Short Circuit Current Ratings

TECHNICAL DATA

UNDERSTANDING NEC ARTICLE 409 AND

UL 508A, SUPPLEMENT SB
SHORT CIRCUIT CURRENT RATINGS
Short Circuit Current Rating Technical Data

National Electric Code Changes Overview

National Electrical Code Introduces Article 409 for Industrial Control Panels
In 2005, the National Electrical Code (NEC) introduced Article 409 for
Industrial Control Panels requiring that panel builders and original
equipment manufacturers (OEM) analyze and mark their panels with short
circuit current ratings (SCCR).

Why Article 409 was developed

Historically, industrial control panels have been evaluated under several
different NEC articles, which have led to inconsistencies.Article 409
provides common construction and installation requirements. It also
establishes a marking requirement for short circuit current ratings of
industrial control panels.
The fine print note of NEC Article 409.110 references UL508A,
Supplement SB as an approved method to evaluate the short circuit
current ratings of their panel. As individual states adopt the 2005 Edition
of the NEC, a thorough understanding UL508A, Supplement SB is essential.

FIGURE 1: NEC 2005 Code Book

NEC Article 409.110

An industrial control panel shall be marked with the following information that is plainly visible after installation:
1. Manufacturer’s name, trademark, or other descriptive marking by which the organization responsible for the product can be
identified.
2. Supply voltage, phase, frequency, and full-load current.
3. Short-circuit current rating of the industrial control panel based on one of the following:
a. Short-circuit current rating of a listed and labeled assembly
b. Short-circuit current rating established utilizing an approved method
FPN: UL508A-2001, Supplement SB, is an example of an approved method.
4. If the industrial control panel is intended as service equipment, it shall be marked to identify it as being suitable for use as
service equipment.
5. Electrical wiring diagram or the number of the index to the electrical drawings showing the electrical wiring diagram.
6. An enclosure type number shall be marked on the industrial control panel enclosure.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DESCRIPTION PAGE

Determining Your Panel Short Circuit Current Rating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

High Fault Short Circuit Current Ratings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Accessing High Fault Short Circuit Current Ratings Online . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Marking Your Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Reference Materials and Contact Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Short Circuit Current Rating Technical Data

Determining Your Panel Short Circuit Current Rating

Per Section 409.110 of the NEC, there are two permitted ways to determine your panel short circuit current rating:
purchase a previously listed and labeled assembly or establish the short circuit current rating of the panel using an
approved method. For the latter, the only stated approved method is UL 508A, Supplement SB.
According to UL508A, Supplement SB4.1, there are three steps to analyze and mark your panel with a short circuit
current rating:
STEP 1 Establish the short circuit current ratings of individual power circuit components.
STEP 2 Modify the available short circuit current within a portion of a circuit in a panel due to the presence of
current limiting components.
STEP 3 Determine the overall short circuit current rating of the panel.

STEP 1 Establish the short circuit current ratings of individual power

circuit components using one of the following methods:
a) The short circuit current rating marked on the component or on
instructions provided with the component;

Installation Sheets

Nameplate
User Manual

FIGURE 2: Examples of short circuit current rating product markings on nameplates and in reference documents

b) The short circuit current rating determined by the

voltage rating of the component and the assumed
short circuit current rating from Table SB 4.1;
If the power circuit component does not have a
short circuit current rating or has not been required
to have a rating in the past,Table SB4.1 in UL508A,
Supplement SB lists the assumed maximum short
circuit current rating for unmarked products.

FIGURE 3: Table SB4.1 Assumed maximum short circuit

current rating for unmarked components

c) The short circuit current rating for a load controller, motor overload relay, or combination motor
controller that has been investigated in accordance with the performance requirements, including
short circuit test requirements for standard fault currents or high fault currents specified in the
Standard for Industrial Control Equipment, UL 508, and described in the manufacturer’s procedure.
Part c) states that specific tested combination ratings can be used by a panel manufacturer if the
combination ratings are included their UL procedure file. Rockwell Automation tests and certifies a
wide-range of NEMA and IEC components to meet the requirements of NEC Article 409 and UL 508A,
Supplement SB (See page 6).

