Ross Systems and Controls
This company recently completed the qualification to self-certify its touchscreen purged panels (photo) as meeting the standards of Underwriters Laboratories’ UL-698A Code and the National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA-496 Code. UL-698A covers industrial control panels designed for hazardous locations, including the use of intrinsically safe barriers. NFPA-496 standards relate to purged and pressurized enclosures. Purge systems are an alternative to traditional NEMA 7, 9 explosion-proof enclosures and are suitable for most all hazardous locations, including: Class I, Div. I & II for gas and vapor environments; and Class II, Div. I & II for dust environments. Purge panel enclosures can be NEMA 4 carbon steel or NEMA 4x stainless steel, depending upon the requirements. The ability to self-certify enables this company to offer UL and NFPA labels on explosion-proof panels at a lower price, without the additional cost for a third-party inspection. The new certifications are in addition to UL-508A (non-hazardous control panels), which the company has maintained for more than a decade. — Ross Systems and Controls (SysCon), Savannah, Ga.