Electrical Panels built outside of US

[mtomkins]

Hi Folks,

I'm from little old New Zealand, and I have a client who is looking to build a piece of specialized transportable process plant here in NZ for export to the US where it will be used in various states to demonstrate their specialized technology. The obvious question is, what about electrical compliance? Here in NZ, we have our own standards for electrical equipment and installations, which are all essentially derived from EN, IEC and BS standards and tweaked for local conditions. And of course we are a 230VAC/415VAC 50Hz MEN electrical system, again similar to and based on Euro or BS standards. I understand of course that the US has NFPA70 in its various renditions and of course 110VAC 60Hz as primary LV supply.

The question I have is, is there a mechanism in the US to grant exemptions to panels (switchboards, motor control centers, control panels) built overseas, to recognized overseas standards, to allow those panels to be legally used in the US ? Or is it that they must be built to NFPA70 ?

 

[jaggedben]

Equipment here is listed to UL product standards, not NFPA 70 (the NEC).

There is no common mechanism here to recognize equipment listed to overseas standards. Although I understand that there has been some harmonization of standards, so it may be less difficult to modify equipment to meet UL standards than it used to be. But you'd likely still need to produce a unique version for the US market, for various reasons.

I don't know why you couldn't use US panelboards or switchboards to power your equipment. There may be some confusion regarding terms there. A 'control panel' is not an NEC term and broadly speaking a 'control panel' for process equipment could probably be listed to a standard.

 

[garbo]

Please if you intend to install circuit breaker panels never install them side ways like they do up in Canada. It's against the NEC to have switches or circuit breakers where off is the top position. Reason being if something were to fall on them it could turn on a circuit breaker. I have worked ( mostly troubleshoot ) large panels made in Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Australia, and several.othrt counties and not one would pass UL standards and not one had a UL or other approved testing agency label. I had go around with hard headed never wrong German electricians & engineers on potential dangerous method they wire start stop push button stations. Here in the USA if you push in a stop button or locked in you can not start the equipment but the dozen German machines we had if you pushed in or locked in the stop button equipment would run as long as you had the start button pushed in. Yes I know you are supposed to LOTTO all equipment before touching but sadly some people neglect to do that especially when in a hurry.

 

[mtomkins]

Equipment here is listed to UL product standards, not NFPA 70 (the NEC).

There is no common mechanism here to recognize equipment listed to overseas standards. Although I understand that there has been some harmonization of standards, so it may be less difficult to modify equipment to meet UL standards than it used to be. But you'd likely still need to produce a unique version for the US market, for various reasons.

I don't know why you couldn't use US panelboards or switchboards to power your equipment. There may be some confusion regarding terms there. A 'control panel' is not an NEC term and broadly speaking a 'control panel' for process equipment could probably be listed to a standard.

Yes, understand equipment is to UL standards (or if I understand correctly, any US recognized testing lab/authority, but UL is the default). But the NFPA 70 then dictates how electrical equipment is wiring etc.

A strong option will be to us a US panel builder, the issue of course for me would be to find a reputable one that can be managed from afar.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Yes, understand equipment is to UL standards (or if I understand correctly, any US recognized testing lab/authority, but UL is the default). But the NFPA 70 then dictates how electrical equipment is wiring etc.

A strong option will be to us a US panel builder, the issue of course for me would be to find a reputable one that can be managed from afar.

UL writes and publishes most of the electrical standards used in the US...any recognized testing lab can list and test to the UL standards.

 

[Jraef]

A 'control panel' is not an NEC term

Yes, it is. Article 409...

 

[Jraef]

A strong option will be to us a US panel builder, the issue of course for me would be to find a reputable one that can be managed from afar.

For thew best proximity, I suggest someone in the Los Angeles area. I can give you some recommendations if you like.

Another thing you will need to contend with if taking this around for demos is the wide variety of available power systems wherever they go. We have 240V and 208V single phase, 208V 3 phase Wye, 240V 3 phase Delta, 480V 3 phase Wye (and delta), along with pockets of 600V Wye, and Canada has a lot of 600V Wye. To be able to be demonstrated ANYWHERE, you need to be able to adapt.