September 2008

Make Contact with International Customers
IEC and Definite Purpose (DP) contactors are vital components in HVAC fan applications. Each offers key functionality and a good price to performance ratio for HVAC equipment manufacturers. The major deference is that DP contactors are the product of choice for U.S. fan applications, while global manufacturers and customers prefer IEC style contactors because they are more readily available, fit into smaller enclosures and offer international certifications DP contactors do not.

Fortunately, choosing an IEC style contactor doesn’t require an overhaul of your system designs or even a change in vendor. Schneider Electric offers both DP and IEC contactors, and can help you modify your proven U.S. system designs to meet international requirements. Without losing performance or functionality, your solutions will be marketable to a global audience and supported by an existing distribution network that is available worldwide.

Visit Schneider Electric’s HVAC website, email us or contact your local Square D distributor to learn more.

Standards change for HVAC industry
As a member of AHRI and with the resources to do so, Schneider Electric continuously looks for and evaluates trends in the industry that may be beneficial to us and our HVAC customers. This past month, we uncovered one of these stemming from the issuance of a letter by Underwriters Laboratory (UL) specifically addressing UL1995 - the UL standards focusing on the HVAC industry.

The letter sets in motion a plan to require HVAC manufacturers to comply with SCCR rating in accordance with the 2005 & 2008 NEC Article 440.4(B) marking requirements. While this is not yet mandatory as UL1995 is a bi-national standard (U.S. & Canada) and may take two or more years to be fully revised, the direction it sets is clear for HVAC equipment manufacturers — prepare now for SCCR markings requirements in the future.

Having dealt with similar directives in other industries in the past, I would encourage you and your colleagues to begin evaluating your processes and understanding what you need to do to comply with these requirements before they become mandatory. Early adoption will help you establish credibility and avoid any missteps to achieving compliance. To get started, visit Schneider Electric’s codes and standards website to learn more about these requirements and the services we provide to customers to help them benefit from our experience.

Visit us at: http://www.squared.com/hvac
Contact us: HVAC@us.schneider-electric.com

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