Are you looking for UL 508A control panels for the USA and Canada?
To successfully export machinery and systems to the USA or Canada, the control panel must comply with UL 508A. And when it comes to developing and manufacturing precisely these UL control panels, we are the specialists.
In our white paper, you will learn everything you need to know about UL certification for exporting to North America. From key standards such as UL 508A and UL 1203, to the certification process and the legal and safety requirements.
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UL 508A certificate for your
control panel with Krayer Systemtechnik
To meet export standards, control panels must be built in accordance with UL requirements and then certified to UL 508A. KRAYER specializes in precisely this process.
With our UL certification, exporting becomes significantly safer, easier and more straightforward. This enables you to save valuable time and avoid higher costs. Because with us, your system goes into operation without lengthy bureaucracy.
Are you exporting your system to the USA or Canada?
The USA and Canada have strict safety standards and regulations that differ fundamentally from those in Europe. For example, for control panels (Industrial Control Panels) in all operating environments except hazardous locations, UL 508A applies. However, a certified control panel is only one part of the overall process. Many companies shy away from the time-consuming and complex export process and therefore forgo these lucrative markets.
But there is a simple and convenient solution: If you want to export your machinery and systems to the USA or to Canada, Krayer and its partners will handle the entire export process. You can find out more in our article “Across the pond in four steps”.
How can Krayer Systemtechnik support you in the area of UL 508A?
Export safety
During the inspection, inspectors can immediately see that the control panel was built by a certified company to UL standards and has an approval that is also valid in Canada.
Capturing the customer is the starting point
To provide the customer with the best solution, we want to understand what they want. The more comprehensively we capture requirements at the beginning, the faster we reach the goal.
Hassle-free
We label your CSA panel with the CSA certificate. This means it can be put into operation immediately in the USA or Canada.
Do you have any questions, or would you like some advice with no obligation?
Do you have questions about our products and services and would like to learn more about Krayer? Then don’t hesitate to contact us! Our experts will be happy to assist you.
Do you have questions about our products and services and would like to learn more about Krayer? Then don’t hesitate to contact us! Our experts will be happy to assist you.
What exactly is UL 508A?
Where are UL 508A control panels approved?
Which areas does UL 508A apply to?
UL 508A is the key standard for Industrial Control Panels, i.e., industrial control panels and mounting plates intended for export to the USA and Canada. This standard ensures that the control panels meet the strict requirements of the National Electrical Code (NEC) in the USA and the Canadian Electrical Code in Canada.
Applications of UL 508A include:
- Control panels and their control devices: UL 508A applies to control panels and control devices with an operating voltage of up to 600 volts and is applicable in all ordinary and industrial environments except hazardous (Ex) areas.
- Industrial machinery: The standard applies to controls in production plants and manufacturing equipment that must ensure reliable and safe operation.
- HVAC and refrigeration systems: Controls for HVAC systems and industrial refrigeration technologies are also covered by UL 508A to ensure these systems operate efficiently and safely.
- Flame control systems: Controls for fire protection and fire suppression systems that are activated in emergencies must meet the requirements of UL 508A.
- Maritime applications: Ships and offshore platforms require reliable control systems that meet the strict safety requirements of UL 508A.
- Service equipment: Controls for maintenance and service equipment also fall under UL 508A to ensure the safety and efficiency of these systems.
With regard to Industrial Control Panels, NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code, NEC) references UL 508A, giving it legal status. And NFPA 79 (Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery) is also essential for machine and system manufacturers, as it defines all requirements—from design to testing—that your electrical machinery must meet.
Safe
We have mastered the complex UL standards. We have successfully proven this with our certification.
Efficient
We know what goes where. Processes are optimized—in development, procurement and production.
Hassle-free
We label your UL panel with the UL certificate. This means it can be put into operation immediately in the USA or Canada.
Industry expertise in UL 508A for over 30 years
Since 1989, we have been developing and building control systems at our site in Spraitbach. By now, it is more than 1,000 control systems and control panels per year. Most of them to UL 508A, but also many to UL 698A and UL 1203 in the HazLoc area. Our customers come from many different industries. But with our many years of experience in UL control panel construction, we know exactly what matters. This allows us to implement your requirements and expectations with pinpoint accuracy—no matter what industry you are in.
UL 508 or UL 508A? – the differences
UL 508 and UL 508A are standards for industrial electrical equipment that apply for operation in the USA and Canada. They were developed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the world’s leading provider in the field of testing and certification of safety standards.
The two standards relate to different areas: UL 508 is the standard for the safety of industrial control equipment. It covers industrial control equipment and accessory devices with a rated voltage of 1,500 volts or less that are used to start, stop, regulate, control or protect electric motors. UL 508A is a subset of UL 508 and applies specifically to industrial switchgear (Industrial Control Panels). While UL 508A is fully up to date, UL 508 is outdated. It was gradually transitioned to UL 60947 from 2012 to 2017.
Transition: UL 60947 replaces UL 508
UL 508, the standard for industrial control equipment (Industrial Control Equipment), was harmonized with the key product standards of the IEC standard for low-voltage switchgear, IEC 60947. The transition took place from 2012 to 2017 in three steps.
