NEMA and IEC Enclosure Classifications
NEMA enclosure classifications versus IEC enclosure classifications.
NEMA enclosure classifications are developed by NEMA and used in the U.S./American market.
Ingress Protection - IP - ratings are developed by the European Committee for Electro Technical Standardization (CENELEC) (described IEC/EN 60529), and specifies the environmental protection and enclosure provided.
The table below can be used to convert from NEMA Enclosure Types to IEC Enclosure Types:
| NEMA Enclosure Types | IEC Enclosure Classification Designation | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Purpose - Indoor | IP10 | Protected against solid objects up to 50mm, e.g. accidental touch by hands. |
| 2 | Drip-Proof - Indoor | IP11 | Protected against solid objects up to 50mm, e.g. accidental touch by hands. Protection against vertically falling drops of water e.g. condensation. |
| 3 | Dust-tight, Rain-tight, Sleet-tight - Outdoor | IP54 | Protected against dust limited ingress (no harmful deposit). Protection against water sprayed from all directions, limited ingress permitted. |
| 3R | Rain-tight, Sleet Resistant- Outdoor | IP14 | Protected against solid objects up to 50mm, e.g. accidental touch by hands. Protection against water sprayed from all directions, limited ingress permitted. |
| 3S | Dust-tight, Rain-tight, Sleet-tight- Outdoor | IP54 | Protected against dust limited ingress (no harmful deposit). Protection against water sprayed from all directions, limited ingress permitted. |
| 4 | Water-tight, Dust-tight, Sleet Resistant-Indoor & Outdoor | IP56 | Protected against dust limited ingress (no harmful deposit). |
| 4X | Water-tight, Dust-tight, Corrosion-Resistant- Indoor & Outdoor | IP56 | Protected against dust limited ingress (no harmful deposit). |
| 5 | Dust-tight, Drip-Proof--Indoor | IP52 | Protected against dust limited ingress (no harmful deposit). Protection against direct sprays of water up to 15o from the vertical. |
| 6 | Occasionally Submersible, Watertight, Sleet Resistant- Indoor & Outdoor | IP67 | Totally protected against dust. Protected against the effect of immersion between 15cm and 1m. |
| 6P | Water-tight, Sleet Resistant- Prolonged Submersion- Indoor & Outdoor | IP67 | Totally protected against dust. Protected against the effect of immersion between 15cm and 1m. |
| 12 | Dust-tight and Drip-tight- Indoor | IP52 | Protected against dust limited ingress (no harmful deposit). Protection against direct sprays of water up to 15o from the vertical. |
| 12K | Dust-tight and Drip-tight, with Knockouts- Indoor | IP52 | Protected against dust limited ingress (no harmful deposit). Protection against direct sprays of water up to 15o from the vertical. |
| 13 | Oil-tight and Dust-tight- Indoor | IP54 | Protected against dust limited ingress (no harmful deposit). Protection against water sprayed from all directions, limited ingress permitted. |
Note! NEMA standards meets or exceeds IEC standards. The conversion does not work in the opposite direction.
