If you find yourself wondering what the difference between UL508 and UL698 is, don’t worry. We can help you understand the difference between both certifications. To understand what any UL certification means, it is first essential to understand what “UL” means and who the organization is.
Because 698A builds upon UL 508A, it is crucial to understand both standards. By understanding the organization responsible for establishing and maintaining the entirety of the UL certifications, including both the UL508A and UL698A Standards for Safety for Industrial Control Panels, you can understand the nuances that make each alpha-numeric designation unique.
What is UL (Underwriters Laboratories)?
Understanding this organization, how it was built, and the reason for its existence speaks volumes for its importance in the modern day. A global non-profit safety science company, Underwriters Laboratories (UL), tests and certifies products for safety and compliance. Founded in 1894 by William Henry Merrill, Jr., an MIT electrical engineering program graduate, UL’s mission is to promote safe working and living conditions for workers and consumers. The organization focuses on product safety, environment, life and health, university, and verification services. With over 14,000 employees in 140 countries, UL tests over 22 billion products annually. The UL mark serves as a guarantee of the safety and quality of the components. It is a requirement that UL-marked or UL-listed components be utilized when manufacturing an industrial control panel that will be UL-certified.
Why would you want a UL Certified Control Panel?
If you find yourself asking why you would want to have a UL-certified control panel, you will likely benefit from one. Not only does the UL certification represent quality and safety, but it shows a level of compliance that gives manufacturers the confidence to know that they are following industry standards and producing high-quality products. Not only does UL test products and components before approving them for the UL mark, but UL continues to monitor products after testing to ensure that the standards remain met. This means that Underwriters Laboratories continually visits UL manufacturing facilities to review and evaluate production, documentation, and labeling to ensure that stringent standards are met. This continual evaluation process is the same for industrial control panels. ICP manufacturers, like McIver Engineering & Controls, are subject to surprise inspections and audits from our UL representative to ensure that all safety and quality standards are being met on our UL-508A and UL-698A control panels. In addition, all control panels certified to UL standards must include documentation packets with installation instructions and a panel control drawing at a minimum. “This ensures safety during field installation and in future serviceability. To summarize, having an industrial control panel certified to bear the appropriate UL listing, such as 508 or 698, means that products are safe and will function as designed and intended. This safety serves as peace of mind for ICP customers.
What is UL-508A for Control Panels?
In simple terms, a UL 508A certification is one given to an industrial control panel (ICP) that has been designed and manufactured following the stringent UL guidelines. These guidelines outlined in UL508A cover various issues, including proper wiring size, approved wiring methods, short circuit current ratings, proper ventilation, and selection of appropriately certified components. The UL 508A standard ensures that control panels are designed and manufactured with safety at the forefront. This extensive standard for safety contains construction guidelines for all panels, including enclosed control panels. By focusing on each aspect of the manufacturing process, including field wiring, internal wiring, disconnect switches, branch circuit protection, overcurrent protection of feeders, load controllers, overload protection of motor loads, power transformers, and other circuit components, the UL 508A standard standardizes manufacturing of industrial control panels.
The ”Standard” as UL refers to the documentation package, is broken into three main parts. First, the appropriately named “Part 1” includes a construction section of standard-use industrial control panels and enclosures, which provides in-depth information on the proper construction of all aspects of the control panel control, including power circuits, control circuits, supply ratings, and markings. Next, the creatively named “Part 2” of UL-508A contains guidelines for using industrial control panel types. These enclosures can have applications such as industrial machinery, crane control, service equipment use, elevator control, flame control, marine use, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment, fountain control panels, industrial control panels for irrigation equipment, as well as control panels for swimming pools, in-ground spas, water park rides, and similar installations. Finally, there is another section entitled “Supplement SB”, which is an extensive section covering industrial control panels provided with a short-circuit current rating. The requirements in this supplement and, in some cases, modify the provisions contained elsewhere in this standard. Due to the sheer number of details in this Standard, becoming a UL 508A certified industrial control panel manufacturer is no easy task, as it requires a commitment to continuous improvement, training, safety, and consistency.
Where Can I Buy a UL 508A or UL 698A Certified Control Panel Near Me
Since 1978, McIver Engineering and Controls has been at the forefront of manufacturing industrial control panels that adhere to stringent UL standards. With countless panels still operational across diverse sectors—from underground mining to dairy production and beyond—we have proven our reliability as a trusted partner in delivering essential solutions. Your operational needs deserve the best, and our expertise ensures they are met with excellence. For your next industrial control panel, UL-certified or non-UL-certified, contact our team today!