SupportOnce upon a time, electrical safety standards were a wild frontier. Luckily, in the early 1890s, pioneers in electrical safety banded together and created a set of guidelines that would forever change the electrical industry. This led to the creation of the NEC, or National Electrical Code, which remains a guiding beacon for electrical safety today. The NEC ensures that all electrical installations in the US are properly installed and continuously updated.
Since its inception, the NEC has revolutionized electrical safety. For example, over the years electrical fires, shocks, and fatalities have plummeted to just a fraction of their former rates. Homes, offices, and industrial facilities now enjoy a level of electrical safety that was once thought impossible. These statistics tell a success story: lives saved, properties protected, and a society empowered by safe and dependable electricity.
At Temporary Power Supply, every product we offer is carefully engineered to meet NEC standards. This way, whenever you choose to use our products, you get to experience the perfect hybrid of safety and performance. Our electrical equipment is carefully tested in the manufacturer’s facilities so that you can enjoy tried-and-true performance. As the icing on the cake, our power products ship to you pre-assembled, pre-wired, and ready for you to install.
Alongside the NEC, UL (Underwriter Laboratories) and NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) have played key roles in shaping today’s electrical safety standards. We all know countless factors can compromise the safety of your electrical equipment, so UL and NEMA help to ensure that each power solution is prepared for any hazards that might come your way. Equipment earns a rating by going through rigorous tests that are designed to simulate real-world hazards. For example, a test might evaluate a switchgear unit’s ability to manage the current that it’s rated for or an enclosure’s ability to seal out moisture that could damage internal wiring.
Exploring UL’s Electrical Safety Standards
In 1894, shortly after the NEC was established, UL stepped onto the electrical scene. As a globally recognized organization, UL specializes in testing products against their electrical safety standards to inspect their integrity. In simple terms, UL evaluates both industrial equipment and home appliances to ensure their safety before hitting the market.
UL1008
Our Generator Connection Box (GDS) has aced UL testing with flying colors! UL1008 certifies that a transfer switch can safely handle the amount of electricity it’s designed for. To be a bit more specific, UL has certified that our GDS can safely navigate overloads, short circuits, temperature rises and provide the endurance it’s intended to.
UL891
Our Company Switches and Load Bank Stations (LBS) have earned the coveted UL891 rating, a mark of excellence for switchgear used in systems that operate with up to 600 volts of electricity. This electrical safety standard is geared towards dead-front switchboards, or power distribution units that don’t have any live parts exposed at the front of its enclosure.
Breaking own NEMA’s Electrical Safety Standards
Since an electrical system is composed of many moving pieces, all components must work in harmony to provide you with the power you need. Founded in the early 1920s, NEMA is an ANSI (American National Standards Institute) accredited organization that is dedicated to creating and regulating the electrical safety standards that keep our infrastructure in tune.
NEMA certifies a wide range of ratings, but here we’ll focus on NEMA 3R, NEMA 4X, and NEMA 12/4 since they’re the most prevalent in our temporary power products. All equipment fitted with our panel mount and inline camlock connectors boasts a NEMA 3R rating while connected. This means they can seal out rain, snow, and ice formation to safely work both indoors and outdoors. For instance, our Cable Assemblies with Camlocks, Camlock Panels, and Power Distribution Units with Cams are all perfectly safe to use on stormy days.
Power distribution units, such as our Electrical Tap Box, feature a choice of a NEMA 12/4 or NEMA 4X rated enclosure that is highly popular with our customers. Since these enclosures are approved for indoor and outdoor use, they’re impressively versatile. NEMA 4/12 enclosures are a go-to for protecting against dirt, dust, and dripping water. NEMA 4X, on the other hand, adds an extra layer of corrosion resistance and can seal out unwanted moisture and debris to keep internal wiring safe.
From NEMA ratings to UL approvals, everything we offer is designed with your safety in mind. If you’d like to request a quote on any of our NEC, NEMA, and UL approved equipment listed in this article, contact us today at www.TemporaryPowerSupply.com.