26-08-2022 | Emka | Subs & Systems
EMKA understands that the basic rule for all control cabinets is that the components inside, particularly the sensitive electronic components, must be protected. However, there are important differences, particularly in the locking systems employed. When special customer requirements must be met on large cabinets, standardised locking systems sometimes reach their limits. However, its slimline multi-point locking systems frequently offer the right solution by enabling the lock mechanism to release space on the door. This allows extra internal clearance while offering exceptional closure capabilities.
Andy Billingham, MD, EMKA UK, points out: "Control cabinets are available in various shapes and designs, ranging from single cabinets to in-line cabinets or cabinets with double doors. All are available for indoor and outdoor applications. Environmental conditions and individual requirements significantly affect the choice of materials and the final design of the cabinet. But the cabinet alone does not adequately protect the internal components and electronics."
He explains: "The locking and hinge solution is much more critical if the cabinet door is meant to seal securely and, if necessary, must withstand high pressure or fulfil other safety requirements. In order to find the most suitable closure and hinge solution, the environmental influences and the installation location are also decisive. Whilst housings used outdoors are mostly made of plastic, and powder-coated steel, the material of choice remains stainless steel for very special applications."
"The locking components should be made of the same material, regardless of material selection. Furthermore, high demands on tightness and the prevention of vandalism may have to be met in outdoor applications by using, for example, the IP65 protection class and security standards according to resistance classes."
EMKA engineers have established that when designing control cabinets, there is a distinction between closures inside and outside the door seal. Locks inside the door seal are installed on interior doors and often outdoors. For example, a swing handle may be mounted on the door, which drives two locking bars inside the door employing a drive or a locking cam. These systems compress the door seal and assure a secure closure. The company has created a unique compression latch system with multiple interlocking for closures inside the door seal. If utilising a rotating movement of a compression latch of only 90 degrees – usually 180 degrees – the door closes at several locking points, which pulls the whole door evenly into the door seal even if the internal pressure is high.
Alternatively, the lock may be placed outside the seal so that, for example, no components protrude into the cabinet interior, the locking bars inside the door are pushed into mounted locking points on the door frame with the door closed using a swing handle or lift handle.
The design of control cabinets demands the highest safety needs for locking components. For example, its specialists for locking systems were asked to design an attractive swing handle with resistance class RC2 for outdoor control cabinets for the Dutch IT system house, Tecnolimit. This handle is simple to operate and may be monitored electronically.
