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The role of stainless steel electrical enclosure certifications

22 July 2024

Stainless steel electrical enclosures are an essential component in modern industrial infrastructures, ensuring not only protection but also reliability in often harsh environments and critical conditions. In these contexts, certifications play a crucial role in ensuring regulatory compliance, operational safety and product quality.

Regulations and standards in the electrical enclosure sector

The certifications of stainless steel electrical enclosures follow strict regulations and international standards aimed at protecting the manufacturer, operator and maintainer from potentially very high risks, including explosions. Among the most important are:

CE
UKCA
UL
Atex

CE and UKCA regulations

CE regulations are designed to ensure that products sold in the EuropeanXare safe, reliable and conform to CE (for European countries) and UKCA (for the UK) technical standards. To be compliant, these electrical enclosures must comply with a number of specific European directives and standards, covering various aspects of safety and performance:

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive (2014/30/EU): ensures that electrical equipment operates properly in the electromagnetic environment in which it is intended to operate and does not cause undue interference to other equipment.
RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU): applies to the restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
EN 61439: series of standards specifying requirements for low voltage switchgear, including construction methods, test characteristics and performance criteria.
EN 60204-1: standards for the safety of control systems and electrical circuits of industrial machines with the aim of guaranteeing their electrical safety.

UL Certification

In the United States and Canada, UL (Underwriters Laboratories) certification is essential to certify compliance with safety standards and fire resistance, and is therefore particularly relevant for manufacturers wishing to place their products on the North American market.

Specifically, the UL 50 / UL 50E: Enclosures for Electrical Equipment standard applies to enclosures for electrical equipment, including electrical enclosures, to ensure that they provide adequate protection from environmental factors such as dust, water and corrosion. The test includes resistance to water, impact, corrosion and protection against dust.

Numerous IRINOX products have been UL certified according to different types:

Type 1
Type 12
Type 4
Type 4X

TYPE 1 – INDOOR USE

Electrical enclosures mainly used to provide a basic protection rating against contact with hazardous parts and limited protection against dust, dirt and solid objects.

TYPE 12 - INDUSTRIAL INDOOR USE

Electrical enclosure mainly used to provide a protection rating against dust circulating in the air and settling on the equipment and against dripping non-corrosive liquids.

TYPE 4 - WATERPROOF

Electrical enclosure mainly used to provide a protection rating against dust and rain brought in by wind, splashing water, water jets and damage caused by external ice formation.

TYPE 4X – CORROSION-RESISTANT

Electrical enclosure mainly used to provide a protection rating against corrosion, windblown dust and rain, water spray, water jets and damage caused by external icing.

ATEX Certification

ATEX certification is essential for electrical enclosures intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres, such as oil platforms, mines and foundries.

ATEX stands for "ATmosphères EXplosibles" and is regulated by the ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU, with the aim of ensuring that equipment and protective systems intended for use in explosive atmospheres are safe, listing requirements for the design, manufacture and conformity assessment of equipment.

IRINOX provides ATEX certified products that can be installed in zones 1, 2, 21 and 22 by offering products classified in categories 2 and 3, depending on the level of protection required.

ATEX Certification - Category 2

Equipment for use in Zones 1, 2 (gas) and 21, 22 (dust) providing a high level of protection. This category includes:

ADH terminal box
ADN terminal box with silicone seal
EKO enclosure with silicone seal

ATEX Certification - Category 3

Equipment for use in Zone 2 (gas) and 22 (dust) providing a normal level of protection. This category includes

ADH terminal box
ADN terminal box with both silicone seal and polyurethane seal
EKO enclosure with both silicone seal and polyurethane seal
AS compact cabinet with both silicone seal and polyurethane seal.

The importance of certifications for electrical enclosures

In the world of electrical enclosures, ensuring that the product you are purchasing has all the necessary certifications for the installation context and the use to which it will be put is essential for several reasons:

Safety: certification ensures that stainless steel electrical enclosures are designed and manufactured to prevent risks of fire, electric shock and electrical short-circuits.
Reliability: a certified switchboard ensures that it has been tested to withstand even extreme environmental conditions, such as high humidity, corrosion and extreme temperatures.
Regulatory compliance: it guarantees that the product complies with the regulations in force in the country where it is used, avoiding potential legal sanctions and compliance problems.
Product quality: certified electrical enclosures demonstrate a manufacturer's active commitment to strict standards and procedures, benefiting quality and safety.