We are U.L. 508!

[Steve Stadelman]

Brent and I got to put the first U.L. sticker on a panel this morning!

[Steve Stadelman]

Our first panel!

[Mark Rosenbaum]

Congrats Steve....(who stole your hat????)
Merry, merry and happy, happy

[Nick Jones]

Go Steve!

[Hugh Jenkins]

Way to go Steve. What was that obstacle course like?

[Barb Sanderson]

Congrats! Yeah and how long did it take to get it?

[Steve Stadelman]

I had Brent and Jordan and a couple other guys (Dakota, Cheyenne, Kenny) over for the "U.L. 508 introduction and powerpoint extravaganza" almost two months ago.

It made our heads spin.

Then you have the "Process inspection" where you actually build a sample panel and they check your homework and either pass "You can put a sticker on this" or fail you.

Brent really took the reins on this and made it all work.

The cost over the first year will probably come out to about $10.000.00.

I'm not kidding.

The time in research for U.L. listed "use within design parameters" recognized "use within design parameters and within limits of exceptions noted" components is FREAKIN' HUGE!

We will have quarterly surprise inspections that cost about $250.00 each and about $1000.00 yearly relisting fee "Fee not prorated, charges assessed January 10th to January 10th".

There are a ton of bookeeping hurdles involved now too. Logs of stickers used, wireing diagrams etc to keep track of etc.

The good thing is that so many electrical inspectors are asking for this stuff to be done, insurance companies demanding it, it was a hard step but it was the right one right now.

I really owe Fred Metz a pint for pushing me in this direction at the G.A.S. conference in June.

[Jordan Kube]

F-yeah! Having been in Steve's studio since he started getting "serious" about building furnaces, it's been so cool to see the progress of this project. Design modifications, additions, reworks and improvements. It never ends. The UL panels take about three times longer to build but they are so tight.

Good Job!

[Virginia Slawson]

hey Steve and Brent!
Congrats!---a super big accomplishment!

I do have a question for you... (Jordan, don't do any more PR for Steve, OK?) Now that you're seriously building furnaces (I know, I know... not that you weren't conscientious and serious a year ago!)(but now I kinda wish we waited a year!)... But seriously, does UL allow for the potential for the guinea pigs to get a logged "upgrade" inspection and sticker from you? We haven't reached a "situation" with an insurance company *yet,* but if they can find a way, I know they will. It's probably only a matter of time.

Virginia

PS-Your mailbox was full earlier, I'll try PMing you again.

[Steve Stadelman]

Sadly Virginia, that raises a tough question. I can only make panels here. When I did your I sat on the floor of your shop with my jigsaw and wire cutters and "Just did It".

No more. Panels must be completed here in Gaston and then shipped.

IF you do run into trouble I will help you out to the very best of my ability but that will entail dismounting the panel, shipping here, a bit of rewiring and bringing up to snuff, and shipping back to Maine.

[Brent Hickenbotham]

Yea, we had all this build up for our final project inspection, and the inspector came out looked for maybe a couple of minutes and that was it. It was very gratifying but definately not climactic.

[Rich Samuel]

Now, what made me think of this? :D Congratulations!!!

[Ben Rosenfield]

YES.

:drink:

[Edward Dluzen]

Steve,
Did you look at the other bodies that do the same thing? We found the UL was expensive. We then went to ETL and now we are with TUV.

We UL and/or EC about 6-8 games a year including doing a few at a time so we can have them come out to our shop and do several at one time. I am purchasing the equipment to do all the tests a little each year since that is very expensive also.

Additionally, you can ask for variance if you make a panel like another but with only a simple change that you can tell them about and give them documentation. This will keep the cost down a little since they don't have to do a full inspection.

Perhaps our projects are a little different then yours, but we do use custom transformers that we have to submit 3 for destructive testing and sawing in half for validation of components/materials used.

e
d

[Steve Stadelman]

Well, I understand where you are going with that train of thought Ed.

U.L. has gotten universal recognition though. What we have is 508A panelshop stickering ability so we can build ANY industrial control panel that a customer might want and only have to follow 508A process guidelines, no separate inspections required.

We really want to pursue industrial heat treating and process panels and furnaces now as well as hot shop equipment.

[Ben Rosenfield]

Brent really knows what's important.

