- The code's marking rules come down to three words: permanent, legible and clear about what the equipment is and does.
- An engraved lamacoid ticks all three, which is why it is the standard tag on Canadian job sites.
- Your drawings, spec and the inspector set the exact wording, colour and letter size. We engrave to what you send.
In Canada the electrical code is CSA C22.1, the Canadian Electrical Code (CEC). Each province adopts it, sometimes with changes. In Ontario that is the Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC), enforced by the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). This post walks through where the code asks for marking and how a lamacoid answers it.
01Permanent, legible, clear
Across the code, marking rules share the same goals. The marking has to last, it has to be readable where it is installed, and it has to tell the next person what they are looking at.
| The goal | How a lamacoid meets it |
|---|---|
| Permanent | Lettering is engraved through the top layer into the core. It is part of the plate, not printed on it. |
| Legible | High-contrast colour pairs and a letter height you choose, sized for the distance it will be read from. |
| Clear | Your exact wording: equipment name, what it feeds, where it is fed from, voltage and any warning. |
02Disconnects: say what it serves
A disconnecting means should be marked to show what it controls. On a busy site that plate is often the only thing between a technician and a guess. A simple format works every time:
03Panelboards and circuit identification
Panelboards need their circuits identified, and a well-labelled panel goes further: a panel ID plate on the door with the name, voltage and source, and engraved breaker tags that match the directory. When the panel is fed from somewhere else, say so on the plate. Our guide to electrical panel labels walks through it, and breaker and panel labels has common formats.
04Solar PV: Section 64
Section 64 of the CEC covers renewable energy systems, including solar PV. It is where the most specific marking lives. Typical plates on an install:
| Rule | What gets marked |
|---|---|
| 64-060 | Every PV disconnect, marked with what it serves. |
| 64-072 | AC voltage and current at the utility interconnection. |
| 64-200 | PV warning sign: white on red, capitals, minimum 9.5 mm letters. |
| 64-202 | Maximum PV voltage at the DC disconnect or combiner. |
| 64-064 | Permanent marking at the grounding point. |
| 64-218 | Rapid shutdown, at the meter and the service, where adopted. |
Rule references follow CSA C22.1 Section 64. Check the edition your province has adopted. The solar placards page and the solar kit in the builder put the whole set together from your system details, including the single line diagram plate.
05Arc flash: CSA Z462
CSA Z462 is the workplace electrical safety standard. Where your arc flash assessment calls for labels on equipment, we engrave the plate to the values in your study. The study sets the numbers; the lamacoid makes them permanent. See arc flash warning plates.
06Colour and letter height
Where the code or your spec names a colour or a minimum letter height, match it exactly. The PV warning sign above is a good example: white letters on red, in capitals, at least 9.5 mm tall. Our colour guide and letter height guide cover the details.
07Getting it right first time
- Start from the drawingsUse the equipment names exactly as they appear on the single line and the schedules.
- Copy spec wording word for wordIf the spec gives the wording, colour or size, send it as written.
- Check the proofEvery order gets a PDF proof to approve before we engrave.
Llamacoids manufactures engraved plates to your wording. The installer and the responsible engineer or inspector remain responsible for code compliance of the installation.
08Common questions
Does the electrical code require engraved labels?
The code asks for marking that is permanent, legible and clear about what equipment is and does. Engraved lamacoids meet all three, and many electrical specifications call for engraved lamicoid nameplates by name.
What colour is a solar PV warning sign?
White letters on red, in capitals, at least 9.5 mm tall, under CEC Rule 64-200. Our solar placards are built to that.
Who decides the exact wording?
Your drawings, specification and the authority having jurisdiction. We engrave exactly what you send, and you approve a PDF proof first.