rapid Shutdown Label — Required at each service equipment location and at the PV system disconnecting means. Specifies the initiating device type (NEC 690.12, 690.56(C)).
DC Disconnect Label — Required on every DC disconnect switch. Must show system voltage, current, power output, and polarity (NEC 690.53).
Point of Connection Label — Required where the solar system connects to the utility or other power source (NEC 690.54). States maximum output current and voltage.
Conduit and Conductor Markings — Required on all raceways, conduit, and enclosures containing PV source or output circuits (NEC 690.31).
Firefighter Access Label — Required to identify the location of PV DC disconnect switches and rapid shutdown controls (NEC 690.56(B)).
Combiner Box Label — Required to identify all sources of power within multi-source systems (NEC 705.10 for interconnected systems).
| Label Name | NEC Section | Location | What It Must Say | |---|---|---|---| | Rapid Shutdown | 690.12 / 690.56(C) | Service equipment, PV disconnect | Rapid shutdown type and initiating device reference | | DC Disconnect | 690.53 | DC disconnect switch | Operating voltage, current, power, polarity | | Point of Connection | 690.54 | Utility interconnection point | Maximum voltage and current | | Conduit Marking | 690.31 | Every raceway with PV conductors | "PV POWER SOURCE" or equivalent | | Firefighter Access | 690.56(B) | Utility meter or main service panel | Location of rapid shutdown initiating device | | Combiner Box | 705.10 | Multi-source combiner enclosures | All power sources identified |Print Pro AZ stocks NEC 2023-compliant versions of every label in this table. If you're building a label kit before the job starts, our NEC 2023 solar label packs include the full set for standard residential and commercial installs.
What Are the Rapid Shutdown Label Requirements Under NEC 690.12?
The rapid shutdown label is the most inspection-sensitive label on any solar installation. Under NEC 690.12, all rooftop PV systems must have a rapid shutdown function, and the label at the initiating device must clearly communicate how to activate it. The label goes at each service equipment location where first responders would enter or operate.
NEC 690.56(C) spells out the specific label requirements. The label must use contrasting colors — typically white text on a red background — and must reference the type of rapid shutdown system installed. For NEC 2020 and NEC 2023 systems, the label must identify whether the system uses a "module-level rapid shutdown" (MLRS) type or a "boundary" type shutdown. This is where edition differences create real problems.
NEC 2017 introduced the concept of rapid shutdown and defined an "array boundary" — a 1-foot boundary around the array on rooftops. Labels from this era reference array boundary compliance. NEC 2020 eliminated the boundary concept for most rooftop systems. Module-level rapid shutdown became the default for rooftop PV. The label language changed accordingly to reference the initiating device type rather than a boundary. NEC 2023 refines the language further and maintains MLRS requirements for rooftop systems, with updated labeling text to reflect current system architecture. If your AHJ is enforcing NEC 2023, your labels must match NEC 2023 language — not 2017 or 2020 wording.> INSPECTION TIP: Rapid shutdown labeling is the #1 reason solar jobs fail inspection in Arizona. If your label references "Array Boundary" language from NEC 2017 but your AHJ is enforcing NEC 2020 or 2023, expect a red tag. Make sure your rapid shutdown label references the correct initiating device type for the edition your AHJ is enforcing. Confirm before you order.
Print Pro AZ offers edition-specific rapid shutdown labels. If you're not sure which edition your AHJ enforces, call us at (602) 649-5305 and we'll help you get the right version before it costs you a re-inspection trip.
DC Disconnect Labels: What NEC 690.53 and 690.54 Require
NEC 690.53 requires a permanent label on every DC photovoltaic power source disconnect switch. This label must include four specific data points: maximum system voltage, maximum circuit current, maximum power, and polarity of conductors. These aren't suggestions — the AHJ will check for each one.
Here's what must appear on the NEC 690.53 label:
- Maximum PV System Voltage — the rated open-circuit voltage under worst-case temperature conditions
- Maximum Circuit Current — the sum of parallel source circuit short-circuit currents
- Maximum Power Output — typically expressed in watts or kilowatts
- Polarity of Conductors — positive and negative terminal identification
NEC 690.54 covers the interactive system point-of-connection label — the label placed where your solar system ties into the utility side of the service. This label must state the maximum voltage and the maximum current at the point of connection. It serves as a warning to utility workers and future electricians that this panel has a second power source feeding it.
For both NEC 690.53 and 690.54 labels, material durability is a code concern. Labels must be legible and durable for the life of the installation. Outdoor solar equipment is exposed to UV, moisture, heat cycling, and cleaning agents. Printed paper labels won't cut it. The standard in the industry is UV-resistant vinyl or polyester with aggressive adhesive backing rated for outdoor electrical enclosures. Engraved or embossed labels are also acceptable and required by some AHJs for disconnect switches.
Print Pro AZ manufactures our solar labels from outdoor-rated polyester stock with UV-stable inks. They're built to last the 25-year life of the system, not just pass inspection day.
Solar Conduit and Conductor Labels: NEC 690.31 Requirements
NEC 690.31 requires that all PV system conductors be identified and that any raceway, cable tray, or conduit containing PV source or output circuits be marked at intervals throughout the building. The purpose is to warn anyone doing electrical work in that building that those conductors are energized from a solar source — and may remain energized even when the main utility disconnect is open.
Conductor color coding under NEC 690.31:
- Ungrounded (positive and negative) conductors — must be identified. Positive conductors are typically red; negative conductors are typically black or white with a colored stripe. Where PV conductors enter a structure, they must be marked at entry points and at regular intervals inside.
- Grounded conductors — must be white or gray, or identified with white markings at termination points.
