UL Certified Control Panel Fabrication for Oil & Gas Reliability

UL certified control panel fabrication for oil and gas is essential for keeping production safe, reliable, and running without interruption. In an industry where downtime is costly and safety is critical; a panel built to UL standards gives field crews the confidence that the equipment will perform the way it should.

This article shares insights from DSI Panel Shop Manager Rob Huling, who brings more than a decade of hands-on experience building UL508A and UL698A panels for oil and gas operations across the U.S. His goal is simple: help field teams understand why the right panel, built the right way, can prevent headaches, downtime, and hazards. 

Rob started at DSI 11 years ago as a panel shop technician. He learned wiring, assembly, troubleshooting, and how to make sure each build met UL508A and UL698A standards. As he says, “Those early years taught me a lot about teamwork, problem solving, and taking pride in quality work.” Today he oversees daily operations, scheduling, safety, and team development in DSI’s UL certified panel shop. 

This article uses his experience to explain what UL certification means, how it protects field crews, and why it matters more than ever for oil and gas operations. 

UL Certification Gives Field Teams Confidence 

When a panel arrives on a well site, crews want one thing: confidence it was built right. A UL certified panel shop follows strict requirements for wiring, components, labeling, documentation, and safety design. 

UL508A control panels cover the general standards for industrial control panels. They define wiring practices, spacing, overcurrent protection, grounding, disconnects, and more. 

UL698A hazardous location panels go even further. They apply when the panel must interface with classified areas containing flammable gases, vapors, or combustible dust. According to the UL698A safety guide, the standard focuses on preventing sparks or ignition in places where explosive atmospheres may be present. 

UL698A includes requirements for: 

• Intrinsic safety barriers 

• Clear separation between safe and hazardous circuits 

• UL-approved components for hazardous locations 

• Correct labeling for classes, divisions, and groups 

• Control drawings and documentation 

• Maximum surface temperatures 

Rob and his team work with these rules every day. “We make sure every panel meets the standard before it ever leaves the shop,” Rob explains. “If it says UL on the label, the customer knows it was built to a known level of safety.” 

Building for Hazardous Locations Requires Precision 

Many oil and gas sites include Class I or Class II hazardous locations. That means control panels must follow UL698A requirements to keep ignition risks low. Because oil and gas sites often operate in Class I and Class II areas, UL certified control panel fabrication for oil and gas ensures each panel meets the strict separation, labeling, and safety requirements needed in hazardous environments.

As the UL698A guide shows, hazardous locations include: 

• Class I: flammable gases or vapors 

• Class II: combustible dust 

• Class III: ignitable fibers 

In these areas, the smallest spark can create major risk. UL698A controls this by requiring physical separation, insulated barriers, proper labeling, and approved components. 

The Concentric Integration comparison explains that UL698A does not replace UL508A. It adds safety rules on top of it. Every UL698A panel must first meet UL508A, then meet the extra hazardous-location requirements. If the standards conflict, UL698A dominates.  

For oil and gas producers, this means the panel needs both certifications to be fully compliant. 

Rob’s team handles these builds often, and he emphasizes that precision is non-negotiable. “There’s no shortcut in hazardous location work. The separation, the barriers, the labeling, the drawings, everything must be exact.”

Why UL Certified Control Panel Fabrication Improves Field Reliability

A panel may look good on the outside, but what’s inside determines whether it will last in real production conditions. High-quality UL certified control panel fabrication for oil and gas reduces downtime by preventing wiring issues, spacing errors, and component failures before the panel ever reaches the field.

For Rob, quality control comes from years of hands-on experience. He spent his first years doing the wiring, labeling, troubleshooting, and full panel assembly himself. That early work helps him train his team today. 

He says, “I do my best to support my team, keep jobs moving, and make sure the work that leaves our shop reflects the high standards DSI stands behind.” 

Common issues prevented by UL certified fabrication include: 

• Loose terminations that cause intermittent failures 

• Incorrect wire spacing that fails inspection 

• Improper grounding in hazardous locations 

• Confusing labeling that slows troubleshooting 

• Components not rated for temperature or explosion risk 

• Missing documentation needed for safe startup 

UL standards lower these risks with clear rules, inspections, and repeatable processes. 

How UL Certified Control Panel Fabrication Supports Oil & Gas Operations

Oil and gas production moves fast. When something breaks, field crews need support, not guesswork. A UL certified panel shop gives operators confidence that every panel is built to the same standard, from the smallest junction box to the largest automation enclosure. 

Rob explains that part of his job is keeping the shop safe, clean, productive, and consistent. He handles ordering, scheduling, billing, training, and support so that the build teams can focus on quality work. “A big part of my job is making sure my guys have what they need to stay productive and comfortable,” he says. 

This environment builds panels that hold up under real-world conditions. It also means customers receive predictable quality no matter how busy the schedule gets. 

UL698A Panels Support Safer Operations 

Oil and gas sites rely on intrinsically safe circuits, hazardous location barriers, and approved components to ensure safe operations. UL698A panels help operators manage these systems with confidence. 

The rules require clear spacing, insulation thicknesses, proper partitions, and labeling that matches the hazardous location class and group. As the UL698A guide outlines, a panel must be marked with warnings, temperature codes, and instructions for safe use in classified areas.  

DSI builds these panels with the goal of giving producers a system that supports long-term reliability and keeps production running. 

Rob’s team focuses on the details: 

• Correct routing of hazardous and safe wiring 

• Verified intrinsic safety barriers 

• Control drawings that show exactly how devices should connect 

• Panels labeled for each Class, Division, Group, and temperature code 

“It’s our job to make sure everything inside the panel is right so the customer never has to question it,” Rob says. 

The Difference a Good Panel Makes in the Field 

When field crews open a panel from DSI, they know what to expect: 

• Clean, well-organized wiring 

• Clear labels 

• Proper documentation 

• Components that match the job 

• Panels built to both UL508A and UL698A 

This clarity saves time during startup, troubleshooting, and inspections. It also lowers long-term cost because well-built panels last longer and are easier to maintain. 

For Rob, the real reward is seeing the team grow into skilled craftsmen. “We’ve got a great crew here,” he says. “Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of growth in myself and in the people I work with every day.” 

That pride shows up in every panel that leaves the shop. 

Conclusion 

Oil and gas producers face strict demands for safety, reliability, and uptime. UL certified control panel fabrication supports these goals by reducing risk, preventing ignition sources, and ensuring consistent build quality. UL508A covers the foundation; UL698A adds the protections needed for hazardous locations. 

With more than a decade of experience, Rob Huling and the DSI panel shop build panels that meet these standards every time. Their focus on quality, safety, and teamwork gives field crews confidence that the equipment will run the way it should. 

Reliable operations start with reliable panels, and reliable panels start with UL certified craftsmanship. 

About the Guest 

Rob Huling is the Panel Shop Manager at DSI. He began 11 years ago as a panel technician, learning fabrication from the ground up. He now manages the shop’s daily operations, safety, team development, and quality control for UL508A and UL698A certified panels. 

About DSI 

Design Solutions and Integration (DSI) is a faith-based, 100% employee-owned company with over 25 years of experience serving the oil and gas industry. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, DSI operates six regional sites, offering automation, electrical, fabrication, and field services designed to help energy producers modernize safely and efficiently. Learn more at www.relyondsi.com.