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Industrial Control
Equipment
The term "Industrial Control Equipment"
encompasses more than 100 different devices. Finding
out where your product fits in, what specific
requirements apply, and how to interpret those
requirements can be a complicated process. We
want to make that process easier for you.
We created
this page to help you:
- understand the scope of UL’s services
for Industrial Control Equipment
- identify the UL and IEC Standards that are
needed for your specific industrial control
product
- identify the regional requirements which must
be addressed to enter into a marketplace
- answer your design questions about UL 508,
the Standard for Industrial Control Equipment,
by providing you with easy to use online practical
application guidelines
- find resources to answer your technical questions
Select
Your Device Type
Industrial
Control Panels
Industrial
Control Panels are factory wired assemblies of
industrial control equipment such as motor controllers,
switches, relays and auxiliary devices. The panels
may include disconnect means and motor branch
circuit protective devices. Control panels may
also include enclosures which are intended to
house open type industrial control panels or individual
items of industrial control equipment.
Power
Conversion Equipment
Equipment that supplies power to control a motor
or motors operating at a frequency or voltage
different than the input supply voltage. This
category also includes power supply modules, input
and output modules, SCR or Transistor output modules,
dynamic braking modules, and input/output accessory
kits for Power Conversion Equipment. Power Conversion
Equipment may be either open or enclosed within
a panel or enclosure. This equipment is intended
for use in ordinary locations.
Process Control
Equipment
UL defines
process control equipment as instruments for measurement,
recording and/or control of process variables
(such as temperature, pressure, flow, etc.) and
auxiliary devices used, such as sensors, transducers
and valve operations. The investigation of process
control equipment does not include investigation
of the function of the controlled equipment. Process
control equipment may be shipped completely assembled
or in modular forms. Modular assemblies are intended
to be assembled in the field or facility to form
a complete system in accordance with provided
installation instructions.
Finally,
it may be possible to define the device as “Open-Type”,
which is a device not provided with a complete
enclosure. It is intended to be placed in an industrial
control panel or similar type of enclosure.
Programmable
Logic Controllers
Programmable
industrial control systems utilize a programmable
memory for internal storage of user-oriented instructions
for specific functions such as logic, sequencing
and counting. Another function is to control a
variety of industrial equipment through digital
or analogue inputs or outputs. Other products
include power supplies, central processing units,
input and output accessories, computer interfaces
and programming or program diagnostic units associated
with programmable control systems.
The investigation
of these controllers does not include investigation
of the function of the controlled equipment. Finally,
it may be possible to define the device as “Open-Type”,
which is a device not provided with a complete
enclosure. It is intended to be placed in an industrial
control panel or similar type of enclosure.
Relays,
Contactors, Switches, & Motor Controllers
In
this section we include the following devices:
- Machine-operated
switches, magnetically operated control switches,
miscellaneous manually operated switches, push
button stations (including parts such as pilot
lights and selector switches), thermal and magnetic
overload relays, and time delay relays.
- Combination
motor controllers, which provide the motor branch
circuit functions of motor controller, disconnect
means, short-circuit and ground-fault protection
and overload protection. The functions may be
provided by individual discrete components or
be combined in a single controller unit.
- Float-operated
switches, including weight-operated switches,
and pressure-operated switches, including vacuum-operated
switches. These devices are for direct control
of motors; for use in control circuits of magnetic
motor controllers and the like; and for control
of other types of loads. Unless otherwise marked,
these devices are intended for use only with
air, water or other non hazardous fluids.
- Across-the-line
starters; across-the-line starters with motor
circuit switches; reduced voltage starters such
as autotransformer, part-winding wye-delta,
reactance and resistant type; speed regulators;
and combined starters and speed regulators.
- Combined
manual and magnetic starters; flow operated
switches; machine operated switches; proximity
operated switches; semi-magnetic starters; solid
state reduced voltage starters; and thermal
overload switches. These devices are for direct
control of motors.
- Magnetically
operated switches, manually operated switches,
meter switches, photoelectric switches and solid
state switches.
Factory
Automation And Machines
Factory
Automation concerns large equipment that is generally
controlled by a Industrial Control Panel. Typically
we evaluate the Industrial Control Panel to UL
508 for the first part and then conduct a preliminary
compliance review on the Factory Automation system.
Standard
Outline
for investigation of Factory Automation Equipment,
Subject UL 2011.
Industrial Control Equipment, UL
508.
Industrial Control Panels, UL 508A.
National Electrical Code, NFPA
70.
Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery,
NFPA
79.
Useful
Links
UL
Affiliates can assist you to get the necessary
certification for this product category.
| Certification
in Latin America |
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