PP Control & Automation has over two decades of experience with the North American standards (UL, CSA & NFPA70/79) and can design and fully certify to cUL508a.
For European manufacturers of machinery, the North American market is an incredible opportunity for growth but one which does not come without its pitfalls. The largest of which is meeting the legal and technical requirements of the market.
Confusion in respect to UL508A and NFPA standards can be extremely costly and therefore an outsourcing partner like PP C&A, as verified and experienced designers and builders of systems to meet (Underwriters Laboratory) UL508A standards should be consulted.
PP C&A has customers, past and present, who believe that by simply selecting components that are UL listed and integrating them into a control panel that also carried a UL (NEMA) rating, that was the start and end of the exercise.
In fact, a number of machinery manufacturers have adopted this approach and depending on which US states they have been exporting to, may have managed to escape any serious issues.
But that is until they come across a more stringent inspection, whether state specific or just a more detailed and thorough site inspector. The problems then, can be devastating.
There will be re-working, supplying new components and even the time and financial cost of dispatching engineers on a plane to go and sort out the problem as quickly as they can. Furthermore, you can expect consequential penalties from the customer due to late installation of machinery and the impact this can have on future business relationships.
The importance of getting UL right when supplying into the North American market is crucial. And these common issues are all easily avoided by taking a more proactive approach to the subject and working with companies, like PP C&A, that can offer a complete UL solution in line with your specific needs.
Continue reading to get an in depth understanding of what the PP C&A service entails along with the key benefits.
PP C&A UL Listed panels are manufactured under regular stringent UL factory audits to meet key US national and local electric safety regulations.
Avoids the costly field evaluation inspection of every panel and the associated unpredictable outcome.
Respected globally, the UL listing mark may be specified in procurement documents for contracts outside of the USA, commonly in Middle East countries such as the UAE.
A ‘global design’ can be produced, allowing panels to be shipped to the EU, USA, Canada, and further afield without specially built and costly variants. This allows for quick response to new commercial opportunities.
The UL Listing mark on your panel and/or machine can increase sales and set you apart from the competition.
The UL 508A certification provides the inspection authority and your customer evidence that the control panel complies with nationally recognised safety standards, which ensure public safety and compliance with national and local electrical codes.
Manufacturers that carry the UL 508A certification are subject to periodic unannounced inspections of their facilities by UL personnel. Through periodic audits, UL makes sure the manufacturer continues to meet the UL requirements for 508A certification.
The UL Mark on a component means that UL has evaluated and tested samples of this component and has concluded that they meet the necessary requirements, thus protecting the quality and integrity of the control panel.
Prior to manufacturing UL-approved electrical panels, engineers at PP C&A will first undertake crucial checks of a customer’s submitted designs.
It is very important that the design is checked for compliance with the UL 508A standard prior to manufacturing the panel, in order to ensure UL compliance and thus enable the application of a UL mark to the electrical panel.
Combined ‘cULus’ Canadian and US UL Listing mark.
Complete panel and machine ‘design for compliance service’ including part selection and layout.
UL compliant cable design and assembly for panels and machines.
Defining the required SCCR (short circuit current rating).
Design voltage rating and end customer site electrical power network configuration.
Wire bending space.
US NFPA 70 NEC (National Electrical Code) and NFPA 79 code compliance.
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As a manufacturer of machinery, how confident are you that you are meeting the legal and technical requirements of the US and North American markets? Confusion in respect to UL508A and NFPA standards can be extremely costly.
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Understanding the relationship between UL 508A and NFPA standards to help machine builders navigate the confusion surrounding legislation in North America and Canada.
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Stefano Muraro of Rockwell Automation explores specific evolutions of UL508A standards and the impact on industrial control panels, highlighting innovative, sustainable solutions.
In this guest contribution to the ongoing Sustainability in UL Standards campaign, Phil Murby, UK Commercial Manager at Lutze explores a different approach to the construction of a control panel.
In this guest contribution to the ongoing Sustainability in UL Standards campaign, Phil Murby’s insights provide practical guidance on aligning control panel wiring practices with sustainability and compliance, offering tangible solutions for both efficiency and environmental stewardship.
As the manufacturing community increasingly leans towards sustainable practices, machine builders and OEMs find themselves at the centre of impact and progress. But there are several caveats to ‘doing the right thing’, that will almost certainly emerge. The implications for standards and certifications like UL508A for one, could be significant.
European machine builders are increasingly eyeing the lucrative North American market. Ian Knight believes accessing the opportunity depends on your firm’s ability to strategically navigate standards and avoid the pitfalls of safety compliance.
PP Control & Automation has long been promoting the considerations to be mindful of when navigating UL 508A. When doing so, questions linking to NFPA often enter the discussion. This supplement offers some clarity on the relationship between the two.
PP C&A has signed a deal with Product Approvals to boost its product certification offer to global clients.
Having an understanding of the processes encompassing inspection and evaluation is a major facet to the right UL practice for OEMs and the often overlooked considerations and risks when converting European builds to US-ready machines or when looking to expand into North America with new machine builds altogether.
With the control panels built and the components selected, all under UL guidance, machine connectivity will bring the whole thing together but there’s a serious worry that all that hard work can be undone by not understanding the importance of cabling in relation to UL.
Many definitions used in systems implemented in North America have no equivalent in the design of industrial installations according to European regulations. The reason for this is not a simple problem of different terminology, but a different conceptual approach altogether.
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