What are the NEMA ratings for electrical enclosures?

NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) developed the NEMA rating system for electrical enclosures used in the manufacture of pressure switches, mechanical float switches, alternator alarms, control panels or boxes that are designed to house and protect electrical components from the surrounding environment.

Depending on the specific NEMA rating, devices in a NEMA enclosure are protected in:

• Indoor, outdoor, and indoor or outdoor locations
• Moderately wet conditions - dripping water and light splashing
• Areas regularly hosed down or periodically submerged in water
• Snow, sleet, or ice found in an outdoor setting or industrial freezers in food processing
• Dusty and dirty settings in factories, mining, oil & gas
• Industrial environments with greases, oils, solvents, and non-corrosive coolants
• Corrosive environments such as saltwater, acids, and alkaline solutions

A full list of NEMA enclosure types is available for download from the NEMA website: https://www.nema.org/

Additional Resources:

https://www.nema.org/docs/default-source/standards-document-library/faq-enclosures.pdf

https://www.csagroup.org/documents/testing-and-certification/components/mutualcomponent.pdf

https://codeelectric.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/95-102-Technical-Data-Enclosures.pdf

Below are 10 pages with the detailed descriptions of the NEMA Enclosure Types which can be found at the link below:

https://www.sti-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/nema-enclosure-types.pdf