The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) is a manufacturers organization that actively promotes standardized product specifications for electrical apparatus, providing consistency and product continuity.
NEMA is one of the most prestigious and preferred trade associations for electrical product manufacturers. The products are used for medical, institutional, commercial, residential, and industrial applications. NEMA standards deal with the manufacture, performance testing, application, and rating of various electrical products. Industrial enclosures are given a NEMA rating ensuring it meets the requirements of the environment where the box will be installed. NEMA defines the requirements for electrical enclosures under NEMA Standard Number 250.
Adhering to the NEMA standards affords many benefits to your product design, brand, and company. You can have confidence in the products that meet the NEMA standard to be safe and operable. This standard eliminates the risk and worry that comes with using non-rated products and increases your ROI.
Underwriters’ Laboratories (UL) use NEMA performance criteria and test methods as guidelines for the investigation and listing of electrical enclosures. Approximate IP equivalents in parentheses.
Need help or have questions? Contact Fibox today.
| NEMA 1: |
Indoor use primarily to provide a degree of protection against contact with the enclosed equipment and against a limited amount of falling dirt. (IP30) |
| NEMA 2: |
Indoor use to provide a degree of protection against limited amounts of falling water and dirt. (IP31) NEMA 2 enclosures are constructed for indoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. NEMA 2 enclosures also must provide a degree of protection to the equipment inside the enclosure against the ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt), and, lastly, protect from the ingress of water (dripping and light splashing). NEMA 2 enclosure keeps your fingers outside the box while protecting the internal components from debris and light exposure to liquids. The NEMA 2 is for indoor use and it should be stressed that NEMA 2 is on the lower end of the NEMA scale. NEMA 2-rated enclosures are useful for designs that only require basic protection. More likely, in a commercial application, you may see a NEMA 2 enclosure in light industrial use where you do not expect exposure to liquids or random debris to fall. |
| NEMA 3: |
Outdoor use to provide a degree of protection against windblown dust, rain, and sleet; undamaged by the formation of ice on the enclosure. (IP64) NEMA Type 3 enclosures are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to 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 with respect to 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. |
| NEMA 3R: |
Outdoor use to provide a degree of protection against falling rain and sleet: undamaged by the formation of ice on the enclosure. (IP32) NEMA Type 3R enclosures are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to 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 with respect to 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. |
| NEMA 3S: |
Outdoor use to provide a degree of protection against windblown dust, rain and sleet; external mechanisms remain operable while ice laden. NEMA Type 3S enclosures are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to 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 with respect to 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. |
| NEMA 4: |
Indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection against splashing water, windblown dust and rain, hose directed water; undamaged by the formation of ice on the enclosure. (IP66) NEMA Type 4 enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to 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 with respect to 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. |
|
|
Indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection against splashing water, windblown dust and rain, hose directed water; undamaged by the formation of ice on the enclosure, resists corrosion. (IP66) NEMA 4X enclosures are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. NEMA 4X enclosures must provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (windblown dust); and protect the equipment inside the enclosure from from he ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow, splashing water, and hose directed water). Lastly, a NEMA 4X enclosure must provide an additional level of protection against corrosion (rust); and that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure. |
| NEMA 6: |
Indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection against the entry of water during temporary submersion at a limited depth; undamaged by the formation of ice on the enclosure. NEMA Type 6 enclosures are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to 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 with respect to 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. |
| NEMA 6P: |
Indoor and outdoor use to provide a degree of protection against the entry of water during prolonged submersion at a limited depth. NEMA Type 6P enclosures are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts and to give a degree of protection to the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt). Also, they protect the ingress of water (hose-directed water and/or during prolonged submersion at a limited depth). Lastly, a NEMA 6P rating provides additional protection against corrosion, which will be undamaged by the external ice formation on the enclosure. In short, a NEMA 6P rating must keep not only people, dirt, dust, and debris from entering the enclosure but keep the internal components dry from water even if the 6P Enclosure is underwater for a prolonged period (24 hours). Although UL has an official NEMA 6P testing procedure, we took the liberty of doing a simplified home version for the submersion part of the test. Click here to watch it. |
| NEMA 12: |
Indoor use to provide a degree of protection against dust, falling dirt and dripping noncorrosive liquids. (IP65) NEMA Type 12 enclosures are constructed (without knockouts) for indoor use to provide a degree of protection to 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 circulating dust, lint, fibers, etc.); and to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (dripping and light splashing). |
| NEMA 12K: |
Indoor use to provide a degree of protection against dust, falling dirt and dripping noncorrosive liquids. (IP65) (with knock-outs) NEMA Type 12K enclosures are constructed (with knockouts) for indoor use to provide a degree of protection to 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 circulating dust, lint, fibers, and flyings); and to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (dripping and light splashing). |
| NEMA 13: |
Indoor use to provide a degree of protection against dust and spraying of water, oil and noncorrosive coolants. (IP65). NEMA Type 13 enclosures are constructed for indoor use to provide a degree of protection to 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 circulating dust, lint, fibers, and flyings); to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (dripping and light splashing); and to provide a degree of protection against the spraying, splashing, and seepage of oil and non-corrosive coolants. |