The goal of this harmonization was to create standards based on IEC requirements and adopting them, while still containing enough national differences to facilitate the transition from UL 508 to UL 60947-4-1A. This has largely been achieved. The UL 508 and UL 60947 series standards do not look the same. However, when the national differences included in the harmonized standards are taken into account, they are essentially technically identical.
Can you choose between UL 508 and UL 508A for certification?
For some products there are overlaps, and certification is still possible to both UL 508A and UL 508. In such cases, the specific details—such as application and requirements—determine which standard the product is built and certified to. Control panels, however, must always be certified to UL 508A.
The UL 508A standard specifies the guidelines for the control panel in detail and defines how the connections, fuses and protective devices used must be designed to comply with UL 508A.
UL 508 vs. UL 508A: the differences at a glance
There are several important differences between UL 508 and UL 508A:
- UL 508A applies to control panels and control devices with an operating voltage of up to 600 volts. UL 508 applies to a rated voltage of 1,500 volts.
- If a product is certified to UL 508A, the manufacturer may modify it as desired, as long as they use components that are already UL Listed. In addition, the rules of UL 508A must be followed in design and manufacturing. In contrast, a product certified to UL 508 can no longer be modified. It can only be put into operation in the design in which it was certified.
- Another difference concerns the enclosure: for Industrial Control Panels, the enclosures are referred to as control cabinets or control panels. These must be accessible via a door or a special panel. If products are built and certified to UL 508, the enclosures do not have to be accessible to the user.
- The National Electrical Code (NEC for short) addresses Industrial Control Panels in Article 409 and refers to UL 508A. This gives the standard legal status. UL 508 is not mentioned directly in the NEC.
- Article 409 of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) requires that industrial control panels be marked with their short-circuit current rating (SCCR). The value must be based on a listed and certified assembly, or another appropriate method must be used to determine the rating. (For more information on determining the SCCR of industrial control panels in accordance with UL 508A, please refer directly to the UL website.) While UL 508A therefore requires that the short-circuit current rating (SCCR) be specified for industrial control panels, this is not required under UL 508, for example for auxiliary products.
- Another difference lies in the protection of the internal circuit. This protection is required for Industrial Control Panels, but not for certifications to UL 508.
An overview of the differences is summarized in the following table
How do you write UL 508 and UL 508A correctly?
As with all details, UL is very precise about spelling as well. All designations are written with a space after UL. So UL 508 and UL 508A. Spellings such as UL508, UL508A or UL 508 A are not correct. Nevertheless, UL508, UL508A and UL 508 A keep appearing.
UL 508A update from 2022:
What’s new in the standard for control panels?
The 2022 revision of UL 508A introduces several key changes that must be observed for all control panels from 2023 onwards. The most important changes are briefly outlined here.
Which devices do the changes to UL 508A apply to?
The changes to UL 508A apply to all devices that fall under this standard, i.e., control panels for industrial systems at ordinary locations (i.e., without explosion hazards). However, if the control panel is part of a UL-certified system, the changes also indirectly affect the entire system. This is because a UL-certified system is always assessed as a whole.
The UL 508A changes in detail
The following list briefly presents the most important updates to UL 508A. It is not exhaustive, as there are numerous changes in many other areas. Understanding them requires in-depth familiarity with the old version of UL 508A—something that can only come from intensive work with this UL standard. In order not to confuse readers who are less familiar with the standard unnecessarily, we have therefore limited ourselves to presenting the most important changes. We will be happy to advise you personally on what the UL 508A revision means for your control panel project.
New rule on standard ambient temperature for control panels
According to the revised standard, the standard ambient temperature for a control panel is now between 5°C and 41°C (41°F–104°F). Designing and building control panels for other temperature ranges is of course still possible; you simply need to ensure that the individual ambient temperature for the respective panel is correctly marked.
UL 508A no longer applies to control panels in elevator systems
Control panels for elevators are no longer within the scope of UL 508A. At present, there is no UL standard that covers these products. Future developments in this area therefore remain exciting and are worth monitoring more closely.
Changed specifications for the cross-section of wiring conductors
There is also a significant change when selecting the cross-section of wiring conductors in the control panel: from now on, the thickness of the conductors depends not only on the current flowing through them, but also on the temperature class of the component to which the conductor is connected.
Updated requirements for chokes and warning notices
Previously, chokes had to meet the requirements of UL 5085-1, UL 5085-2 and UL 1561. What’s new is that the requirements of UL 508 must now also be met. There are also some changes to the requirements and the need for warning notices.
New rule on standard ambient temperature for control panels
According to the revised standard, the standard ambient temperature for a control panel is now between 5°C and 41°C (41°F–104°F). Designing and building control panels for other temperature ranges is of course still possible; you simply need to ensure that the individual ambient temperature for the respective panel is correctly marked.
Further changes to UL 508A in the area of the interlock
As already mentioned, the 2022 version of UL 508A includes many further updates, often affecting specific elements of the control panel. This also applies to the interlocking mechanism. Read more in the wiki article on the interlock.
