Creative Engineering Cuts Costs & Lead Times: UL 67 Panelboard vs UL 891 Switchboard
- Dan Welch
- Aug 19
- 3 min read
How CODI engineered a UL 67 panelboard alternative to a UL 891 switchboard for a critical data center build
By Dan Welch
Recently, CODI was contacted by a large data center customer in need of critical distribution panels, the equipment that powers a facility's network infrastructure, including fire protection systems, lighting, and HVAC. Other bidders on the job quoted the equipment as UL 891 switchboard sections, the traditional approach for this kind of critical load.
CODI's engineers saw another path: after closely reviewing the customer's specifications and the use case, they determined a UL 67 panelboard could meet every technical requirement without the added cost, size, and longer lead time of a switchboard.
The panelboards that came out of that decision were, in the words of Jared Jones, "one of the most tricked out panelboards" he has ever seen.
How to Design a Smart UL 67 P5 Panelboard
Electronic trip units throughout, with adjustable long, short, and instantaneous trip settings, built to support coordination studies on site
Integrated Surge Protective Device (SPD) at every layer, protecting critical loads against transient damage and the downtime that follows
IR viewing windows in multiple sizes for thermal scanning without opening the panel, supporting the shift toward mandatory annual infrared inspections under the 2023 revision of NFPA 70B
Ultrasonic inspection port for additional predictive maintenance access
Siemens SEM3 headless embedded metering, monitoring 30 circuits across the panel's breakers at revenue-grade 0.2% accuracy, reporting directly to the building's Building Management System (BMS)
Current transformers on line and load circuits, feeding real-time energy usage and power quality data to the BMS
Headless by design: no redundant screens. On a data center campus with a dozen or more buildings and hundreds of units, the data already routes to the BMS. A screen on each one adds unnecessary cost and clutter.
How to Build a Quality Panelboard
An engineering specification, no matter how effective, can only be as good as its construction. Quality materials, precise machining, and thoughtful assembly are required to manifest an idea. CODI has been manufacturing in Colorado since 1992, and that history shows up in the build quality of everything we make.
There is a reason why so many OEMs trust us to provide sheet metal and bus bars for their own products. They know that we manufacture with integrity, doing things right the first time, and at a fair price.
On our CODI-branded power distribution products, we use heavier-gauge steel for added structural integrity, along with precise bends and our proprietary HEX™ bend corners for additional strength and a cleaner finished look. We offer powder coating in practically any color to match customers' branding. The build process stays under our own roof, with accountability at each step.
We invite customers and prospective customers to visit our facility, see the shop, and meet the people who craft our products.
Thoughtful Engineering, Precise Execution
Plenty of companies build power distribution equipment. But how many take the time to listen? CODI believes critical infrastructure starts with a conversation, not simply providing blind quotes. Our engineers take the time to understand what the purpose is behind a specification and how equipment fits into the entire line. It is a holistic approach. In this case, the application didn't actually require a UL 891 switchboard. By looking at the actual electrical and operational requirements, CODI's engineers found that a UL 67 panelboard could do the job with less cost, less floor space, and a shorter lead time. And because CODI is a full metal shop that produces OEM equipment for other manufacturers, we know how to execute the build, not just design it.
Ready to see how a manufacturer with over 30 years of experience can optimize your facility's power distribution equipment? Talk with Engineering
CODI designs and manufactures UL 67 panelboards, UL 891 switchboards, and custom power distribution equipment for data centers and critical infrastructure applications, engineered and built in Colorado.
Dan Welch is a Growth & Marketing Strategist at CODI. He worked over two decades as a sales and marketing executive at a Fortune 500 company before pivoting to the craft beverage equipment industry in 2018, where he held senior sales and general management roles. He joined the CODI team in 2025 and is based in Colorado.
