Charging Pile Housing Procurement Guide – Standards Certification, OEM Customization and Supplier Selection

This article covers the following content

This article is aimed at charging station operators (CPOs), charging station manufacturers (OEMs/ODMs), new energy EPC contractors, and electrical procurement managers, helping you quickly grasp the key points of purchasing decisions for charging station casings in 15 minutes:

1. Must-have certification - Full Analysis of IP, IK, UL ​​746C f1, UL 94 V-0, NEMA 4X

2. OEM customization capabilities - Pre-installed openings, colors, logo, transparent viewing window, and DIN rails

3. Supplier evaluation framework - 5 dimensions for selecting reliable suppliers

4. Common Procurement Mistakes - 3 most common pitfalls

5. Procurement Action Guide - Download materials, get a quote, and request samples.

This article was written by the BSUMWELL technical team. We are a source manufacturer specializing in outdoor waterproof casings for charging piles. Our products cover materials such as UV-resistant PC, SMC fiberglass, and 304/316 stainless steel. All series come standard with IPXX protection rating and IK10 impact resistance, and we support OEM customization.

I. Comprehensive Analysis of Charging Pile Shell Standards and Certifications – IP, IK, UL, NEMA: Essential Reading Before Procurement

When purchasing charging pile casings, the first thing to look at is not the price, but the certifications.

No matter how cheap, an uncertified casing is unusable—because every step of a charging station project, from bidding to acceptance, involves checking certifications. Insufficient IP rating means you won't even get into the bidding process; lack of UL certification means you won't pass fire safety inspections; and missing UV resistance certification means you'll be responsible for casing cracks after three years.

Below, we will explain each of the five core certifications involved in the charging pile casing.

1. IEC 60529 (IP Class) and IEC 62262 (IK Class) – Basic Dual Certifications

IP rating and IK rating are the "basic two certifications" for the charging pile's casing. Without these two, nothing else matters.

How do I use this table?

1. Confirm your installation scenario (indoor/outdoor/coastal/low-lying area)

2. Find the corresponding recommended IP level in the table.

3. Confirm whether this level meets the project bidding requirements.

4. For special requirements (such as high-pressure water gun cleaning), consider IP66 and above.

IP rating: determines waterproof and dustproof capabilities.

IP (Ingress Protection) rating is a protection level defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard 60529. The first digit represents dust protection, and the second digit represents water protection.

The above testing conditions are based on the IEC 60529 standard. Outdoor charging stations require a minimum IP65 rating, with IP66 recommended. IP65 is the "passing grade," while IP66 is the "safety standard." The price difference between the two is small, but the difference in safety redundancy is significant.

IK rating: determines impact resistance

The IK rating is the shock resistance rating of an enclosure as defined by the IEC 62262 standard. A higher number indicates greater shock resistance.

Public charging stations are recommended to be IK08 or higher, and IK10 is mandatory for outdoor charging sites.

Practical suggestions for procurement:

IP and IK certifications must be "finished product level certifications".Instead"Materials-level certification"**.

The difference between the two is crucial:

• Material-level certification: This proves that "this material" has passed the test. For example, a certain PC material has UL 746C f1 certification. However, just because the material has passed the test does not mean that the casing made of this material will also pass the test.

• Finished Product Certification: This proves that "this finished casing" has passed the test. The casing's design, wall thickness, structure, and sealing method all affect the final IP/IK performance.

When purchasing, always request the supplier's IP/IK test report for the finished casing, not just material certification. If the supplier can only provide material certification, it means their finished casing may not have actually been tested.

Our charging station enclosures come standard with IP66 and IK10 ratings, meeting the bidding requirements for most outdoor public charging projects. Certification certificates are available upon request from customer service.  View the charging pile casing product series

2. UL 746C f1 – Outdoor UV Resistance and Weather Resistance Certification (A Key Certification Easily Overlooked)

This is the certification that is most easily overlooked but has the most serious consequences in the procurement of charging pile casings.

• What is UL 746C f1?
  UL 746C is a safety standard from UL (Underwriters Laboratories) regarding the use of plastic materials in electrical equipment. The F1 rating specifically addresses outdoor weather resistance—requiring materials to retain at least 70% of their mechanical strength after 1000 hours of exposure to xenon lamp UV light and immersion in water (based on UL 746C standards). Simply put, only materials with F1 certification can withstand 8-10 years of direct sunlight exposure outdoors.

