What Is the Difference Between UL 508A and UL 698A?

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:

1. 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. 

2. 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. 

3. 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.

What does UL 508A cover?

·      Use of Listed or Recognized components within their permitted conditions of acceptability

·      Power circuits, control circuits and field-wiring provisions

·      Feeder and branch-circuit overcurrent protection

·      Motor controllers and overload protection

·      Disconnecting means and required markings

·      Enclosure construction and environmental ratings when applicable

·      Short-circuit current rating, commonly called SCCR

·      Panel nameplate information and supporting documentation

What is UL 698A?

UL 698A is the Standard for Industrial Control Panels. Relating to Hazardous (Classified) Locations. It applies when an industrial control panel contains intrinsically safe circuits that extend to equipment or instrumentation in a hazardous location. UL 698A uses UL 508A as the foundation and adds requirements for the intrinsically safe portion of the system.

Intrinsic safety limits the electrical and thermal energy available in a field circuit so the circuit cannot ignite the specified hazardous atmosphere under the evaluated conditions. A UL 698A design may use approved intrinsic-safety barriers, galvanic isolators or associated apparatus. The design must also address circuit parameters, wiring methods, separation, grounding, labeling and the control drawing.

Does a UL 698A panel go inside the hazardous location?

Not necessarily. Many UL 698A panels are installed in an ordinary, unclassified location while their intrinsically safe circuits connect to instruments or devices in the hazardous area. If the enclosure itself will be installed in a classified location, the project may require a different protection method and additional standards, such as equipment listed for the specific class, division, zone, gas or dust group, and temperature code.

As of July 2026, the correct standard depends on the panel’s
installation location, the classification of the field area and the type of
circuits that cross the boundary. A UL 698A marking does not automatically mean
the enclosure itself can be installed inside a hazardous location.

What does UL 698A add beyond UL 508A?

·     Evaluation of intrinsically safe circuits and their associated apparatus

·     Verification that voltage, current, power, capacitance and inductance parameters are compatible

·     Required separation and identification of intrinsically safe and non-intrinsically safe wiring

·     Grounding and bonding provisions for the selected intrinsic-safety method

·     Hazardous-location classifications and related panel markings

·     A control drawing that defines permitted field devices, wiring and installation conditions

How do you choose between UL 508A and UL 698A?

Choose the standard from the application requirements, not from the industry name alone. A food plant, chemical plant or mining operation does not automatically require UL 698A. The deciding factor is whether the control system interfaces with a properly classified hazardous area through intrinsically safe circuits and where the panel itself will be installed.

1.  Confirm the panel location. State whether the enclosure will be installed in an ordinary location or inside a hazardous location.

2.  Obtain the area classification. Document the applicable class and division or zone, material group and temperature requirements. Do not ask the panel builder to infer the classification from the process name.

3.  Identify every field circuit. List sensors, transmitters, solenoids and other devices located in or connected to the classified area.

4.  Choose the protection method. Determine whether intrinsic safety is the intended method or whether explosionproof, purged/pressurized, nonincendive or another approach is required.

5.  Verify electrical parameters. For intrinsically safe circuits, confirm compatibility among associated apparatus, field devices and cable parameters.

6.  Confirm the required listing and documentation. Align the panel marking, control drawing, SCCR, enclosure rating and installation instructions with the project specification and authority having jurisdiction.

UL 508A vs. UL 698A at a glance

What information should you give a UL panel builder?

A panel builder can make the correct UL 508A or UL 698A decision only when the project inputs are complete. Provide the following information with the request for quotation:

·      Panel installation location and ambient conditions

·      Hazardous-area classification prepared or approved by a qualified party

·      Class/division or zone, gas or dust group, and temperature code when applicable

·      Complete I/O list identifying devices located in the classified area

·      Manufacturer and model information for field devices and associated apparatus

·      Control drawings and entity parameters for intrinsically safe circuits

·      Available fault current at the panel supply and required SCCR

·      Supply voltage, frequency, full-load current and largest motor load

·      Enclosure environmental rating and material requirements

·      Applicable customer standards, inspection requirements and submittal format

How does SCCR relate to UL 508A and UL 698A?

