Welcome to our continuing blog series: This Month in Electrical Safety, where we round up the latest news, regulatory updates, and trends shaping the electrical safety landscape.

This is the July 2025 edition of This Month in Electrical Safety, where we shine a light on regulatory updates, industry trends, and real-world challenges that matter to our clients and colleagues. This month, we’re covering topics that highlight the importance of industrial electrical compliance as facility demands scale, codes tighten, and deadlines loom.

Let’s get into it.

Code Spotlight: UL 508A Panel Shop Program Changes

This July, UL has updated its Panel Shop Program documentation to clarify how listed panel shops must address customer-requested deviations from standard component usage. While UL 508A continues to provide flexibility in control panel design, the new guidance encourages shops to document any deviation pathways clearly and show evidence of compliance with core safety functions. For industrial OEMs and facilities managing custom-built panels, these clarifications help support your broader industrial electrical compliance obligations under NFPA 79 and NEC Article 409.

The takeaway? Get ahead of inspections by asking your panel builder to provide a traceable documentation package even if it’s not “officially” required yet.

Field Evaluation in High-Rise Retrofits

Field evaluations are becoming more prominent in urban high-rise retrofit projects. As older buildings upgrade their systems with modern automation, inspectors are scrutinizing everything from transformer clearances to MCC short-circuit ratings. At Lewis Bass, we’ve seen a 20% rise in evaluations for unlisted equipment in high-occupancy buildings this summer alone. If you’re a contractor working in tight utility spaces with legacy gear, don’t wait until your final inspection; get your field evaluation scheduled in advance.

Bonus: Many AHJs in California now recognize Field Evaluation Bodies (FEBs) like Lewis Bass as equivalent to NRTLs for these reviews, which simplifies your path to industrial electrical compliance.

Equipment Recall Alert: Siemens Soft Starters

Heads up: Siemens has issued a voluntary recall of certain SIRIUS 3RW soft starters due to unexpected thermal performance issues during high-duty cycling. While no injuries have been reported, the devices may overheat under peak load conditions. Affected models were shipped between 2021–2023. Facility engineers should review installed starter models and consult Siemens’ published recall database.

As a best practice, any suspect equipment should be isolated and evaluated. In cases where no listing is present, a field label may be applied post-verification which offers another route toward maintaining industrial electrical compliance in the eyes of local authorities and insurers.

Toolbox Tip: Marking Modifications on Evaluated Equipment

We often see evaluated equipment get modified in the field after the label is applied: new sensors are added, panel doors cut, cables rerouted, etc. Even small changes can invalidate your field label if they impact essential safety functions.

If you’ve made a modification, let us know. We’ll assess whether a re-inspection is needed or if a supplementary notation can be added to your evaluation file. A quick email now can save you from a red tag later.

Wrapping Up

As heat waves hit and projects accelerate before Q3 slows down for vacations and planning, don’t let industrial electrical compliance slip into the background. Whether you’re dealing with legacy equipment, new installations, or just prepping for your next inspection, Lewis Bass is here to help you navigate every wire, label, and loophole.

Until next month…stay grounded!