• Why is this certification often overlooked?
  Many buyers only focus on IP (Intelligence Property) and IK (Information Technology), thinking that "waterproof, dustproof, and impact-resistant is enough." However, charging stations are outdoor equipment, and they are exposed to the sun every day. Without UV resistance, the casing will yellow after two years, become brittle after three years, and may break at the slightest touch after five years.

• Differences between a regular PC and a UL 746C f1 certified PC:
  Ordinary PC casings begin to yellow, powder, and become brittle after 2-3 years outdoors. According to industry-standard data from the UL 746C long-term aging test, PC materials without UV protection treatment experience a drop in impact resistance of over 50% after outdoor exposure. UL 746C f1 certified PC casings do not yellow or become brittle for over 10 years in outdoor environments.

Practical suggestions for procurement:

Ask your suppliers one question: "Do your PC casings have UL 746C f1 certification?" This question can filter out most inferior products. If they stammer and say, "Our material is UV resistant," but can't produce an f1 certificate, then they don't have it.

Our PC series charging station casings are UL 746C f1 certified, ensuring they will not yellow or become brittle for over 10 years in outdoor environments. The certification certificate can be obtained by contacting customer service.

3. UL 94 V-0 Flame Retardant and NEMA 4X – “Key Certifications” for Regional Markets

These two certifications are not required for all projects, but in certain scenarios they are a "veto" item.

• UL 94 V-0 Flame Retardant: A "Fire Safety Permit" for Underground Parking Garages
  UL 94 V-0 is one of the highest flame retardant ratings for plastic materials—in a vertical burning test, the sample self-extinguishes within 10 seconds (based on the UL 94 standard) without producing any burning droplets. Fire safety inspections of underground parking garages and indoor charging stations mandate that the casing material meet the UL 94 V-0 flame retardant rating. Without this certification, fire safety inspections will fail, and the charging station will have to be dismantled even after installation.
  (Our charging station casings meet the UL 94 V-0 flame retardant standard, satisfying the fire safety inspection requirements for underground parking garages.)

• NEMA 4X: The "Hidden Ticket" for North American Exports
  NEMA is the enclosure standard set by the Electrical Manufacturers Association of America. NEMA 4X is equivalent to IP66 plus additional corrosion protection requirements and is the de facto entry standard in the North American market. If your project has export requirements to North America, the tender documents will most likely state that "the enclosure must comply with NEMA 4X standards." Without this certification, you are not even eligible to bid.
  (Regarding NEMA 4X certification: Our standard products cover IP55~IP68 protection levels and are designed to meet NEMA 4X standard requirements. However, NEMA 4X certification requires separate testing based on customer requirements. Please contact customer service for confirmation if needed.)

• Certification cycle reference: NEMA 4X certification typically takes 4-8 weeks (including sample preparation, testing, rectification, and certificate issuance), with the exact timeframe varying depending on the product model and testing organization. We recommend that clients with North American export needs communicate with us regarding certification arrangements at the project initiation stage to avoid impacting project progress.

4. Certification Checklist Quick Reference – Check each item before purchasing.

We suggest you print out the table below and check it one by one each time you purchase charging pile casings:

Our charging station enclosure series comprehensively covers standard certification requirements. Special certifications such as NEMA 4X can be arranged according to customer requirements. Please contact customer service for specific certification documents.  Contact us to confirm your certification requirements.

Quick Answers to Common Authentication Questions

• Q1: What is the difference between UL 746C f1 certification and ordinary "UV resistant" materials?
  A："UV resistant" is a marketing term without a standard definition. UL 746C f1 is a certification standard verified by a third-party testing organization—after 1000 hours of xenon lamp UV exposure + water immersion, the mechanical strength retention rate is ≥70%. When purchasing, look for the f1 certification certificate, rather than listening to the supplier say "our material is UV resistant".

• Q2: How to choose between IP66 and IP67 in charging station scenarios?
  A：IP66 withstands powerful water jets, suitable for heavy rain and high-pressure water jet cleaning. IP67 withstands short-term immersion, suitable for short-term water accumulation and flooding. IP66 is sufficient for most outdoor charging stations; IP67 is recommended for low-lying areas and coastal areas prone to flooding.

• Q3: Is there an extra charge for NEMA 4X certification? How long does it take?
  A：Our standard products cover IP55~IP68 protection ratings and are designed to meet NEMA 4X standards. However, NEMA 4X certification requires separate testing upon customer request. Certification fees and processing time vary depending on the product model and testing organization, typically taking 4-8 weeks. We recommend that customers with North American export needs contact us in advance before placing an order to allow sufficient time for certification.