Short-circuit current rating is the maximum available fault current that an industrial control panel can withstand under specified conditions. NEC Article 409 requires industrial control panels to be marked with an SCCR, and UL 508A Supplement SB provides an accepted method for determining the panel SCCR.

UL 698A does not replace the UL 508A SCCR evaluation. A UL 698A panel must still satisfy the applicable UL 508A construction and marking requirements. The available fault current at the installation must not exceed the marked SCCR of the panel.

Why work with a UL 508A and UL 698A panel shop?

A panel shop authorized for both UL 508A and UL 698A can evaluate the control-panel scope early, identify missing hazardous-location information and design the panel around the required components, circuit separation, SCCR, markings and documentation. Early review reduces the risk of late component substitutions, inspection questions or installation changes.

McIver Engineering & Controls designs and manufactures custom UL 508A and UL 698A industrial control panels in Wisconsin. McIver supports engineer-to-order and built-to-print projects, controls engineering, PLC and HMI programming, factory acceptance testing, startup and commissioning.

For a useful project review, send McIver the electrical drawings, I/O list, hazardous-area classification, field-device information, available fault current and required delivery date. McIver can then confirm the panel scope and identify information that must be resolved before release to manufacturing.

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!

Frequently asked questions about UL 508A and UL 698A

Is UL 698A better than UL 508A?

No. UL 508A and UL 698A serve different applications. UL 508A is the base industrial control panel standard. UL 698A adds requirements when intrinsically safe circuits extend into hazardous classified locations.

Does every hazardous-location project require a UL 698A panel?

No. The correct solution depends on the area classification, panel location, connected equipment and protection method. A project using explosionproof equipment, purging or another protection method may require different standards or certifications.

Can a UL 508A panel be installed in a hazardous location?

A standard UL 508A marking does not by itself approve a panel for installation in a hazardous location. Equipment installed in a classified area must be suitable for the exact class, division or zone, material group and temperature requirements.

Can a UL 698A panel be installed in an ordinary location?

Yes. A common UL 698A application places the panel in an ordinary unclassified location and runs intrinsically safe circuits from the panel to devices in the classified area.

Does UL 698A include UL 508A requirements?

UL 698A builds on UL 508A. The panel must meet applicable UL 508A construction requirements and the additional UL 698A requirements for circuits relating to hazardous locations.

What is an intrinsically safe circuit?

An intrinsically safe circuit limits electrical and thermal energy so the evaluated circuit cannot ignite a specified hazardous atmosphere under the permitted operating and fault conditions.

Who determines whether an area is hazardous?

The facility owner and qualified engineering or safety professionals are responsible for the area-classification basis. The authority having jurisdiction interprets and enforces applicable code requirements. The panel builder uses the approved classification as a design input.

Is a UL Listed panel required by law?

Requirements depend on applicable codes, the authority having jurisdiction, the workplace and the project specification. OSHA requires certain electrical equipment to be approved, and certification by an OSHA-recognized Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory is a common approval path. Confirm the requirement for the specific installation.

What does a UL panel label prove?

A UL panel label indicates that the labeled panel was produced under the applicable certification program and within the manufacturer’s authorized scope. It does not guarantee that the complete machine, field installation or process is compliant.

What should be reviewed before ordering a UL 698A panel?

Review the hazardous-area classification, panel location, protection method, field-device approvals, associated apparatus, entity parameters, cable limits, control drawing, SCCR, enclosure rating and authority-having-jurisdiction requirements before ordering.

Talk with McIver about your control panel requirements

Need help defining a UL 508A or UL 698A panel? Send McIver Engineering & Controls your project drawings, I/O list and application requirements. Our team will review the control-panel scope, identify missing technical inputs and recommend the next engineering step.

Sources

·      UL Solutions: Industrial Control Panels and the Panel Shop Program

·      UL Solutions: Determining Short-Circuit Current Rating for Machinery

·      UL Solutions: Short-Circuit Current Ratings for Combination Motor Controller Components

·      OSHA: Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory Program

·      OSHA: Appropriate Test Standards, including UL 508A and UL 698A

Last substantive review: July 2026

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