21st May 2020
Exporting and designing the simplest control cabinet for the United States or Canada can be a challenge. This does not mean that you, or European companies in general, have found it impossible to export to the United States or Canada, but you will probably agree that the process is seldom simple and there are many reasons for this.
The different rules established over the years in different industries or regions have led to radically different approaches. Definitions such as “Branch Circuit” and “Feeder”, or “Supplementary Protection” and “Limited Energy Circuit”, which are cornerstones of the North American system, 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.
Even after studying the subject thoroughly, it would be difficult to embrace a logic so different from our own except through basic training that would make it possible for us to understand the origins of these differences.
During this UL awareness and education campaign, one core objective is to bring together two cultures — European and North American — which, despite having developed in radically different ways over the years, share a common goal: a mutual design code capable of establishing rules for operator safety.
When we look into regulations governing industrial equipment and components, there is a particular focus on the needs of panel builders and equipment manufacturers both seeking to understand the effect of UL on selecting the right components.
Below is a breakdown of considerations for typical components:
The main areas for compliance to standards in the USA are:
A clear understanding of the two circuit sections that make up the power circuit is required in order to select and size wires, spacing and components according the UL508A standards:
UL508A necessitates a clear understanding of the Control Circuits which carry electric signals directing the performance of a controller in order to define the required conductors and components. UL508A additionally defines these Control Circuits of different Classes as:
Or
Come back next week for a guest blog by Lutze detailing the important cabling considerations in relation to UL. The series will be completed the following week with Product Approvals delivering a video from home and blog detailing UL inspection and evaluation.
If you have a specific question about UL then the form below will be the most useful tool for you. With these questions, we can respond to your specific needs directly and also build on the communications planned throughout the campaign.
To be notified of any updates in the campaign, navigate to the sign-up form below.
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.
With these questions, we can respond to your specific needs directly and also build on the communications planned over the coming weeks.
One of the UK’s leading strategic manufacturing specialists is tapping into the UK’s unprecedented investment in upgrading the electricity grid.
As Britain accelerates investment in grid infrastructure, protection and control capacity could become a critical delivery constraint.
The appointment of a new Prime Minister inevitably brings renewed debate about the direction of the UK economy and what it could mean for business.
Ian Knight, Chief Information Officer at PP Control & Automation (PP C&A) challenges the prevailing, often vague narrative around AI adoption and reframes the conversation around a more practical starting point: operational constraints.
Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant concept for manufacturers. It is already being explored across quotation, production planning, engineering, quality, supply chain and customer service functions. Yet, for many organisations, the gap between experimentation and meaningful operational impact remains difficult to close.
A leading aquaculture specialist – that is changing the way fish are vaccinated safely – has signed a major manufacturing deal.
On paper, defined discipline-specific suppliers can look organised. However, every additional supplier introduces another handoff, and every handoff creates another point where time, quality, communication and accountability can be lost.
Very rarely does growth not surface because an OEM lacks ambition. Shortcomings arise because operating models built to support such ambition don’t evolve quickly enough.
