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Key Steps in Achieving Recognition Certification for Electrical Enclosures

May 18, 2018
A new recognition certification from the UL for access hardware components helps electrical enclosure accelerate to the market.

Until recently, electrical enclosure manufacturers faced a challenge: In order to build enclosures that were UL 50E Type rated, additional testing and evaluation of the enclosure was almost always required due to the unknown compliance status of components, such as hinges and latches used in these enclosures.

However, UL recently released FTTA2/FTTA8, a new Recognition Certification for the U.S. and Canada. This new Recognition Certification for enclosure accessories assists manufacturers who wish to utilize Type or rated hinging and latching accessories, respectively, in enclosures complying with the requirements of UL 50E.1

Enclosure manufacturers face many challenges when certifying their end product to meet environmental compliance. By properly and pre-emptively selecting UL Recognized components under FTTA2/FTTA8, enclosure designers can achieve their desired Type Rating with a final hose down test of the end-item.

UL 50 and UL 50E are two UL Standards for electrical enclosures. UL 50 applies to enclosures for electrical equipment intended to be installed and used in non-hazardous locations in accordance with the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, CSA C22.1, the provisions of the National Electrical Code, NFPA 70 and the provisions of Mexico’s Electrical Installations.[1] UL 50E covers additional environmental construction and performance requirements for these types of enclosures.

With the new FTTA2/FTTA8 certification, enclosure manufacturers may be able to reduce the significant time and cost associated with having to put their enclosure through all facets of UL 50E testing (e.g., corrosion resistance, gasket integrity, and plastic concerns such as UV, water exposure and immersion, and flammability requirements). By properly and pre-emptively selecting registered components under FTTA2/FTTA8 and leveraging exemptions for other materials used to construct the enclosure, enclosure designers can achieve their desired Type Rating with a final hosedown test of the end-item. 

This makes it possible for enclosure manufacturers to accelerate market access efficiently without compromising product safety. Risks from sourced components are mitigated. Due to the fact that there are no latching and hinging hardware corrosion protection and plastic requirements, nor gasket testing and traceability issues that the enclosure manufacturer must test for and document on their own, the overall components requirements and risks are less. Although a final hose down test is always required, latching and hinging hardware is also vetted for different levels of water ingress testing in isolation.

Understanding UL Recognition Certification

To understand FTTA2/FTTA8, it is useful to understand how UL evaluates and certifies components according to UL standards. A complete product is ultimately an assembly of components, often thought of as building blocks. Components can be either Listed or Recognized by UL. The simplest method by which to comply, on a component level, is to start with certified components.

With UL’s component recognition service, UL determines that a manufacturer has demonstrated the ability to produce a component for use in an end product that complies with UL’s requirements. This type of investigation takes into account the performance and construction characteristics of the end product and how the component will be used in that product.

The new FTTA2/FTTA8 Recognition Certification covers a broad range of enclosure accessories, including:

  • 3-point handles
  • Butt and concealed hinges
  • Draw latches and compression latches
  • Captive fasteners
  • Quarter-turn fasteners
  • Swing handles

The environmental testing and certification provided by UL can potentially eliminate common “pain points” that enclosure manufacturers can encounter when trying to comply with UL 50E, most notably during the product development process.

Using UL Recognized components in electric utilities enclosures can safeguard against the possibility of equipment failure, helping to prevent power outages, upset residential and commercial customers, and expensive repairs.

If component products do not comply with UL 50 and/or UL 50E, the entire enclosure needs to be refitted and tested again, which can lead to a continuous loop of cost and testing time. To illustrate the cumulative impact of this loop, it can add up to 50 days or more to the timeline for completing one FTTA2/FTTA8 corrosion test—a major disruption of a manufacturer’s development plans.

Testing can range in complexity. Manufacturers may not have the equipment needed to test under certain environments, or may not have the manpower to perform these tests. Ultimately, this type of testing can exhaust the resources of the enclosure manufacturer and extend their end product’s time to market.

Using components that already comply with FTTA2/FTTA8 provides added peace of mind to the manufacturer’s end customer, in that the functionality of that enclosure will not be affected when used by operators in the field. For instance, using certified hardware in electric utilities enclosures can safeguard against the possibility of equipment failure, helping to prevent power outages, upset residential and commercial customers, and expensive repairs.

UL Testing and Evaluation Process

UL conducted three highly rigorous environmental exposure tests to assess the samples selected from the hinges, latches, and other products submitted.

  • A 25-day/600-hour salt spray test where the test sample is compared to G90 galvanized steel
  • A 50-day/1200-hour moist air carbon dioxide (CO2)/sulfur dioxide (SO2) test where the test samples are subjected to moist carbon dioxide-sulfur dioxide-air exposure in an assessment protocol, which includes numerous compliance criteria for determination of the test results
  • A 200-hour salt spray test where the test sample is compared to 304 series stainless steel

For the moist air CO2/SO2 test, samples are immersed in the test chamber with the prescribed mix of gases and moisture for the required time period. Once the exposure is completed, samples are evaluated by performing a visual inspection. The UL Lab Technicians look for certain levels of corrosion and pitting, and perform blister analysis and creepage analysis.

Enclosure accessories that receive the FTTA2/FTTA8 Recognition Certification can be used by manufacturers who create or use Type rated enclosures that comply with UL 50 and UL 50E, which streamlines the process of bringing Type rated enclosures to market.

