- Every panel should have four things: a panel ID plate, breaker labels, a circuit directory and, where it applies, a source or warning plate.
- Use the names from the drawings, word for word, so the labels, the directory and the single line all agree.
- Engraved lamacoid labels keep the panel readable for its whole life, which is exactly what a panel label is for.
Good electrical panel labels answer three questions before anyone opens the door: what is this panel, where does its power come from, and which breaker does what. This guide covers what to put on each label, the sizes and colours that work, and a simple way to label every panel in a building.
01The four labels every panel should have
1. Panel ID plate
On the door or cover. The panel name, voltage and phase, and what it is fed from.
2. Breaker labels
Beside each breaker, so the circuit is clear even with the directory card missing.
3. Circuit directory
The full list of circuits and loads, matching the breaker labels and the panel schedule.
4. Source or warning plate
For a second source of supply, a backfed breaker, or a panel fed from a transfer switch.
02What to write on each label
| Label | Example wording |
|---|---|
| Panel ID | PANEL LP-2A / 120/208V 3Ø 4W / FED FROM MDP-1 |
| Breaker | CKT 14 · RTU-2, or just the load: LIGHTING RM 204 |
| Main or feeder | MAIN BREAKER / 600V 3Ø 4W |
| Feeds | FEEDS PANELS LP-2A, LP-2B |
| Warning | CAUTION: THIS PANEL HAS TWO SOURCES OF SUPPLY |
Keep the order the same on every panel: name first, then voltage, then the source. Anyone who has read one of your labels can read them all.
03Sizes and colours that work
| Label | Plate | Letters |
|---|---|---|
| Panel ID | 2" × 4" or larger | 1/4" to 3/8" |
| Breaker | 1/2" × 2" | 1/8" |
| Feeds / fed-from | 1" × 3" | 3/16" to 1/4" |
| Warning | 2" × 4" and up | 1/4" and up |
Black/White is the standard for normal power. Emergency and life safety panels usually get their own colour, often Red/White, so they stand out at a glance. The lamacoid colour guide has a full building scheme, and the size guide covers letter height by distance.
04Mounting on a panel door
Adhesive-backed lamacoid labels go on in seconds on a clean, painted panel door. Wipe the door with alcohol first and press firmly. For doors that see weather or heavy use, order the plates with screw holes and rivet or screw them on. The builder moves the text clear of the holes automatically.
05How to label a whole building
- Start from the single lineUse the panel names on the drawings. If there are none, pick a simple scheme like LP-1A (lighting, floor 1, panel A) and write it down.
- Trace and confirmWalk each panel, confirm its source and its circuits, and note any second sources or backfeeds.
- List it in a spreadsheetOne row per label: text, quantity, size and colour. Any layout works.
- Upload it to the builderBulk order turns the sheet into tags you can check at actual size.
- Approve the proof and installYou get a PDF proof by email. We engrave same day in Burlington, and you can pick up or ship.
Design them in the Lamacoid Builder, see ready-made breaker and panel label formats, or email your panel schedule to sales@llamacoids.ca.
06Common questions
Do electrical panels need to be labelled?
Yes. The Canadian Electrical Code asks for the circuits in a panelboard to be identified, and a panel ID with its source makes the whole system easier and safer to work on. Inspectors look for both.
What should an electrical panel label say?
The panel name, its voltage and phase, and where it is fed from. For example: PANEL LP-2A, 120/208V 3Ø 4W, FED FROM MDP-1.
What is the best way to label an electrical panel?
An engraved lamacoid panel ID on the door, engraved breaker labels beside each breaker, and a circuit directory that matches them. Engraved labels stay readable for the life of the panel.
What size are breaker labels?
1/2" × 2" with 1/8" letters is the usual breaker tag. Panel ID plates are often 2" × 4" with 1/4" to 3/8" letters.