Our UL 508A panel shop technicians specialize in building commercial and industrial control panels that meet the exacting UL 508A safety standards.
Winward Electrical Services, Inc. builds panels that meet client-provided specifications or design-builds panels based on the customer narrative regarding controls, functions and any specialty interlocking that may be required.
UL 508A panels come in a variety of sizes and styles and can be configured to the following panels:
VFD control panels
PLC control panels
Local push button/indicator panels
Substation relay panels
RTU panels
Across-the-line starter panels for conveyors, pumps, agitators and more
Whether you use conventional hard wire, contact and relay logic or the newer HMI technology, we’ve got you covered. Our technicians take great pride in the cosmetics and functionality of your panel. As a result, our panels must pass rigorous functional testing before receiving their UL 508A certification.
Unlike many other contractors, our UL 508A panel shop services include your panel’s physical installation, power and control wiring. As a licensed electrical contractor, the Winward team is with you every step of the way, from design to fabrication to onsite installation and final wiring, and even life cycle maintenance needs.
What Does UL 508A-Certified Mean?
UL 508A is an Underwriters Laboratory safety standard that applies to industrial control panels and related devices rated at 600 volts or less, used for starting, controlling, protecting, regulating or stopping electric motors. These requirements also apply to industrial control devices or systems that process or store data while utilizing output motor control functions.
According to the UL website, a type 1 508A enclosure is an assembly incorporating two or more pieces of industrial control equipment or related control circuit devices, provided with interconnecting wiring and terminals for connections in the field.
A UL 508A panel is typically installed indoors to protect against contact with the enclosed equipment and a limited amount of dust or debris. Under the National Electrical Code (NEC) and other codes, the electrical ratings and instructions are to be clearly explained on the panel to facilitate the panel installation.
Once certified as a UL 508A panel shop, a company must follow the UL508A criteria as to:
What parts and components may or may not be used
When and how specific components may be used together
Corrosion protection
Spacings
Insulating materials
Electrical grounding
Wiring practices
Labeling practices
Local building inspectors typically accept UL 508A-certified control panels as it ensures that the UL safety standard has been fully met.
To learn more about our industrial control systems, please contact our office.
Depending on the size and complexity of your system, a prefabricated, off-the-shelf control panel might be an ideal solution. That is until you need to expand, modify or update the control panel.
While the prefab control panels meet the same UL 508A requirements, they can be difficult to modify since they were designed and built for a specific, predetermined purpose. Adding a new conveyor or agitator can be challenging, while adding another relay/switch to an existing panel could be nearly impossible.
As a result, we typically recommend the design-build option for most of our customers. Then, after a conversation about your business needs and goals, we’ll engineer a system that addresses your needs today, with room for potential future changes or additions.
Should you have specific questions about UL 508A panel shop services, our team is just a phone call or email away.
