The Association of Electrical Equipment

and Medical Imaging Manufacturers

Environmental Conditions

and the Appropriate:

ENCLOSURE TYPES
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Understanding the Environment

Indoors / Outdoors

Water -- Drip / Rain / Hose / Submersion / Ice

Dust -- Settling, Circulating, or Windblown Dust

Corrosive Liquids / Oil / Noncorrosive Liquids

Hazardous Location -- Gas / Combustible Dust

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Common To All Enclosures

Provide A Degree Of Protection To Personnel Against Incidental

Contact With The Enclosed Equipment

Rod Test: NEMA 1, 2, 3R

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Definitions
Driptight -
Falling dirt or moisture will not enter the enclosure

Dusttight -
Circulating or airborne dust will not enter the enclosure

Rainproof -
Exposure to beating rain will not interfere with the operation of

the apparatus or result in wetting of live parts and wiring within

the enclosure
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Definitions
Raintight -
Exposure to beating rain will not result in entrance of water

Watertight -
Water will not enter enclosure when subjected to a stream of

water
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Type 1

Indoor Use
General Purpose (Not Exposed To

Unusual Conditions)

Degree of Protection From

Falling Dirt
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Type 2
Indoor Use
Degree Of Protection
From:
Falling Dirt
Dripping Non-Corrosive
Liquid

Light Splashing of Non-

Corrosive Liquid
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Type 3
Indoor or Outdoor Use
Degree of Protection From:
Falling Dirt, Rain, Sleet, and Snow
Windblown Dust
Undamaged by the External Formation of Ice.
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Type 3R
Indoor or Outdoor Use
Degree of Protection From:
Falling Dirt, Rain, Sleet, and Snow
Not Dustproof, Snowproof, or
Sleetproof

Undamaged by the External

Formation of Ice
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Type 3S
Indoor or Outdoor Use
Degree of Protection From:
Falling Dirt, Rain, Sleet, Snow,
and Windblown Dust

External Mechanism(s) remain

Operable When Ice Laden
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Type 4
Indoor or Outdoor Use
Degree of Protection From:
Windblown Dust and Rain

Splashing Water

Hose Directed Water

Undamaged by the External Formation

of Ice
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Type 4X
Indoor or Outdoor Use
Degree of Protection From:
Windblown Dust and Rain

Splashing Water

Hose Directed Water

Damage from External Ice

Formation

Corrosion Resistive
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Type 5
Indoor Use
Degree of Protection From:
Falling Dirt, Settling Airborne Dust,
Lint, Fibers, and Flyings

Dripping and Light Splashing of

Noncorrosive Liquids
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Type 6
Indoor or Outdoor Use
Degree of Protection From:
Falling Dirt
Hose Directed Water
Damage From External Ice Formation
Entry of Water During Occasional
Temporary Submersion at a Limited Depth
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Type 6P
Indoor or Outdoor Use
Degree of Protection From:
Falling Dirt
Hose Directed Water
Damage From External Ice Formation
Entry of Water During Prolonged Submersion at a Limited
Depth
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Type 7

Indoor use in locations

classified as Class I, Groups A,

B, C, or D, as defined in the

NEC.

Protection against Hazardous

Location atmospheres

containing Gases and Vapors.

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Type 8

Indoor or Outdoor use in locations classified as Class

I, Groups A, B, C, or D, as defined in the NEC.

Protection against Hazardous Location atmospheres

containing Gases and Vapors.

Arcing contacts, connections, are immersed in oil in

order to confine ignition source.

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Type 9

Indoor use in locations classified as

Class II, Groups E, F, or G, as defined

in the NEC.

Protection against Hazardous

Location atmospheres containing

Dust.
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Type 10

Capable of meeting the requirements of the (MSHA)

Mine Safety and Health Administration, 30 C.F.R., Part

18.
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Type 12
Indoor use primarily to provide a degree of protection

against:

Circulating Dust

Falling Dirt

Dripping Noncorrosive Liquid

Circulating Lint, Fibers and Flyings (Nonhazardous

and not considered Class III Type ignitable fibers or

flyings)

Type 12K
Type 12 with Knockouts
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Type 13
Indoor or Outdoor use primarily to

provide a degree of protection against:

Dust

Spraying of Water, Oil, and Noncorrosive

Coolant
Oil and Coolant Seepage
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Comparison of Indoor
Enclosure Applications
Enclosure Type

Condition of Protection 1 2 4 4X 5 6 6P 12(K) 13

Falling Dirt X X X X X X X X X

Falling Liquids and Light Splashings -- X X X X X X X X

Circulating dust, lint, fibers, & flyings -- -- X X -- X X X X

Settling airborne dust, lint, fibers & flyings* -- -- X X X X X X X

Hosedown and Splashing water -- -- X X -- X X -- --

Oil and Coolant seepage -- -- -- -- -- -- -- X X

Oil or Coolant spraying and splashing -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- X

Corrosive Agents -- -- -- X -- -- X -- --

Occasional Temporary Submersion -- -- -- -- -- X X -- -- Table: NEMA 250

Occasional Prolonged Submersion -- -- -- -- -- -- X -- --

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Comparison of Outdoor
Enclosure Applications
Enclosure Type

Condition of Protection 3 3R 3S 4 4X

Rain, snow, sleet X X X X X

Sleet (External Operating Mech. Operable w/ ice) -- -- X -- --

Windblown dust X -- X X X

Hosedown -- -- -- X X

Corrosive Agents -- -- -- -- X

Table: NEMA 250

Comparison of Indoor Enclosure
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Applications for Hazardous