• Q4: What is the difference between material-level certification and finished product-level certification?
  A：Material-level certification only proves that "this material" has passed testing—for example, a certain PC material has UL 746C f1 certification. However, even using the same material to make a casing, different designs, thicknesses, and structures will not necessarily result in the same performance in the finished product. When purchasing, you should request certification certificates for the finished casing, not just the materials.

II. OEM Customization Capabilities – Openings, Colors, Logos, Transparent Windows

Now that the certification is clear, let's look at customization.

The biggest difference between purchasing charging pile casings and purchasing standard products is:Each project is different.Different component layouts, different incoming line directions, and different carrier brand colors—the era of using a single standard casing for everything is over.

1. Detailed Explanation of Five Customization Dimensions

• Custom opening: This is the most common need, and also the most easily overlooked value point. Drilling holes on-site is not only time-consuming, but it can also damage the outer casing's anti-corrosion layer and sealing structure. Our customized service pre-drills the holes at the factory, allowing for direct on-site installation—saving a step and reducing potential problems.

• Color and Logo Customization: This is a core requirement for brand operators. Public charging station operators typically have unified brand visual standards. RAL color matching, logo silkscreen printing, and QR code engraving—these are not "value-added services," but rather "basic requirements."

• Transparent window: It's a low-cost design that improves operational efficiency. Maintenance personnel can directly see the internal meter readings and indicator light status without opening the cabinet door or damaging the seals. This small design saves a significant amount of inspection time.

• DIN rail pre-installed: This is an "invisible benefit" of EPC. The rails and terminals are pre-installed at the factory, so the EPC team only needs to connect the wires on-site; there's no need for measurement, drilling, or rail installation. This improves on-site wiring efficiency by over 50%.

We offer comprehensive OEM/ODM customization services—from opening locations to silkscreen content, from transparent windows to DIN rail pre-installation, everything can be customized to customer needs. Standard customization orders start at 500 units (depending on the product model), and we support rapid prototyping, lowering the customization threshold for small and medium-sized charging pile brands.  Click to submit your customization request

2. Customization process and delivery time

• Customization process:
  Requirements communication Drawing confirmation Sample production Customer confirmation Mass production

• Estimated delivery time:

• Standard customization (silk screen printing/hole punching/color): 2-4 weeks

• Fully custom molds: 6-10 weeks

• Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ):

• Standard customization (silk screen printing/perforation/color): Minimum order 500 pieces (specific quantity depends on product model)

• Fully custom molds: Minimum order quantity needs to be assessed.

• Sample Policy:
  Customized samples can be provided to confirm the effect, and the sample cost can be deducted from the bulk order.

We offer a one-stop customization service from drawings to mass production, with a minimum order of 500 pieces, and support for small-batch trial orders.

III. Procurement Decision Guidelines – How to Evaluate and Select Charging Pile Shell Suppliers?

Now that you've reviewed the certifications and learned about customization, the next step is: how to choose a supplier?

Many procurement practices involve "getting quotes from three suppliers and choosing the lowest one." This approach is very risky when procuring charging pile casings. Below is a simple supplier evaluation framework.

1. Five dimensions of supplier evaluation

1. Authentication integrity: Are IP/IK/UL certifications complete? Are they "material-level certifications" or "finished product-level certifications"? Request certification certificates when purchasing, rather than relying on the supplier's statement "we have them."

2. Material authenticity: Are virgin materials used? Is there UL 746C f1 certification? Is there a Material Certificate (MTC)? The price difference between recycled and virgin materials is significant, but the difference in finished product quality is even greater.

3. Quality control system: Have you conducted IP airtightness testing? Is each batch traceable? Are there third-party testing reports? When purchasing, you can ask, "Can we see your batch testing records?"

4. Customization capabilities: Does it support customization of openings/colors/logos/transparent windows? Is the MOQ flexible? Suppliers who do not support customization will find it difficult to establish long-term partnerships in the charging pile industry.

5. Delivery capability: Is the delivery time stable? Is there stock available? Do you support small-batch trial orders? For new suppliers, we recommend starting with a small batch to confirm quality and delivery time before scaling up.

Our charging pile casing series features end-to-end quality control and traceability, with testing records for every batch from raw material intake to finished product output. Understand our quality control system

2. Common Procurement Mistakes (3 Most Common Pitfalls)

• Pitfall 1: Focusing only on price and ignoring certifications.
  Purchasing PC casings without UL 746C f1 certification resulted in yellowing and embrittlement after 2-3 years, cracking of the casing, and failure of the IP rating, forcing replacement. The total cost far exceeded the initial price difference.