- Equipment grounding conductors — must be green, green with yellow stripe, or bare.
For conduit marking, NEC 690.31(G) requires that raceways, cable assemblies, and enclosures containing PV power source conductors running through or inside buildings be marked at minimum 10-foot intervals with the label "PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SOURCE" or equivalent language. This ensures anyone opening a j-box or running new wire in the future knows exactly what they're dealing with.
Practical placement tip: Don't just label at the panel end and assume you're done. Mark at every junction box, at every 10 feet in concealed runs, at conduit entries and exits through walls or ceilings, and anywhere the conduit changes direction inside occupied space. Inspectors walk the conduit run. If they find an unmarked 15-foot stretch inside the garage, you're going back.
Pre-printed conduit marker labels speed up the job. You can include them in a solar label pack so your crew has everything on the truck before the install starts.
What Are the Most Common Solar Label Inspection Failures?
Labeling failures follow predictable patterns. Knowing the most common ones before your next job is cheaper than learning them on-site. Here are the six most frequent label inspection failures, with the exact NEC section being violated:
1. Wrong NEC Edition — Rapid Shutdown Label (NEC 690.56(C))Using a 2017-era rapid shutdown label on a job where the AHJ enforces NEC 2020 or 2023. The label language references "array boundary" instead of the initiating device type. This is the most common single failure in Arizona markets.
2. Missing DC Disconnect Label (NEC 690.53)The system has a disconnect but it's unlabeled or the label is missing required data. Voltage and current are often present; polarity and maximum power are frequently omitted.
3. No Point-of-Connection Label (NEC 690.54)The utility interconnection label is absent or placed in the wrong location. It must be at the point where the solar system connects, not at the inverter.
4. Conduit Not Marked at Required Intervals (NEC 690.31(G))Conduit is marked at terminations but not at 10-foot intervals inside the structure. Inspectors measure.
5. Firefighter Access Label Missing or Misplaced (NEC 690.56(B))The label must be at the utility meter socket or main service panel — where firefighters would first access the building. It is not an inverter label.
6. Labels Not Durable for Outdoor ConditionsInkjet-printed labels, paper labels, or labels without UV resistance fail the durability requirement. The label must be permanent and legible for the life of the system.
> REAL SCENARIO: A solar installer in Phoenix recently called Print Pro AZ after failing inspection twice on the same job. The issue was their rapid shutdown label — it referenced "Array Boundary" marking from NEC 2017, but their AHJ was enforcing NEC 2020. They had to pull a re-inspection permit twice. A $15 label cost a $400 re-inspection trip plus the labor to go back. Print Pro AZ sent them the correct NEC 2020 rapid shutdown labels and a full label kit. Third inspection: passed. Don't be that job.
Frequently Asked Questions About NEC 690 Solar Labels
Does every solar installation need NEC 690 labels?
Yes. Any solar PV system installed in a jurisdiction that has adopted the National Electrical Code requires the labeling mandated by Article 690. This includes residential rooftop, commercial rooftop, and ground-mounted systems. Off-grid systems in jurisdictions that have adopted the NEC are also subject to Article 690 requirements. The only exception would be systems in jurisdictions that have not adopted the NEC — which is rare in the continental US.
What does the NEC 690.56 rapid shutdown label have to say?
Under NEC 690.56(C), the rapid shutdown label must identify the type of rapid shutdown system installed and reference the initiating device. For NEC 2020 and 2023 systems, it must specify whether the system is module-level rapid shutdown (MLRS) compliant or uses another approved method. The label uses high-contrast colors — white on red is standard — and must be located at the service equipment where first responders would access the building.
Can I use printed labels or do they need to be engraved?
Printed labels are acceptable under the NEC provided they meet durability requirements for the installation environment. For outdoor solar equipment, that means UV-resistant, weatherproof materials — vinyl or polyester with permanent adhesive. Some AHJs require engraved labels for disconnect switches; confirm with your specific AHJ. Print Pro AZ manufactures outdoor-rated printed labels that meet NEC durability standards and are accepted by AHJs across the country.
Do ground-mounted solar systems have the same labeling requirements as rooftop installs?
Ground-mounted systems have the same NEC Article 690 base labeling requirements — DC disconnect labels (690.53), point-of-connection labels (690.54), and conductor/conduit markings (690.31). The rapid shutdown requirements under NEC 690.12 differ slightly: rooftop systems have specific requirements tied to firefighter safety on the roof, while ground-mounted systems may have different initiating device requirements. Always verify with your AHJ, as some apply rooftop rapid shutdown standards to all systems regardless of mount type.
What happens if an AHJ uses a different NEC edition than my labels reference?
Your labels will fail inspection. NEC edition mismatches — particularly on rapid shutdown labels — are among the most common reasons solar jobs fail on first inspection. If your label references NEC 2017 language and the AHJ is enforcing NEC 2020 or NEC 2023, you'll need to replace the label and schedule a re-inspection. Before ordering labels for any job, confirm with the local building department which NEC edition they are enforcing. Print Pro AZ offers edition-specific solar label sets for NEC 2017, 2020, and 2023.
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 AHJ walks past your label locations without stopping.
Failing on any one of them means a re-inspection fee, a wasted trip back to the job site, and a delay that your customer notices. The label cost is never the issue — the re-inspection cost always is.
Print Pro AZ manufactures NEC-compliant solar labels in Phoenix, Arizona, shipped fast to installers across the country. Every label is USA-made, edition-matched, and built for outdoor electrical environments.
- Shop our NEC 2023 compliant solar label packs →
- Build your custom NEC label pack →
- Questions? Call Brent: (602) 649-5305
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: March 21, 2026