Weather protections (NEMA and IP ratings) |
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The following tables give you a guideline on what is Ingress
Protection (IP) Ratings and NEMA ratings and how they compare. |
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Ingress Protection (IP) Ratings |
IP ratings are defined in international IEC Standard 529 and European Standard EN 60 529.
The IP Code indicates the degree of protection provided by enclosures for electrical equipment.
The first numeral indicates protection of persons against access to dangerous parts
and protection of internal equipment against the ingress of solid foreign objects. |
X |
Protection unspecified (untested) |
0 |
No special protection provided |
1 |
Protection of hand against accidental access to
dangerous parts, and protection of equipment against objects larger than 50mm |
2 |
Protection of fingers against access to dangerous parts,
and protection of equipment against objects larger than 12mm |
3 |
Protection against objects larger than 2.5mm
(e.g. tools, wires) |
4 |
Protection against objects larger than 1mm
(e.g. line tools, wires) |
5 |
Protection against entry of dust in sufficient
quantity to interfere with satisfactory operation of equipment |
6 |
Complete protection against ingress of dust |
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The second numeral indicates protection of internal
equipment against harmful ingress of water |
X |
Protection unspecified (untested) |
0 |
No special protection provided |
1 |
Protection against water dripping vertically |
2 |
Protection against dripping water when the object is tilted
by up to 15 degrees from its normal position (in any direction) |
3 |
Protection against water spraying at an angle of up to 60
degrees from the vertical |
4 |
Protection against water splashing from any direction |
5 |
Protection against a low pressure jet of water from any
direction |
6 |
Protection against a high pressure jet of water or heavy seas
from any direction |
6D |
Protection against driving rain at angles down to
horizontal |
7 |
Protection against temporary immersion from 15cm to 1m |
8 |
Protection against permanent immersion under pressure |
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The chart above is intended to be read in conjunction with
AS 1939 1986, Classification of Degrees of Protection Provided by Enclosures for Electrical
Equipment. |
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NEMA Types of enclosures |
There are many NEMA ratings available for enclosures. Below, is a brief
explanation of each NEMA rating. |
NEMA |
Description |
1 |
General purpose protection - Indoor use - Protection
against contact with the enclosed equipment. |
2 |
General purpose protection - Indoor use - Protection
against limited amounts of falling water and dirt. |
3 |
Dust Tight, Rain Tight & Ice/Sleet resistant - Outdoor use
- Protection against windblown dust, rain, and sleet; and to be undamaged by the
formation of ice on the enclosure |
3R |
Rain Proof & Ice/Sleet Proof - Outdoor use
- Protection against falling rain; and to be undamaged by the formation of ice on
the enclosure. |
3S |
Dust Tight, Rain Tight, & Ice/Sleet Proof - Outdoor use
- Protection against sleet; and to be undamaged by the formation of ice on the
enclosure. |
4 |
Water Tight & Dust Tight - Indoor use
- Protection against windblown dust and rain, splashing water, and hose directed
water; and to be undamaged by the formation of ice on the enclosure. |
4X |
Water Tight, Dust Tight, & Corrosion Resistant - Indoor use
- Protection against corrosion, windblown dust and rain, splashing water, and
hose-directed water; and to be undamaged by the formation of ice on the
enclosure. |
5 |
Superseded by NEMA 12 for Control Apparatus |
6 |
Submersible, Water Tight, Dust Tight, & Ice/Sleet
Resistant - Indoor & Outdoor use - Protection against the entry of water during temporary
submersion at a limited depth; and to be undamaged by the formation of ice on the enclosure. |
7 |
Underwriters Lab Class 1 - Groups C&D - Explosion Proof -
Indoors |
8 |
Underwriters Lab Class 1 - Groups C&D - Explosion Proof - Indoors
(same as NEMA 7 but oil immersed) |
9 |
Underwriters' Lab Class II - Groups E,F,G - Indoors |
10 |
Bureau of Mines |
11 |
Corrosion Resistant & Drip Proof - Oil Immersed - Indoors
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12 |
Dust Tight & Drip Tight - Indoor use -
Protection against dust, falling dirt, and dripping
non-corrosive liquids. |
13 |
Oil Tight & Dust Tight - Indoor use -
Protection against dust, spraying of water, oil, and
non-corrosive coolant. |
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Comparison between NEMA and IP ratings |
The table below is a cross reference for comparing NEMA and IP enclosure ratings. This comparison is only
approximate, and it is the responsibility of the user to verify the enclosure rating necessary
for the given application. IP degrees of protection and the NEMA types of enclosures do not
directly compare, as additional environmental conditions such as coolants, oil, corrosion, icing,
hail, etc., are specified in NEMA Pub No. 250. You'll find out that there almost are as many comparison
tables as there are of companies presenting such comparisons. So the accompanying comparisons are to be
used as a guide only. |
NEMA Enclosure type |
IP10 |
IP11 |
IP24 |
IP32 |
IP52 |
IP54 |
IP55 |
IP56 |
IP64 |
IP65 |
IP66 |
IP67 |
1 |
X |
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2 |
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X |
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3 |
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X |
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3R |
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X |
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3S |
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X |
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4 |
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X |
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4X |
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X |
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6 |
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X |
6P |
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X |
11 |
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12 |
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X |
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13 |
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X |
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