Industrial Control Panel is explained as an assemblage of a systematic, logical and standard arrangements of two or more constituents like motor controllers, fused disconnect switches, overload relays, circuit breakers, control devices with push button stations, control relays, selector switches, timers, switches with associated wiring, terminal blocks, pilot lights and similar components.
There are numerous types of these industrial control devices, few examples of them are like control circuit switches and relays; manual, magnetic, and solid state starters and controllers; push-button stations, including selector switches and pilot lights, and thermal, magnetic and solid state overload relays.
Although these devices are mainly used for automation and process control systems, but they are required to handle several other challenges. These challenges include developments in control system technology and the continuous evolution of the design and construction process. Due to the huge demand of these systems, they are needed to be customized, designed and fabricated in very less time and pushed into the market. So there remains a lot of safety and other standards that are required to be kept in consideration during the designing and manufacturing of these panels.
These equipments need to contain characteristics, components, materials or systems that could have been covered by the requirements of the industry standards. Proper strategy for improved use of managed switches and networked devices are equally important. Sometimes new design layouts should be brought in to meet factory space requirements. To maintain the acceptable level of safety, evaluations like risk of fire, electric shock or injury to operators should be checked appropriately. Robust noise mitigation policies are to deploy for supporting the network of electronics and the sensitive devices. So when a control panel feature conflicts with a specific provision of any of the standards, they are judged as non-compliance with proper industry ideas.
Now coming to the solutions that can be used for ensuring ultimate performance and safety of the panels, you may consider the following points:
1. Copper and fiber optic connectivity can be used throughout all automation environments and office networks to enhance performance.
2. Noise moderation can be done by creating corporal barriers with the use of shielding products like Noise Shield and Shielded Patch Cords.
3. Safety standards can be increased by offering suitable grounding and visual warnings to enhance personal safety.
4. Reduce the panel space with proper space optimization using innovative Rail Wiring Duct and other such products.
5. Power and Grounding Systems should be maintained by accurate, up keeping of system performance and personnel and equipment protection.
So an extensive vigilance system to protect, bundle, terminate and identify wiring and cabling in the control panel should be implemented to keep up with the standards.