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:

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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.

Every enclosure decision begins with a rating question: how much dust, water, corrosion, and ice must this cabinet survive? This hub gathers the rating families we build to — NEMA types for North American practice, IP codes under IEC 60529, and the hazardous-area and listing schemes (IECEx, ATEX, UL, C-UL) that attach evidence to a protection claim.

Use the pages below to fix the rating first; then material, size, and interior follow from your drawings through our fabrication lines. Our shop has produced custom electrical enclosures for over 15 years and 4,000+ projects, combining CNC punching, bending, and welding with build-to-print customization.

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.

Plus d'informations : Indices NEMA et IP : Quelle est la différence ?

 
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.

Key Specifications & Options

The configuration below reflects the options we build to order for electrical enclosure ratings. Every parameter can be adjusted to match your drawings and site conditions — send us your requirements and our engineers will confirm what applies to your project.

ParamètresOptions / Typical Range
NEMA types (NEMA 250)North American environmental ratings — Types 1 through 13 covering dust, rain, ice, hose water, submersion, corrosion
IP code (IEC 60529)Two-digit international code: first digit solid-particle protection, second digit water protection
IECEx / ATEXHazardous-area equipment schemes (international / European) for explosive-atmosphere duty
UL / C-ULNorth American listing evidence — see our guide on reading supplier claims
Selection sequenceEnvironment first (water events, dust class, corrosion) → rating family per market → material → size and interior

Questions fréquemment posées

Can I convert between NEMA types and IP codes?

Only as one-way guidance. A NEMA type implies a set of IP-level capabilities, but an IP code does not deliver the NEMA construction and test requirements. We specify per market and acceptance body.

Which rating family applies to my project?

Follow the market and inspector: North American projects usually reference NEMA 250 types; international specifications use IEC 60529 IP codes; hazardous areas add IECEx or ATEX. Your drawings or acceptance authority settle it.

Do you supply test evidence for ratings?

We state the design features behind each rating at quotation and support customer-side and third-party verification; our UL guide explains how to read listing evidence from any supplier.

Where do I start with an outdoor cabinet?

Define the water event — rain only (3R economy), wind and sleet (Type 3), hose washing (4/4X), flooding (Type 6). The rating pages below carry the comparisons.

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