NEMA ENCLOSURE - TECHNICAL DEFINITIONS & RATINGS Type 1,2,3,3R,4,4X,6,6P,7,9,12 Nemaco Technology's Reference List for NEMA Enclosure

Ratings, Definitions & Industrial Applications Welcome to Nemaco Technologys's reference section that provides basic technical information for many types of NEMA enclosure designs from a simple NEMA enclosure ratings (1, 2, 3R) to other industrial NEMA ratings (4, 4x, 6, 6p, 7, 9 12). Nemaco Technology has dedicated this technical section with a summary of each common NEMA enclosure types that are used communication electronics, electrical junction & pull boxes, wiring connections, power & control electrical panels in municipal water facilities, chemical plants, oil & gas offshore platforms and many other applications. In industry, companies select enclosure type and the enclosure material based on the environment and the application. Note that Nemaco offers a another style of NEMA enclosure called the Tigerbox enclosure. Nemaco is adding more information the NEMA enclosure class and Tigerbox style enclosure for our customers. The Tigerbox style enclosures have additional colors and greater protection for the seals than the common NEMA enclosure products. Here are the most common NEMA definitions and ratings. Call Nemaco if you have any questions or if you have a new project. NEMA ENCLOSURE DEFINITIONS & RATINGS NEMA 1 Rating Definition: Intended for indoor use primarily to provide a degree of protection against (hand) contact with enclosed equipment. Applications: The typical NEMA 1 industrial enclosure is used for protecting controls and terminations from objects and personnel. NEMA 1 type of enclosure is typically a simple box with a screw cover and no sealing gasket. NEMA 1 enclosures are used inside buildings for electronics and small NEMA 1 enclousures might be placed inside other enclosures. Motor start/stop stations are often housed in NEMA 1 enclosures. Usually, a low cost enclosure but suitable for clean and dry environments. Custom Tigerbox enclosures are available for electronics applications. NEMA 2 Rating Definition: Intended for indoor use primarily to provide a degree of protection against limited amounts of falling dirt and water. Applications: The typical NEMA 2 industrial enclosure is used for protecting controls and terminations from objects and personnel. This style of enclosure, while offering a latching door, does not have a gasketed sealing surface. NEMA 2 enclosures are used in applications where sealing out dust, oil, and water is not required. Motor start/stop stations are sometimes housed in NEMA 2 enclosures. This is a low cost enclosure also. Custom Tigerbox enclosure are available for electronics applications. NEMA 3 Rating Definition: Intended for outdoor use primarily to provide a degree of protection against windblown dust, rain, and sleet; undamaged by ice which forms on the enclosure. Applications: NEMA 3 electrical enclosures are typically used in outdoor applications for wiring and junction boxes. This style of enclosure provides protection against windblown dust, falling rain, sleet, snow, and external ice formation. This enclosure can be used indoors and the enclosure protects against dripping water. Note that this style of enclosure requires a gasket sealing to keep-out dust. Some enclosure models have hasps for padlocking the cover to the enclosure base. Note that Nemaco offers the Tigerbox NEMA 3 Enclosures with durable gasket seals for both indoor and outdoor applications. NEMA 3R Rating Definition: Intended for outdoor use primarily to provide a degree of protection against falling rain and sleet; undamaged by ice which forms on the enclosure.

