{"id":12479,"date":"2023-01-12T20:58:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-12T19:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/b3v39j.myrdbx.io\/ul-wissen\/ul-blog\/things-to-keep-in-mind-when-accepting-switchgear-in-the-u-s\/"},"modified":"2026-07-31T18:53:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T16:53:52","slug":"things-to-keep-in-mind-when-accepting-switchgear-in-the-u-s","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/krayer.de\/en\/ul-wissen\/ul-blog\/things-to-keep-in-mind-when-accepting-switchgear-in-the-u-s\/","title":{"rendered":"Things to Keep in Mind When Accepting Switchgear in the U.S."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Anyone seeking to have a control panel<\/strong> for a machine or system approved by U.S.<\/strong> authorities for the first time will find that the procedure differs significantly from the one typically followed in Europe. In our blog post, we explain why this is the case and whether obtaining UL certification<\/a> can simplify the approval process. <\/p>\n\n

Relation to UL<\/h2>\n\n

A control cabinet that already bears the UL label allows the competent authority to immediately see that it was built by an expert. This means the competent authority can even <\/a>forego inspecting the control cabinet altogether, since compliance is already demonstrated by the UL label<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

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Fire safety is more important for switchgear in the U.S.<\/h2>\n\n

When the first electrical safety regulations were enacted in the United States, they were aimed not only at preventing accidents but, in particular, at eliminating the hazards associated with electricity as a source of fire<\/strong>. These historical roots are still evident in the relevant laws today. Anyone who has previously dealt only with switchgear for the European market will notice that fire protection<\/strong> still plays a significantly greater role in U.S. regulations today. This is also reflected in the requirements that are verified during the system\u2019s acceptance testing. <\/p>\n\n

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\"Ray,<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n\n
\"Control<\/figure>\n\n

Who inspects and accepts switchgear in the U.S.?<\/h2>\n\n

The acceptance inspection of the switchgear is conducted as part of the acceptance inspection of the entire machine or system at the site of installation<\/strong> in the United States. An inspector<\/strong> from the locally responsible authority (Authority Having Jurisdiction, AHJ) is responsible for this process. Exactly which authority this is and who serves as the inspector on its behalf varies from state to state. In some cases, the inspectors are qualified professionals<\/strong>, such as electrical engineers; however, particularly in rural areas, the acceptance inspection in some states is also conducted by members of the fire department<\/strong> or the mayor<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n

Whoever the inspector may be, one thing always remains the same: He is ultimately responsible if a system he has approved has a defect<\/strong> and damage results as a consequence. For this reason alone, the AHJ inspector will take his duties very seriously and verify compliance with the relevant regulations<\/strong>. But which regulations does the AHJ inspector actually check for compliance<\/strong> with? <\/p>\n\n

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Questions about UL?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Our experts are here to help you, whether you need a quick answer or detailed information. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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