Enclosure Protection Ratings & Standards

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All Enclosure Rating Types

Ratings and criteria indicate safety and security. Electrical cabinet enclosures are evaluated based on their appropriateness for certain applications and the level of equipment protection they provide. Each form of enclosure is assigned a rating depending on its capacity to resist environmental conditions. Our ratings include:

Enclosure Ratings

Why Enclosures Have NEMA And IP Ratings

“Waterproof” and “sealed” are ambiguous. They're not useful for enclosure selection. Design engineers must know “exactly how waterproof?” Is the enclosure for dripping water or full submersion? Designers must protect their electronic and electrical components from moisture, dust, and other pollutants.

That’s why electrical enclosures are rated based on their ability to withstand a varying degree of environmental elements, including dust, water, and ice. 

The enclosure maker should give testing results upon request to prove a rating. Because testing takes time and money, manufacturers don't usually employ NEMA and IP ratings for enclosures. Understanding rating systems allows you to confidently say that a NEMA-rated enclosure provides equal protection to an IP-rated enclosure and vice versa.

IP Enclosure Ratings Chart

IPDescription
IP44Protection for the enclosed equipment from the entry of solid particles with a diameter greater than 1mm into the enclosure.
IP54Commonly used as traffic control cabinets because of their ability to protect electrical equipment from splashing water or rain conditions.
IP55Weather-resistant enclosures that include a degree of protection from windblown dust and ingress of water.
IP56Designed very similar to NEMA 3 enclosures, however, 3R enclosures can be ventilated.
IP57Often called rain tight enclosures due to their excellent weather resistance.
IP65Generally manufactured using 304 & 316 stainless steel due to its protection from corrosive materials.
IP66Dust tight enclosures that are constructed without punch-outs.
IP67Protecting against water damage during a temporary 30-minute immersion at a depth of between 15cm and 1m.
IP68When submerged in up to 1.5m of water for 30 minutes, it protects against water damage.

NEMA Enclosure Ratings Chart

NEMADescription
NEMA 1General-purpose enclosures are typically manufactured to protect live parts.
NEMA 2Offer the same level of protection as NEMA 1, but NEMA 2 enclosures are drip-tight.
NEMA 3Weather-resistant enclosures that include a degree of protection from windblown dust and ingress of water.
NEMA 3RDesigned very similar to NEMA 3 enclosures, however, 3R enclosures can be ventilated.
NEMA 4Often called rain-tight enclosures due to their excellent weather resistance.
NEMA 4xGenerally manufactured using 304 & 316 stainless steel due to its protection from corrosive materials.
NEMA 5Generally manufactured using 304 & 316 stainless steel due to its protection from corrosive materials.
NEMA 6Generally manufactured using 304 & 316 stainless steel due to its protection from corrosive materials.
NEMA 12Dust-tight enclosures that are constructed without punch-outs.
NEMA 13Built for indoor industrial applications that require protection from dust, lint, splashing oil, and non-corrosive liquids.

All Enclosure Rating Types

NEMA Enclosures

NEMA Enclosures

IP Enclosures

IP Enclosures

NEMA And IP Enclosure Protection Ratings FAQs

1.What is the difference between NEMA and IP rating?

An IP rating solely evaluates protection against the entrance of solid foreign objects and water, whereas NEMA ratings take into account corrosion and structural details. A NEMA type can be compared to an IP rating, but the reverse is not true. The comparison between NEMA and IP inclosure ratings is merely approximative.

Read More: NEMA vs. IP Ratings: What Is The Difference?

 
2.Is NEMA the same as IP?

While NEMA and IP ratings are not the same, they are quite comparable and may sometimes be used interchangeably for evaluating enclosures for industrial situations. IP ratings are primarily concerned with protecting against the intrusion of solid foreign objects or liquids, whereas NEMA ratings also address additional circumstances, such as the presence of corrosive substances.

3.Is NEMA 4X the same as IP65?

In general, an IP65 enclosure and a NEMA 4 enclosure offer essentially equivalent levels of protection. The primary difference between the two is corrosion prevention. Because IP enclosures are not certified for corrosion protection, a NEMA 4X enclosure is essential for applications requiring corrosion resistance.