Locations
Type 7 & 8 Type 9

Atmosphere Containing: Class A B C D E F G 10

Acetylene I X -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Hydrogen, manufactured gas I -- X -- -- -- -- -- --

Diethel ether, ethylene, cyclopropane I -- -- X -- -- -- -- --

Gasoline, hexane, butane, naphtha,

propane,acetone,toluene, isoprene I -- -- -- X -- -- -- --

Metal dust II -- -- -- -- X -- -- -- Table: NEMA 250

See NFPA 497M for complete listing of atmosphere classifications

Carbon black, coal dust, coke dust II -- -- -- -- -- X -- --
NFPA 496, Purged and Pressurized Enclosures ..., outlines alternatives to

Flour, starch, grain

Type 7 & 9dust II positive
Enclosures when adequate -- -- pressure
-- -- ventilation
-- -- isXused.--
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IEC Enclosure Designations

European System of specifying the degree of protection provided
by the enclosure.
NEC does not accept IP designations as an alternative for Type
ratings.
IEC 60529 does not address mechanical damage, risk of
explosion, or corrosion.
UL 50E and NEMA 250 do evaluate mechanical characteristics
such as corrosion, icing, oil,
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IEC Enclosure Designations

Example: IP10
The IEC designation consists of the letters IP followed by two
numerals.

The first numeral indicates the degree of protection provided

against persons and solid foreign objects entering the enclosure.

The second numeral indicates the degree of protection provided

against the harmful ingress of water into the enclosure.
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Conversion of NEMA Types to IEC IP

IP Designations IP
First
NEMA Enclosure Type Second
Character Character
1 2 3 3R 3S 4 4X 5 6 6P 12 12K 13
IP0_ IP_0
IP1_ IP_1
IP2_ IP_2
IP3_ IP_3
IP4_ IP_4
IP5_ IP_5
IP6_ IP_6
IP_7
IP_8
A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B

A = A shaded block in the A column indicates that the NEMA Enclosure Type exceeds the
requirements for the respective IEC 60529 IP First Character Designation. The IP First Character
Designation is the protection against access to hazardous parts and solid foreign objects.

B = A shaded block in the B column indicates that the NEMA Enclosure Type exceeds the
requirements for the respective IEC 60529 IP Second Character Designation. The IP Second
Character Designation is the protection against the ingress of water.

(This Table cannot be used to convert IEC IP Designations to NEMA Enclosure Types)
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Understanding the Enclosure Conversion Table

EXAMPLE OF TABLE USE
An IEC IP 45 Enclosure Rating is specified. What NEMA Type Enclosures meet and exceed the IP 45 rating?

Referencing the first character, 4, in the IP rating and the row designated IP4_ in the leftmost column in the table;
the blocks in Column A for NEMA Types 3, 3S, 4, 4X, 5, 6, 6P, 12, 12K and 13 are shaded. These NEMA
ratings meet and exceed the IEC protection requirements against access to hazardous parts and solid foreign objects.
Referencing the second character, 5, in the IP rating and the row designated IP_5 in the rightmost column in the
table; the blocks in Column B for NEMA Types 3, 3S, 4, 4X, 6 and 6P are shaded. These NEMA ratings meet
and exceed the IEC requirements for protection against the ingress of water. The absence of shading in Column B
beneath the NEMA Enclosure Type 5 indicates that Type 5 does not meet the IP 45 protection requirements
against the ingress of water. Likewise the absence of shading in Column B for NEMA Type 12, 12K and 13
enclosures indicates that these enclosures do not meet the IP 45 requirements for protection against the ingress of
water. Only Types 3, 3S, 4, 4X, 6 and 6P have both Column A in the IP4_ row and Column B in the IP_5
row shaded and could be used in an IP45 application.

The NEMA Enclosure Type 3 not only meets the IP 45 Enclosure Rating, but also exceeds the IEC requirements
because the NEMA Type requires an outdoor corrosion test; a gasket aging test; a dust test; an external icing test;
and no water penetration in the rain test. Slight differences exist between the IEC and NEMA test methods, but the
IEC rating permits the penetration of water if it does not deposit on insulation parts, or reach live parts. The IEC
rating does not require a corrosion test; gasket aging test; dust test or external icing test. Because the NEMA ratings
include additional test requirements, this table cannot be used to select IP Designations for NEMA rated enclosure
specifications.

Since the IEC protection requirements become more stringent with increasing IP character value, once a NEMA
rating meets the requirements for an IP designation, it will also meet the requirements for all lower IP designations.
This is apparent from the shaded areas shown in the table.

(The Table cannot be used to convert IEC IP Designations to NEMA Enclosure Types)
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Multiple Types on Enclosure

Type 3, 3R, 4X, 5, 12

Stainless Steel or other materials approved

for the use (Corrosion Protection)

Drain Plug (Remove for Type 3R)

Gasketing (Dust and Water Protection)

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Power Outlet
UL 231 - Power Outlet

-Water Splash Test

-GFCI Requirements

NEC Branch Circuits

590.4 Temporary Installations

555.19(A)(3) Marinas and Boatyards

551.78(A) Recreational Vehicle Parks

UL White Book
The Association of Electrical Equipment

and Medical Imaging Manufacturers

Electrical Equipment For Use In Ordinary Locations,

Page 133

Hazardous Locations Equipment Directory, Page 101

NEMA

NEMA Standard 250-2013

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