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 Short Circuit Current Rating Technical Data

Determining Your Panel Short Circuit Current Rating (continued)

STEP 2 Modify the available short circuit current within a portion of a circuit in a
panel due to the presence of current limiting components as specified in
SB4.3, when applicable;
This second step takes into account the effect of any current limiting devices in the feeder
circuit. Current limiting refers to the ability of a protective device to clear a short circuit
fault in less than one half cycle and typically within one quarter cycle. Current limiting
devices will reduce the levels of Ipeak magnetic and I2t heat energies.
SB4.3 establishes the guidelines for three methods of using feeder components that limit the
available short circuit current.These options include power transformers, Listed circuit
breakers and fuses as described in these sections:

• SB 4.3.1: Branch circuits supplied by a power transformer with an isolated secondary.

• SB 4.3.2: Listed circuit breaker marked “current limiting” in the feeder circuit.
• SB 4.3.3: Branch circuits supplied by a Class CC, G, J, L, RK1, RK5 or T fuse in the feeder
circuit.

These sections identify the feeder components that limit the short circuit current available
and guidelines in applying them. For many years, fuses were the only protective devices that
were considered to provide current limiting performance.Today, circuit breakers exist that
can open high fault currents in just a few milliseconds, very comparable to fuses.These
sections also identify the Ipeak, I2t and let-through values that must be used when applying a
current limiting component.

FIGURE 4: Figure SB4.1 Let-through values for current FIGURE 5: Table SB4.2 Let-through table for UL Listed fuses
limiting circuit breakers from UL 508A Supplement SB from UL 508A Supplement SB

Using high fault rated components can eliminate the need to apply feeder circuit current limiting
provisions.This makes its simple to achieve a higher panel rating. See page 6 for more information
on component high fault short circuit current ratings.

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Short Circuit Current Rating Technical Data

Determining Your Panel Short Circuit Current Rating (continued)

STEP 3 Determine the overall short circuit current rating of the panel as specified in SB4.4.
The short circuit current ratings of the individual components are compared to their branch circuit
protective device.The smaller of the two ratings are applied to the line side of the branch circuit
protective device. If a control circuit is located in a branch, then the overcurrent protective device for the
control circuit must also be considered.
The guidelines for determining the short circuit current ratings of the complete panel can be found in
SB4.4.4. For control panels with single branch circuits, the short circuit current rating of the panel is the
rating of the branch.
Control panels with multiple branch circuits and feeder components are covered in clause c) The lowest
short circuit current rating of all branch circuits, feeder components and control circuit overcurrent
protective devices, connected to the feeder will determine the panel short circuit current rating.

Available Fault: Available Fault:

40kA at 480V 40kA at 480V

100kA* 100kA*

100kA* 100kA*

65kA 70kA* 65kA

65kA 65kA
100kA*

65kA

70kA 100kA

Panel Short Circuit Current Rating is

65kA rms symmetrical @ 480V

FIGURE 6: The short circuit current ratings of the individual components FIGURE 7: The smaller of the two ratings, (highlighted in yellow) are
are compared to their branch circuit protective device applied to the line side of the branch circuit protective device

In this example, the lowest short circuit current rating of all branch circuits, feeder components and
control circuit overcurrent protective devices connected to the feeder is 65kA.Therefore, the overall panel
short circuit current rating is 65kA rms symmetrical at 480V.

* Values represent overcurrent protective device with fuses

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 Short Circuit Current Rating Technical Data

High Fault Short Circuit Current Ratings

Although table SB 4.1 is used to determine the assumed short circuit current rating of unmarked components, it also
provides a reference for the standard fault ratings of various products. Components with only these ratings may
significantly limit the maximum attainable panel short circuit current rating.
High fault rated components have short circuit current ratings that exceed these values. High fault short circuit current
ratings also eliminate the need to apply current limiting provisions in the feeder circuit. Using high fault rated
components makes it simple to achieve a higher panel rating.

