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Industry Standards
NEMA,
UL, and IEC are standard rating organizations commonly recognized in North
America. Their ratings are based
on similar application descriptions and expected performance.
UL requires enclosure testing by qualified evaluators.
They also send site inspectors to make sure a manufacturer adheres to
manufacturing methods and material specifications.
The more common types of enclosures used by the
electrical industry with a brief description relating to their environmental
capabilities follows:
| Enclosure
Rating |
NEMA |
UL
50 |
IEC
Cross Reference (Approximate) |
|
Type 1
|
Enclosures constructed for indoor use to provide a
degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the
enclosed equipment and to provide a degree of protection against falling
dirt.
|
Indoor use primarily to provide protection againse
contact with enclosed equipment and against a limited amount of falling
dirt.
|
IP20
|
|
Type 3
|
Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor
use to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt, rain, sleet,
snow, and windblown dust; undamaged by the external formation of ice on
the enclosure.
|
Outdoor use to provide a degree of protection against
windblown dust and windblown rain; undamaged by the formation of ice on
the enclosure.
|
IP64
|
|
Type 3R
|
Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor
use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental
contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection
against falling dirt, rain, sleet, and snow; and that will be undamaged
by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.
|
Outdoor use to provide a degree of protection against
falling rain; undamaged by the formation of ice on the enclosure.
|
IP22
|
|
Type 4
|
Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor
use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental
contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection
against falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow, windblown dust, splashing
water, and hose-directed water; and that will be undamaged by the
external formation of ice on the enclosure.
|
Either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of
protection against falling rain, splashing water, and hose directed
water; undamaged by the formation of ice on the enclosure.
|
IP66
|
|
Type 4X
|
Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor
use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental
contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection
against falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow, windblown dust, splashing
water, hose-directed water, and corrosion; and that will be undamaged by
the external formation of ice on the enclosure; resists corrosion.
|
Either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of
protection against falling rain, splashing water, and hose directed
water; undamaged by the formation of ice on the enclosure; resists
corrosion.
|
IP66
|
|
Type 12
|
Enclosures constructed (without knockouts) for indoor
use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental
contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection
against falling dirt; against circulating dust, lint, fibers, and
flyings; and against dripping and light splashing of liquids.
|
Indoor use to provide a degree of protection against
dust, dirt, fiber flyings, dripping water, and external condensation of
noncorrosive liquids.
|
IP55
|
|
Type 13
|
Enclosures constructed for indoor use to provide a
degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the
enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling
dirt; against circulating dust, lint, fibers, and flyings; and against
the spraying, splashing, and seepage of water, oil, and noncorrosive
coolants.
|
Indoor use to provide a degree of protection against
lint, dust seepage, external condensation, and spraying of water, oil,
and noncorrosive liquids.
|
IP65
|
| Comparison
of Specific Applications of Enclosures for Indoor Non-hazardous Locations |
| Enclosure
Type |
| Provides
a degree of protection against the following environmental conditions: |
1 |
4 |
4X |
12 |
13 |
| Incidental
contact with enclosed equipment |
n |
n |
n |
n |
n |
| Falling
dirt |
n |
n |
n |
n |
n |
| Falling
liquids and light splashing |
|
n |
n |
n |
n |
| Circulating
dust, lint, fibers and flyings |
|
n |
n |
n |
n |
| Settling
airborne dust, lint, fibers and flyings |
|
n |
n |
n |
n |
| Hosedown
and splashing water |
|
n |
n |
|
|
| Oil
and coolant seepage |
|
|
|
n |
n |
| Oil
or coolant spraying and splashing |
|
|
|
|
n |
| Corrosive
agents |
|
|
n |
|
|
| Occasional
temporary submersion |
|
|
|
|
|
| Occasional
prolonged submersion |
|
|
|
|
|
| Comparison
of Specific Applications of Enclosures for Outdoor Non-hazardous Locations |
| Enclosure
Type |
| Provides
a degree of protection against the following environmental conditions: |
3 |
4R |
4 |
4X |
| Incidental
contact with enclosed equipment |
n |
n |
n |
n |
| Rain,
snow & sleet |
n |
n |
n |
n |
| Windblown
dust |
n |
|
n |
n |
| Hosedown |
|
|
n |
n |
| Corrosive
agents |
|
|
|
n |
| Occasional
temporary submersion |
|
|
|
|
| Occasional
prolonged submersion |
|
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Electrical & Electronic Enclosures and
Accessories
825 Columbia Street, Brea, California 92821
Phone: (714) 256-4700 - (800) 959-1339
email: spanomatic@spanomatic.com
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