Applications: The typical NEMA 3R electrical enclosure is used in outdoor applications for wiring and junction boxes. This style of enclosure provides protection against falling rain, sleet, snow, and external ice formation. This indoor enclosure can be used to protect against dripping water. Note that this style of enclosure does not require a gasketed sealing surface to keep-out dust. Some enclosure models have hasps for padlocking the cover to the enclosure base. Note that Nemaco offers the Tigerbox NEMA 3R Enclosure are available with optional gasket seals for both indoor and outdoor applications. NEMA 4 Rating Definition:Intended for indoor use primarily to provide a degree of protection against windblown dust and rain, splashing water, and hose directed water; undamage by ice which forms on the enclosure. Applications: The typical NEMA 4 industrial enclosure can be used in many applications for occasional washdown occurs or where machine tool cutter coolant is used and sprayed. The Nema 4 enclosure also serves well in applications where there is possibly dripping water in a building. The NEMA 4 enclosure has a drip edge (gutter) to collect water near the enclosure seals. A NEMA 4 enclosure must have quality seal gasket to prevent water ingress and the door is typically clamped for maximum sealing. The Nemaco Tigerbox Nema 4 enclosure has a continuous hinge, mounting feet and optional padlock hasps. The Tough Tigerbox NEMA 4 enclosures are available in sizes from small wall mounts to two-door floor mount enclosure models. NEMA 4X Rating Definition:Intended for indoor or outdoor use primarily to provide a degree of protection against corrosion, windblown dust and rain, splashing water, and hose directed water; undamaged by ice which forms on the enclosure. Applications: The typical NEMA 4X enclosures is fabricated from stainless steel or plastic. The NEMA enclosure can be used in harsher environments than standard NEMA 4 units since the NEMA 4X enclosure has corrosion resistance. Applications where corrosive materials (for example saltwater) and caustic cleaners are used necessitate the use of a NEMA 4X enclosure. A few examples are NEMA 4X enclosure applications for sanitary poultry processing facilities (where total washdown with disinfectants occur repeatedly), petro-chemical refineries and offshore drilling platforms for oil and natural gas. The NEMA 4X enclosure is used when protection from the worst environments is required. Many NEMA 4X industrial enclosures are available in sizes from small wall mounts to two-door floor mount models. The Tigerbox NEMA 4X enclosures are available in 304 & 316 stainless steel. Also, Nemaco offers the Tough Tigerbox Nema 4X enclosure with continuous hinges, mounting feet and sometimes padlock hasps. Tigerbox NEMA 4X enclosures are offered in sizes from small wall mounts to two-door floor mount enclosure models. Also, stainless steel passivation for additional corrosion protection is available on request for all the stainless steel products. NEMA 6 Rating Definition:Intended for indoor or outdoors which occasional temporary submersion is encountered. Applications: NEMA 6 enclosures are typically made of (304 or 316) stainless steel, plastic and sometimes marine epoxy coated carbon steel. These NEMA 6 enclosures are used for any application to protect equipment from temporary submersion in water but not any salt water, acidic fluids, oils or flammable. A few examples of NEMA 6 enclosure applications for any heavy washdown for cleaning or temporary submersion from rainwater but not prolonged. The Tough Tigerbox NEMA 6 enclosures are available in carbon steel, 304 & 316 stainless steel and available with continuous hinges, mounting feet and sometimes special fittings for applications. Tigerbox NEMA 6 enclosures are offered in sizes from small wall mounts to single-door medium size floor mount styles. Also, stainless steel passivation for additional corrosion protection is available on request for all the stainless steel products and any stainless steel NEMA 6 enclosure. NEMA 6p Rating Definition:Intended for indoor or outdoors which occasional prolonged submersion is encountered. Corrosion protection is required. Applications: NEMA 6p enclosures are mostly made of 304/316 stainless steel for industrial applications and sometimes plastic for inexpensive electronics. The NEMA 6 enclosures are used in applications where more protection is needed and there might be water submersion. Applications where corrosive materials (for example saltwater) and caustic cleaners are used necessitate the use of a NEMA 6 enclosure. The Tough Tigerbox Nema 6p enclosure is available with special configurations that are unique for each customer's applications. Also, the Tigerbox NEMA 6p enclosure is offered in sizes from small wall mounts to two-door floor mount enclosure models. Note that stainless steel passivation for additional corrosion protection is available on request for all the stainless steel products and NEMA 6P enclosures.

NEMA 7 Rating Definition: Enclosures are for indoor use in locations classified as Class I, Groups A, B, C, or D. Applications: NEMA 7 enclosures are mostly made of heavy cast iron, cast stainless steel or cast aluminum. The cover flange and the base flange are machined flat and even for a type surface fit. The enclosures are typically used in facortories, chemical refineries or offshore drilling platforms. NEMA 9 Rating Definition: Enclosures are intended for indoor use in locations classified as Class II, Groups E, F, or G, and shall be capable of preventing the entrance of dust. Enclosed heat generating devices shall not cause external surfaces to reach temperatures capable of igniting or discoloring dust on the enclosure or igniting dust-air mixtures in the surrounding atmosphere. Enclosures shall meet dust penetration and temperature design tests, and aging of gaskets (if used). Applications: The typical NEMA 9 enclosure is fabricated from heavy cast iron, cast stainless steel or cast aluminum. The enclosure cover flange and the enclosure base flange are machined flat and even for a type surface fit. The enclosures are typically used in factories, chemical refineries, oil & gas offshore facilities, drilling platforms or dusty environment. NEMA 12 Rating Definition: 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 against dripping and light splashing of liquids. Applications:The typical NEMA 12 enclosure is designed to prevent the ingress of dust and water. NEMA 12 enclosures are most often used for indoor applications of automation control and electronic drives systems. Some examples for a NEMA 12 enclosure applications are packaging, material handling, non-corrosive process control and other manufacturing environments. Commonly, the NEMA 12 enclosure has gasketed doors seals to prevent airborne contaminants (dust) and water from entering the enclosure. NEMA 12 enclosures are available in sizes from small wall mounts to two-door floor mount models. Notes for NEMA 4 & 12 Enclosures Nemaco can offer combined a 4/12 enclosure design for the features of both of NEMA 4 enclosure and NEMA 12 enclosure in one attractive, clean line enclosure. Also, Nemaco can offer NEMA 4/12 enclosure designs with additional features to include reversible doors for left or right opening, concealed hinges or removable hinges available and mounting feet are available for conventional wall mounting. Sometimes rear mounting holes with seals are available for a more attractive installation. Nemaco's enclosures are available from small sizes to large cabinets. Other Technical Information Available In the other specialized technical reference sections there are descriptions of the each type of NEMA Enclosure and there is detailed information for the NEMA type ratings & defintions. Nemaco provides some samples of the NEMA type enclosures in the the other sections. Also, the other technical sections provide many internal and external photos of the enclosures. Of course you can call Nemaco for additional information for any of Nemaco's Tigerbox products or any of the NEMA type enclosures, cabinets or boxes.