What 508A UL is saying about using a control panel as a raceway or a pull box?

[Alex Foster Sr.]

My co-designer wants to use control panel as a raceway or a pull box an is claiming that UL508A doesn't restrict that.
Any comments?
Alex

 

[petersonra]

My co-designer wants to use control panel as a raceway or a pull box an is claiming that UL508A doesn't restrict that.
Any comments?
Alex

A control panel is not a raceway so you can't use it as a raceway.

A UL508a control panel is housed in an enclosure.

The code does not prohibit conductors from being routed thru an enclosure.

So it does not really matter if it is a raceway or not. You can still run wires thru it, subject to the normal rules like insulation types and enough room.

 

[Jraef]

subject to the normal rules like insulation types and enough room.

To that last point, that can be problematic for panels that include mostly communications and low voltage devices. If you route 480V cables though a panel that has no other 480V in it, you will be required to use 600V insulation on EVERYTHING inside of that panel. Not a problem for MTW or THHN wires, but can be for communication and instrumentation cables.

 

[petersonra]

To that last point, that can be problematic for panels that include mostly communications and low voltage devices. If you route 480V cables though a panel that has no other 480V in it, you will be required to use 600V insulation on EVERYTHING inside of that panel. Not a problem for MTW or THHN wires, but can be for communication and instrumentation cables.

They don't have to be the same rated voltage if they are separated. You could route higher voltage wiring thru in a garden hose.