Most electrical workers snap a quick look at the cal/cm² number on an arc flash label and assume they have what they need, but that habit leaves critical information unread. The ArcReady Study Guide §3 (study-guide.html#3-arc-flash-labels) provides the full field list you must understand: equipment ID, nominal voltage, AFPB, incident energy, min PPE arc rating, working distance, and analysis method. Walking through every field—instead of stopping at the cal/cm² value—is exactly the habit exam candidates should build.
Equipment ID and Nominal Voltage
The study guide’s full field list includes equipment ID and nominal voltage. The citation gives no further description of these fields, so any exam question asking for specific content or format of these entries needs a citation check.
AFPB (Boundary Distance)
Boundary distance is the same field the study guide lists as AFPB. It's part of the complete field set and should be read along with the other fields rather than overlooked.
Incident Energy (the cal/cm² Number)
This is the field most workers glance at—the cal/cm² number itself. The study guide includes incident energy as a distinct entry in its full field list.
Min PPE Arc Rating
The min PPE arc rating is a separate field on the label. The study guide explicitly states that incident energy vs. min PPE rating are not the same number.
Working Distance
The working distance field appears in the study guide’s full field list and is a value worth reading carefully rather than skipping.
Analysis Method
The study guide’s full field list includes analysis method. Because the citation provides only the field name and no defining details, this section needs a citation check before any claim about what the field contains can be made.
The Two Numbers People Most Often Confuse
Workers often glance at the cal/cm² number and stop there, but the study guide confirms the common mix-up: incident energy vs. min PPE rating are not the same number. Incident energy is the cal/cm² field; min PPE arc rating is the separate protective equipment rating field. Recognizing they are different labels—not interchangeable figures—is essential for both the exam and the jobsite.
For the complete field list and the distinction between those two numbers, review the ArcReady Study Guide §3.