AZZ incorporated Receives Patent for Innovative Arc-Resistant Switchgear Safety Feature

FORT WORTH, Texas, June 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- AZZ incorporated (NYSE:AZZ), a global provider of electrical products and services and a provider of galvanizing services, today announced that it has received US patent number 8,733,853 B2. The patent is for a front door latching mechanism for AZZ's line of arc-resistant medium voltage switchgear, which is designed to avoid catastrophic damage to personnel and nearby equipment in an arc fault event.

An arc fault is a malfunction within electrical switchgear. In an arc fault, very high electrical current deviates from its normal path and conducts through the air between phases and/or to ground, generating extremely hot gases and significant explosions, endangering personnel and nearby equipment.

Tom Ferguson, chief executive officer of AZZ, said, "This newly patented front door latching mechanism represents an innovative step forward in switchgear design as it provides the ability for visual confirmation to assure that the door to the switchgear enclosure is properly latched and that the effects of an arc fault would remain contained within the switchgear. Our door contains the only latch in the industry allowing for complete visual confirmation of closure, as all other brands of switchgear doors use either bolts and/or latches that are concealed to secure the doors in the closed position. If concealed, it is not possible for personnel to visibly verify that all latching points are fully engaged, putting people and equipment at risk."

Mr. Ferguson continued, "AZZ is committed to making power generation, transmission and distribution inherently safe, reliable, sustainable and efficient. Our new line of arc-resistant switchgear is a shining example of how AZZ employees bring that vision to life with innovative new products. AZZ's robust utility grade metal-clad switchgear has been the standard of excellence in the industry for decades, and the new arc-resistant line is no exception."

AZZ's arc resistant switchgear, with its newly patented doors, is designed to withstand the force of arc fault events and to prevent the unwanted escape of hot gases by properly routing those gases through a vent outlet. Arc-resistant switchgear houses medium voltage electrical switchgear components such as circuit breakers, potential transformers, and fuses. Medium voltage switchgear is available from 5kV to 38kV.

AZZ arc resistant switchgear is available now, and the design meets industry requirements for both the United States and Canadian markets. For more information, visit http://www.azz.com/arc-resistant-switchgear.

About AZZ
AZZ incorporated is a global provider of specialty electrical equipment and highly engineered services to the power generation, transmission, distributions, and industrial markets as well as a leading provider of hot dip galvanizing services to the North American steel fabrication market.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
Certain statements herein about our expectations of future events or results constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as, "may," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "continue," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements are based on currently available competitive, financial and economic data and management's views and assumptions regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and investors must recognize that actual results may differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. This release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, changes in customer demand and response to products and services offered by AZZ, including demand by the power generation markets, electrical transmission and distribution markets, the industrial markets, and the hot dip galvanizing markets; prices and raw material cost, including zinc and natural gas which are used in the hot dip galvanizing process; changes in the economic conditions of the various markets that AZZ serves, foreign and domestic, customer request delays of shipments, acquisition opportunities, currency exchange rates, adequacy of financing, and availability of experienced management employees to implement AZZ's growth strategy. AZZ has provided additional information regarding risks associated with the business in AZZ's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2014 and other filings with the SEC, available for viewing on AZZ's website at www.azz.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. You are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements herein and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. These statements are based on information as of the date hereof and AZZ assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE AZZ incorporated

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