The test simulates a long-term exposure to the environment for a particular material, which corresponds to simulating a 20-to-30 year lifecycle of the product. The test is designed to assess if the hinge or latching hardware can withstand this kind of exposure over multiple years in outdoor applications. The testing and evaluation for the other two tests follows a similar process. The 600-hour salt spray test also benchmarks the test sample against G90 galvanized sheet steel. Passing both the 600-hour and the 1,200-hour test is required to achieve a UL 50E Type Rating suitable for outdoor applications.

In the case of the 200-hour salt spray comparison, the bar is set higher as the products tested are compared with standard 304 series stainless steel to assess that zero pitting, cracking, bubbling, or scaling has occurred during exposure. Passing all three tests earns an extra degree of corrosion resistance, designated by an “X” in the Type Rating (e.g., 3RX, 4X).

UL also conducted testing on gasket materials that are typically included in latch kits. Instead of corrosion, the testing evaluates the deterioration of the gasket when it's exposed to certain environments: elevated temperature and oil-based contaminants.

Flange gaskets and O-rings are critical components contributing to the sealing features of latches and fasteners. Naturally, the gasket swelling, shrinking, or losing its elasticity may be a problem. To rule this out, oil immersion at room temperature as well as tensile strength and elongation tests are performed before and after oven aging, so as to evaluate gasket materials and their ability to provide secure latching over a long period of use and exposure to environmental conditions.

Simplifying Enclosure Certification

Enclosure accessories that receive the FTTA2/FTTA8 Recognition Certification can be used by manufacturers who create or use Type rated enclosures that comply with UL 50 and UL 50E, which streamlines the process of bringing Type rated enclosures to market.

For example: Type 4X rated enclosures are certified for outdoor use, providing an established degree of protection against hose down, splashing water, windblown dust, rain, snow, and sleet. They are constructed of materials and components that remain undamaged by the formation of ice on the enclosure.

So, if all the other Type 4X conditions are met—constructing the enclosure out of materials exempt from corrosion testing such as 304 or 316 stainless steel, using pre-qualified UL approved gaskets to line the enclosure, and choosing accessories with the new FTTA2/FTTA8 recognition—all enclosure manufacturers will need to do is perform a hose down test to document that their enclosure can be Type 4X rated by UL. By pre-qualifying the enclosure for outdoor applications, it’s been estimated the manufacturer will save at least 50 days of testing time as well as the cost of test samples.

How to Earn FTTA2/FTTA8 Recognition for Select Enclosure Hardware Components

Compression latches, like Southco’s E3 VISE ACTION Series provide quick, secure closure and environmental sealing for gasketed doors to protect the enclosure from damage.

Southco, Inc. of Concordville, Pa. engineers access hardware solutions and is a key supplier of the types of enclosure accessories covered by FTTA2/FTTA8. The company recently completed testing and Recognition Certification of a select portfolio of its hinge and latch products according to FTTA2/FTTA8.

With the new certification, UL is testing to the same standards, but also adds important environmental factors. This will make it much easier for enclosure manufacturers to create solutions that fully satisfy the requirements of UL 50 and UL 50E.

UL is recognized worldwide for helping companies demonstrate safety, confirm compliance, deliver quality and performance, and build workplace excellence through various services (including inspection, advisory services, education and training, testing, auditing and analytics, certification, and marketing claim verification).

According to UL representative John Kovacik, principal engineer, a company seeking Recognition Certification for its products will be required to submit a range of products from the family of products to be evaluated.

“We select certain samples from the products that are submitted by any manufacturer interested in obtaining this coverage,” he said. “We would select samples that were representative of a family. For example, if they were submitting different kinds of latches and there were many that a company wanted covered, we would select samples that if we tested and found acceptable, would then give them coverage for the entire line of latches.”

Southco submitted select product classes to UL for testing, including over 100 representative latches and hinges to UL for testing and investigation under FTTA2/FTTA8, to evaluate these components’ resistance to corrosion and performance degradation due to environmental conditions and usage over time. These product classes included the E5 Cam Latch and E3 VISE ACTION Compression Latch series, the TL and V7 Draw Latch series, ST Constant Torque Positioning Hinges, and the M3 Multi-Point Compression Latching System, spanning over 100K product configurations based on finishes, materials, and panel preps.

Results of UL Evaluation

Hinges that can withstand corrosion and exposure to the outdoors, like Southco’s N6 series provide superior durability and corrosion-resistance in demanding environments.

Upon completion of testing, UL will post information about products that have received the FTTA2/FTTA8 Recognition Certification in the UL Online Certifications Directory. Products that have received the Recognition will be listed by company and categorized by product category, and the Type rating for which the components can be used.

Once an enclosure manufacturer establishes a need for a UL 50E Type rated accessory, they can review the available options in the online directory. It makes sense to do this early in the design process while other design considerations are being addressed, such as panel thickness, grip, enclosure color, and style.

Working with an accessories supplier that understands compliance requirements, and has proven experience in meeting the core functional needs of the application can help ensure that the design is successful. For example, suppliers can help manufacturers avoid future testing and design issues.

It is important to note that selecting accessories with FTTA2/FTTA8 Recognition does not mean the enclosure manufacturer can bypass final testing of a completed enclosure. It simply means that the accessories themselves do not require additional testing. The manufacturer must still work with UL to complete the required testing of the enclosure as a whole under UL 50/50E.

However, selecting Recognized accessories can save significant design, testing, and certification costs, enabling faster market access for new enclosure designs that satisfy end-user requirements for Type rated applications.

  1. UL 50, Section 1.1.

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