[Brent Hickenbotham]

deh, deh, duhhh..... the brisket strikes again.

[Jeff Lindsay]

Stickers
BIG stickers
Hats off to you guys. Nice going.
Did I say BIG stickers.
How about Stadelman Stickers.
When those film crews blow into the studio, Stickers are a good thing.
Does not hurt to let people know where the equipment comes from.
Get my drift?
Bling/pimp won't hurt either.

[Scott Novota]

Can you get the stickers in Colbalt blue?



Scott.
.

[Tom Fuhrman]

Steve: how does this affect the actual acceptance of the furnace by local regulators and fire inspectors. Control panels have never seemed to be as big an obstacle to getting approval from locals on as the heating units or furnaces themselves. Most locals accepted panels when they saw the Allen- Bradley emblem or some similiar name. I'm just curious as to where this may go. I used to do lots of submittals to UL for lighting applications and know all about problems and infrequencies of spot in house inspections. We used to get written up all the time for using components that were UL listed and made by other companies but when our inspector looked at them, they did not meet UL requirements. Also, did they give you an actual file# registered to your company? I take my hat off to you for actually jumping thru all their hoops. Tenn. Tom

[Steve Stadelman]

Yes Tom, I have a file number for my company. I can do open and closed industrial panels in the U.S. and Canada.

As to the actual equipment (furnace, annealer, etc) I just don't know what a guy would do because just the panelshop portion of what I did was pretty involved.

So far what I have seen is the inspector looks exclusively at the panel and if the panel looks cool whatever it is controlling is also accepted as "Cool".

This is the experience that Fred Metz shared with me also.

[Jordan Kube]

There are many many different UL classifications. The one Steve has applies only to industrial panels. He can basicly build anything he wants as long as he uses UL listed or UL recognized components. In the case of recognized components they have to be used in a specific way. Most of this furnace is in the panel.

When I built the studio in Tacoma the paneling was a problem. The electrical inspector needed to see that the panels were UL listed or equivelent. We ended up having to get someone to come in and sticker it and it wasn't cheap. They wanted to see things like wires and conduit to the furnace supported but that was no big deal. It all worked out just fine but it was a little bit of a pain.

Most municipalitys will follow the NEC code for wiring but after that some states don't care what the hell you plug in. Washington is pretty strict as far as that sort of thing goes. It can even vary from inspector. Some will walk in with blinders on and go straight to the breaker panel to make sure all your grounding bushings are on or whatever. Some want to know what you ate for dinner last night.

This is just another thing to set Steve apart. Quality.

(How was that Virginia?)

[Pete VanderLaan]

Steve, is it not the case that this will eliminate a large number of controller suppliers etc who in fact are not UL listed themselves.-- does this basically make Watlow the controls supplier defacto?

[Steve Stadelman]

No, there are a number of control options out there.

Digitry is out though. Neither listed nor recognized.

[David Patchen]

Congrats Steve! I would imagine this is a testament to both the quality of your product and your tenacity in getting through the hoops for this cert. Very cool.

[Boyd Sugiki]

Up and hot!! Best glass I've ever seen.

Thank you Steve, Brent, Cheyenne, Jordan, you folks are the best.

Boyd

[Brent Hickenbotham]

Boyd has the dream studio. That place is immaculate. I feel priveledged just to have been a part of it. It also helps that Boyd is the one of the coolest guys to work with. Tell Lisa hello, you all were great.

[David Patchen]

Boyd and Lisa got a Stadelmelter Supreme setup? NICE!

I met them both at Pilchuck last year and wow, both super cool folks. Boyd's the most modest glassblowing rock star I've met.

[Brent Hickenbotham]

thats almost the perfect description of Boyd.

[Jeff Lindsay]

Isn't that a big controller box just to run the little silver & red pick kiln??

[Scott Novota]

My gosh that is some kind of really nice shop. I do have one small issue with the layout of course. Where is the beer fridge?

On a side note I hope one day to become a very modest underground something with a setup like that...Just looking at the picture makes my mouth water.


Scott.
.

[Brent Hickenbotham]

No Jeff that is the can that I run your modified pipe cooler off of.

[Barb Sanderson]

Congratulations Boyd & Lisa! It looks awesome! I know how much time the hood alone took to make! I'll miss seeing you in the studio but hope your studio gives you years of creative bliss!

Barb