Rockwell Automation Component Solutions Provide The High Fault Short

Circuit Current Ratings Needed By Today’s Panel Manufacturers
Rockwell Automation provides high fault tested UL/CSA listed combinations for branch and feeder circuits.These high
fault ratings meet and exceed the short circuit current ratings required to cover the available fault current at panel
installations. Here are a few examples of the high fault ratings you can achieve with Rockwell Automation power circuit
components:

NEMA Bulletin 500 Line Contactors, Overload Relays & Starters

• Circuit Breaker combinations to 100kA 480V, 50kA 600V
• Fused combinations to 100kA 600V (Type 2)

IEC Bulletin 100 Line Contactors, Overload Relays & Starters

• Circuit Breaker combinations to 65kA 480V, 30kA 600V (Type 2)
• Fuse combinations to 100kA 600V (Type 2)

SMC™ Soft-Starters
• Fuse Combinations to 70kA 600V

PowerFlex® Drives
• Circuit Breaker combinations to 100kA 480V
• Fused combinations to 200kA 600V

NEMA & IEC Fused Disconnect Switches to 200kA 600V NEMA Starters and Contactors

Power Distribution Blocks

• Fused combinations to 100kA 600V

IEC Starters and Contactors SMC™ Flex Soft Starter

NEMA and IEC Fused Disconnect Switches

Power Distribution Blocks

PowerFlex Drives
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Short Circuit Current Rating Technical Data

High Fault Component Short Circuit Current Rating

Information Is Available Online
High fault short circuit current rating information can be easily accessed online at:

http://www.rockwellautomation.com/products/certification/ul508a/

FIGURE 8: Rockwell Automation.com Website

Enter the catalog number and select “Submit” to attain short circuit current rating data for the identified component or
browse the product directory if your catalog number is not known.

140M-C2E-A16

FIGURE 9: Catalog Number or Product Directory Selector Tool

View and download short circuit current rating information

NEMA Power Components

• Contactors
• Overload Relays
• Starters
• Disconnect Switches

IEC Power Components

• Motor Protection Circuit Breakers
• Motor Circuit Protectors
• Contactors
• Overload Relays
• Starters
• Disconnect Switches

Circuit Protection
• Molded Case Circuit Breakers
• Miniature Circuit Breakers
• Fuse Blocks

Connection Systems
• Bus Bar Mounting Systems
FIGURE 10: High fault short circuit current ratings for an Allen-Bradley • Commoning Links
Bulletin 140M Motor Protection Circuit Breaker • Distribution Blocks

Soft-Starters
Drives
Servo Drives
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Short Circuit Current Rating Technical Data

Marking Your Panel

Once the short circuit current rating of the overall panel has been established, it must be marked on the panel. NEC marking
requirements include the manufacturer’s name or trademark and the basic information of supply voltage, phase, frequency,
full-load current and the short circuit current rating.The label should be plainly visible after panel installation.

FIGURE 11: Label should be plainly visible after installation*

*Additional markings may be required depending on the particular panel design and intended use.

Reference Materials
For additional short circuit current rating information and general product information, refer to the following publications:

TITLE PUBLICATION Available Online at…

Understanding NEC Article 409 and SCCR-SP001A-EN-P www.rockwellautomation.com/literature

UL 508A Short Circuit Current Ratings CD

Power Terminal Block Technical Data 1492-TD013A-EN-P

Control Circuit and Load Protection Technical Data CCLP-TD001A-EN-P

FOR OTHER INFORMATION PHONE Available Online at…

Allen-Bradley Drives Technical Support 1-440-646-5800 [email protected]

Rockwell Automation, Allen-Bradley, PowerFlex and SMC are trademarks of Rockwell Automation. Trademarks not belonging to
Rockwell Automation are property of their respective companies.

Publication SCCR-TD001A-EN-P September 2006 Copyright ©2006 Rockwell Automation, Inc.All Rights Reserved. Printed in USA.