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NEMA Enclosure Ratings for Electrical

Equipment
Last Updated on November 5, 2018 by Jeson Pitt — Leave a Comment (Edit)

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An electrical enclosure refers to a cabinet or box that contains electrical components like
switches, knobs as well as controls and the like ostensibly to offer them protection against
the environment while safeguarding life and property. There are various NEMA enclosure
ratings defined for various electrical enclosures.

The specification features of electrical enclosures are determined by the National Electrical
Manufacturers Association (NEMA), known as NEMA Enclosure Ratings, based on a type of
classification that defines environments and locations where it may be used. This includes
four types of explosion proof that is designed for hazardous locations.
 NEMA Enclosure Ratings

Table of Contents 
1. What is NEMA?
2. What are NEMA Ratings?
3. How are Enclosures Certified under the NEMA Enclosure Ratings System?
4. What is explosion proof?
5. Classification of Explosion Proof
6. Types of Electrical enclosures
7. Non-hazardous location enclosure types
8. Hazardous locations enclosure Types (Explosion Proof Enclosures)
9. Conclusion

What is NEMA?

“ The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) publishes

over 600 standards, technical papers and application guide on a range of
topics that relate to the safety and function of electrical products
effectively helping manufacturers in the US to ensure proper function,
compatibility and safety of products.
 An example of this is the NEMA system of ratings for plugs and various NEMA
enclousre ratings that are used in North America to accommodate varied amperage ranges.

What are NEMA Ratings?

The term NEMA is used to refer to specified standards for electrical enclosures . NEMA
standard ICS 6 classifies enclosure types based on their ability to offer protection against
damage or ingress caused by dust, liquids and corrosive chemicals.

These standards are reviewed and published every five years. Generally, the standards
include improvements in testing standards that manufacturers must be aware of, but do not
typically have an effect on the meaning of the ratings in terms of specifying equipment for
defined applications.

How are Enclosures Certified under the NEMA

Enclosure Ratings System?
It is important to note that NEMA does not conduct any testing of products nor is it affiliated
with UL or other testing laboratories. However, it is involved in the publishing and defining
of enclosure standards as well as manufacturers voluntary compliance with standards.

A summary chart for NEMA enclosure ratings of various enclosures

Manufacturers may self-declare compliance even though others use third-party testing and
certification to provide customers an objective assurance of performance of the products they
buy will perform to the expectations. NEMA provides a list of testing laboratories as well as
certification bodies that offer this service.
What is explosion proof?
Explosion proof enclosures refer to those purpose built electrical enclosures that are designed
for places where heat or spark from electrical equipment can result into an explosion or a
fire. Typically, explosion proof enclosures are not designed to withstand external explosion
but to contain internal explosion as well as prevent it from spreading outside. This
consequently prevents larger explosions that may put human life at risk and cause damage to
property.

Classification of Explosion Proof

NEMA defines hazardous location codes on the basis of the nature of the hazardous
environment and cause. The division defines the level of risk of explosion or fire, the class
indicates the classification of hazardous substance while the group describes the substance.

Beyond other classification, explosion proof enclosures also include a temperature rating,
which is essentially the maximum surface temperature they can withstand before the degree
of protection they offer is compromised. The ratings are centered on a 40 degree Celsius
ambient temperature unless indicated otherwise.

Types of Electrical enclosures

NEMA acknowledges various types of NEMA enclosure ratings depending on the degree of
protection they offer against environmental factors. These are classified into non-hazardous
enclosure types and hazardous location enclosure types.
 Various Types of Enclosures for Electrical Equipment

Non-hazardous location enclosure types

Type 1 enclosures:
These are general purpose enclosures defined under the standard NEMA Enclosure Ratings
system intended for indoor use only, hence they provide protection against contact with live
parts while keeping solid foreign objects off.

Type 2
Also used for indoor application, these offer same protection level like Type 1. However, they
also offer protection against water from splashes, drips etc.

Type 3R, 3RX

Other than the protection provided by Type 1 and Type 2, this enclosure has a higher water
resistance degree and can be used both indoors and outdoors, as they can withstand snow,
sleet, rain as well as other harsh conditions. The addition of x signifies the ability of the
enclosure to withstand corrosion.

Type 3S, 3SX

These enclosures are able to resist sleet, rain and the wind-blown dust and are rated for both
outdoors and indoors as they possess an external mechanism that is operational even if the
enclosure is ice laden. Type 3XS also provides protection against corrosion.

Type 4, 4X
In addition to the protection provided by Type 3 enclosures, these possess the capability to
prevent splashes of water from entering including hose-directed water. Some of the
enclosures that can be rated as Type 4 include wall mount enclosures, junction enclosures,
floor mount enclosures, disconnect enclosures as well as free-standing enclosures. Type 4X
shows added corrosion resistance.

Type 5
These are much more like type 2 enclosures except that they have an additional gasket that
seals off the enclosure effectively preventing ingress of fibers, dust as well as lint. These
enclosures are recommended for indoor use.
Type 6, 6P
Other than the protection that is offered by type 4, these enclosures have a higher water
resistance making them ideal for indoors and outdoors even in locations where they may be
submerged. Type 6 is capable of preventing ingress of water from temporary submersion
while Type 6P is for instances of prolonged submersion.

Type 12, 12K

This is rated for indoor use only as it offers high level protection against falling dirt, dust,
circulating fibers, splashing water, flyings and drips. Type 12 is corrosion resistant and
cannot be knockouts, while Type 12K can. These come in different forms that include
junction enclosures, heavy-duty enclosures, floor mount enclosures, wall mount enclosures,
pushbutton enclosures, modular enclosures and freestanding enclosures.

Type 13
These are general purpose enclosures intended for indoor use only as they offer the same
level of protection like Type 12. In addition, they have added resistance to ingress of non-
corrosive coolants and oils. They are mainly wall-mounted enclosures.

Hazardous locations enclosure Types (Explosion Proof

Enclosures)
There are only four NEMA pertaining to enclosures that are rated for use in hazardous
locations:

Types 7 enclosures
These are intended for use indoors inClass 1, Division 1, Group A, B, C or D hazardous
locations.

Type 8 enclosures
These are enclosures for outdoor and indoor use in locations classified as Class 1, Division 1,
Group A, B, C or D.

Type 9 enclosures
Designed for used in Class 2, Division 1, Group E, F or G.
Type 10 enclosures
These are built to satisfy and indoor and Health Administration requirements under part 18
or CFR under 30.

Conclusion
Environments containing more than one type of combustible substances will require dual or
multi-rated substances. Ultimately, it is always important to ensure that the product you use
has the capability to operate in the area of operation that it has been deployed. So,
implementing and strictly following the NEMA enclosure ratings not only provide free-
standing safety but also protects you from getting into trouble with the law.

We hope you’ve found out about various NEMA enclosure ratings and how to deploy each
enclosure to ensure maximum safety in all operating conditions.

You may also want to read a basic tutorial on ETAP introduction and modeling of a power
system in ETAP. The load flow analysis of a power system in ETAP is performed in this
tutorial.

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in the comments section.

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Filed Under: BSEE

Tagged With: NEMA, Power System Protection, Standards

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 About Jeson Pitt
Jeson Pitt works with the marketing department of D&F Liquidators and regularly writes to
share his knowledge while enlightening people about electrical products and solving their
electrical dilemmas. He's got the industry insights that you can count on along with years of
experience in the field. Jeson lives in Hayward, CA and loves to explore different cuisines that
the food trucks in the Bay area have to offer.

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