• Pitfall 2: On-site drilling damages the anti-corrosion layer.
  The shell was purchased using a custom-made, hole-free service. Holes were drilled on-site, damaging the anti-corrosion layer. Rust began to spread from the opening. After 3-5 years, the shell began to rust through the opening.

• Pitfall 3: Ignoring the consistency of materials across the entire set of accessories.
  The casing was chosen correctly; the screws were galvanized; and the sealing rings were ordinary rubber. Three years later, the casing remained intact, but the screws rusted and broke, and the sealing rings aged. The entire device failed.

Our products come with a complete set of stainless steel fasteners and replaceable sealing strips to prevent the problem of "the outer casing failing before the accessories break." Please confirm the specifications and materials of all accessories when purchasing.

IV. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Common Procurement Misconceptions

• Q1: How much difference is there between IP65 and IP66 in charging station scenarios?
  A: IP65 is resistant to low-pressure water jets (6.3mm nozzle), capable of handling ordinary rain but not direct spray from a high-pressure water gun; IP66 is resistant to strong water jets (12.5mm nozzle), capable of handling heavy rain and high-pressure water gun cleaning. IP65 is the starting point for AC slow charging stations, while IP66 is recommended for outdoor public charging stations. The price difference between the two is not significant, but the difference in safety redundancy is substantial.

• Q2: How to choose between PC casing and stainless steel casing?
  A: Consider two factors—power and location. For AC slow charging and wall mounting, choose PC (lightweight, low cost, good insulation); for DC fast charging and coastal environments, choose stainless steel (good heat dissipation, corrosion resistance). For the intermediate scenario of "roadside public charging stations," SMC fiberglass is a balanced choice (IK10 impact resistance + weather resistance).

• Q3: Is UL 746C f1 certification really necessary?
  A: It's necessary. PC casings without F1 certification will yellow, become brittle, and lose over 50% of their impact resistance after 2-3 years outdoors. Charging stations are designed for a lifespan of 8-10 years; using casings without F1 certification means the project won't even break even before the casing needs replacing. This certification isn't a "bonus," it's a "safety net."

• Q4: Do you have NEMA 4X certification? How long does it take?
  A: Our standard products cover IP55~IP68 protection ratings and are designed to meet NEMA 4X standards. However, NEMA 4X certification requires separate testing based on customer requirements. The certification cycle typically takes 4-8 weeks (including sample preparation, testing, rectification, and certificate issuance), with the exact time varying depending on the product model and testing organization. We recommend that customers with North American export needs contact us in advance before placing an order to allow sufficient certification time.

• Q5: Why are some suppliers offering much lower prices? What's the difference?
  A: Price differences typically stem from three "invisible" factors: materials (recycled vs. virgin), certifications (present vs. absent), and quality control (sampling vs. full inspection). A cheaper quote usually means that one or more of these factors have been discounted. When purchasing, it's advisable to compare not just the unit price, but also the "total cost of ownership."

• Q6: How do I request samples? How do I place a custom order?
  A: Sample delivery is supported. For standard stock models, 1-2 free samples are available (international shipping costs are the customer's responsibility); for customized models, sample costs will be assessed on a project-by-project basis and can be deducted from the bulk order cost. Custom order process:Requirements communication → Drawing confirmation → Sample production → Customer confirmation → Mass production. Standard MOQ for customization starts at 500 pieces (specific MOQ depends on product model). 

V. Procurement Action Guidelines – What's Next?

Thank you for reading this far. If you are working on a charging station project and need to purchase enclosures, here are three steps you can take to get started immediately:

Download technical materials

• Charging Pile Shell Technical Specifications

• Material Selection Comparison Table

• Certification certificates (IP/IK/UL)
  Click to enter the download center(or Contact customer service to obtain）

Get a project quote

Please provide:

1. Project Type (Public Slow Charging/DC Fast Charging/Residential/Other)

2. Estimated quantity

3. OEM customization required (openings/colors/logo/transparent window)?

4. Target delivery date

5. Is special certification such as NEMA 4X required?
   Click to submit an inquiry (RFQ) Or contact sales directly in the bottom right corner.

Request a sample

• Standard models: Free samples (shipping costs not included)

• Customized models: assessed on a project-by-project basis.
  Click to request a sample

Previous guide: Have you finished reading the charging pile casing procurement guide? For in-depth technical solutions on heat dissipation design and anti-condensation, please read "Charging Pile Casing Heat Dissipation and Anti-Condensation Design Guide - From Passive Heat Dissipation to Intelligent Microenvironment Control".