EDM Services Receives Underwriters Laboratories (UL) UL698A Certification

EDM Services is certified by Underwriters Laboratories to fabricate industrial control panels (ICP's) in accordance with UL 508A and UL 698A. These standards cover the design and fabrication of industrial control panels.

UL 698A, Industrial Control Panels Relating to Hazardous (Classified) Locations, was published April 29, 1999. This Standard covers panels intended for general industrial use and installation in unclassified areas that provide intrinsically safe circuits into hazardous or "classified" locations. Circuits are made intrinsically safe through the use of barriers that comply with UL 913, Intrinsically Safe Apparatus and Associated Apparatus for Use in Class I, II, III, Division 1, Hazardous (Classified) Locations. In addition to the UL Listed barriers, these ICPs may include assemblies consisting of components such as motor controllers, overload relays, fused disconnect switches and/or circuit breakers, and related control devices.

UL 698A requires that any intrinsically safe wiring must be routed in a separate raceway, or segregated from all power and other circuit wiring, to prevent ignition-capable currents and voltages from combining with the intrinsically safe circuits, in accordance with Article 504 of the NEC®. If the wiring is not correctly routed or segregated, a fire or explosion could occur. These requirements are contained in installation or control drawings found inside industrial control panels Listed to the new Standard.

EDM Services was one of the first fabricators to be certified to fabricate and List industrial control panels to the new UL 698A standard. The firm can fabricate and List enclosures in accordance with both UL 508A (unclassified areas) and UL 698A (relating to classified areas) requirements.