We all know that outdoor enclosures are designed for use in outdoor applications, where they must withstand various environmental effects such as dust, water, sun, wind, and more. When discussing enclosure protection ratings, we refer to the level of protection an outdoor enclosure provides for the internal equipment against solid/dust and water. These ratings are crucial for ensuring the durability and reliability of the equipment housed within these enclosures, making them essential for safeguarding critical infrastructure in challenging outdoor conditions.
When discussing enclosure protection ratings, two standards are commonly referenced: IP ratings and NEMA standards.
What are IP Ratings?
The IP (Ingress Protection) ratings were developed by the Europe-based International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It uses a two-numeral IP code to rate the level of protection provided by enclosures against dust and water ingress:
- The first numeral refers to protection against solid objects and is rated on a scale from 0 to 6, where 0 means no protection and 6 means no ingress of dust.
- The second numeral rates the enclosure’s protection against liquids and uses a scale from 0 to 9, where 0 means no protection and 9 means protection against high-pressure hot water from different angles.
What are NEMA Ratings?
NEMA Ratings were developed by NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) for classifying an enclosure’s level of protection from environmental elements.
The following definitions have been taken from ANSI/NEMA 250.
In non-hazardous locations, the specific enclosure types, their applications, and the environmental conditions they are designed to protect against when completely and properly installed are as follows:
Type 1 Enclosures constructed for indoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts and provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt).
Type 2 Enclosures constructed for indoor use to provide a degree of protection for personnel against access to hazardous parts; provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt); and provide a degree of protection from harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (dripping and light splashing).
Type 3 Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection for personnel against access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt and windblown dust); to provide a degree of protection from harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow); and that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.
Type 3R Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection for personnel against access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt); to provide a degree of protection from harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow); and that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.
Type 3S Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection for personnel against access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt and windblown dust); to provide a degree of protection from harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow); and for which the external mechanism(s) remain operable when ice-laden.
Type 3X Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection for personnel against access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt and windblown dust); to provide a degree of protection from harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow); that provides an increased level of protection NEMA EN P1-2021 against corrosion; and that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.
Type 3RX Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection for personnel against access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt); to provide a degree of protection from harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow); that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure; and that provides an increased level of protection against corrosion.
Type 3SX Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection for personnel against access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt and windblown dust); to provide a degree of protection from harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow); that provides an increased level of protection against corrosion; and for which the external mechanism(s) remain operable when iceladen.
Type 4 Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection for personnel against access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt and windblown dust); to provide a degree of protection from harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow, splashing water, and hose-directed water); and that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.
Type 4X Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection for personnel against access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt and windblown dust); to provide a degree of protection from harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow, splashing water, and hose-directed water); that provides an increased level of protection against corrosion; and that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.
Type 5 Enclosures constructed for indoor use to provide a degree of protection for personnel against access to hazardous parts; provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt and settling dust, lint, fibers, and flyings); and provide a degree of protection from harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (dripping and light splashing).
Type 6 Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection for personnel against access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt); to provide a degree of protection from harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (hose-directed water and the entry of water during occasional temporary submersion at a limited depth); and that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.
Type 6P Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection for personnel against access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt); to provide a degree of protection from harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (hose-directed water and the entry of water during prolonged submersion at a limited depth); that provides an increased level of protection against corrosion; and that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.
Above data is collected from NEMA_EN_P1-2021 WATERMARKED_2024-05-31
Comparison between IP and NEMA Enclosure Protection Ratings
Both NEMA and IP ratings effectively describe the level of environmental protection an enclosure offers. NEMA standard are preferred for equipment and design projects intended for use in the United States. Many manufacturers export to Europe and other countries where engineers are comfortable using IP ratings. And Based on NEMA Brief Comparison 250- 60529-2021 WATERMARKED_2024-05-31, we can compare these two ratings as below:
What Ningbo Spring Offer?
As a professional outdoor enclosure manufacturer, Ningbo Spring is dedicated to ensuring our products meet the highest standards of protection and reliability. We strictly adhere to established outdoor enclosure protection ratings throughout the design, production, and testing processes. This commitment ensures that our outdoor enclosures can meet and exceed the demands of our customers in various environmental conditions.
