How to Select NEMA and IP Enclosures
NEMA and IP enclosures are designed to house electrical components, protect personnel from accidental injury, and prevent the ingress of environmental contaminants such as dust and water.
NEMA enclosures are rated by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), a non-profit organization that recommends safety standards for electrical equipment. IP enclosures comply with Ingress Protection (IP) standards from the International Electrotechnical...
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Q & A on NEMA and IP Enclosures
We asked our users for their input on NEMA and IP Enclosures. Here are the results of 77 users familiar with NEMA and IP Enclosures.
Who Took Our Poll? | Design Trends | Applications and Use | Features | Buying Advice |Design TrendsTop
What new technologies are influencing NEMA and IP enclosure design?
9 answers
--The ability to couple enclosures together to address applications where components can be compartmentalized.
--Multiple mounting options.
~Marty S, Sales Mgr., Canton, OH
When upgrading an oven or machine to use a plc or pc or both.
~Maintenance Electrician, Wichita, KS
EMI protection, Hart protocol, radio communication capability
~Research & Development, Jakarta, Indonesia
Designs in oil and gas production facility
~Dave Ramjeawan, Design Engineer, Port of Spain, Trinidad
Liquid form gasket for door & cover
~Adam Limbada, Marketing/Sales, Duabi, UAE
Gasketing in the enclosures
~ASHOK M, Marketing/Sales, MUMBAI, India
Wireless internet
~Mark N., Chief, cook, and bottle washer, Surprise, AZ
Solar technology
~OLAF ALVAREZ, Engineering Consultant, TOLUCA, MEXICO
Better materials
~Syed J, Engineer, Jubail, Saudi Arabia
From your perspective, which companies are creating the most innovative NEMA and IP enclosures?
12 answers
Schneider is the best with its Himel, Sarel and APW President offers.
~ASHOK M, Marketing/Sales, MUMBAI, India
Maybe Schneider
~OLAF ALVAREZ, Engineering Consultant, TOLUCA, MEXICO
Rittal Schneider (Himel) L Steel Eletra
~Adam Limbada, Marketing/Sales, Duabi, UAE
Legrand, Hoffmann, Rittal, Stahl
~Syed J, Engineer, Jubail, Saudi Arabia
Legrande, Schneider, Tyco
~Chris Wood, Queensland Regional Manager, Brisbane, Australia
Square d, Cutler Hammer
~Maintenance Electrician, Wichita, KS
Rittal, Wiedmuller
~Dave Ramjeawan, Design Engineer, Port of Spain, Trinidad
Cooper/beeline
~Mark N., Chief, cook, and bottle washer, Surprise, AZ
IME Singapore
~Research & Development, Jakarta, Indonesia
Fibox, Bopla
~General Corporate Mgmt, Bucuresti, Romania
--Vynckier
~Marty S, Sales Mgr., Canton, OH
GE
~Engineering, Process/Production, JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia
Applications and UseTop
What are some of the applications you have used NEMA and IP enclosures for?
20 answers
Water/Waste Water installations; PetroChem Instrumentation and Controls; Transportation applications; Utility Power Plant & Solar installations; Telecommunications & Wireless Data Retrieval; Security equipment applications; various other OEM applications
~Marty S, Sales Mgr., Canton, OH
- Advanced metering with meters and electronic transmission equipment submerged in sea water
- Sensors in mining industry with IP rating specified and atex approvals
~General Corporate Mgmt, Bucuresti, Romania
I have supplied many varieties of enclosures over the years , mainly using IP ratings. The deal with most manufactures is cost in relationship to UV stabilization.
~Chris Wood, Queensland Regional Manager, Brisbane, Australia
These enclosures are used for Automation and drive panels, Scada panels, Starter panels in Industrial atmosphere
~ASHOK M, Marketing/Sales, MUMBAI, India
Our corrosion instrument product base to certification Ex ia IIC T4 and Ex d IIC T4 at least Nema 4 IP65
~Research & Development, Jakarta, Indonesia
Electrical installation
Switchgear Mfg
Indoor, out door & Underwater lighting
~Adam Limbada, Marketing/Sales, Duabi, UAE
Enclosures for outdoor electrical devices, waste water treatment plants, explosion proof locations.
~Engineering, Consulting, Cambridge, MA
I have used NEMA enclosures to keep in safe place solar devices like controllers and batteries
~OLAF ALVAREZ, Engineering Consultant, TOLUCA, MEXICO
Installation of Switchgear, Junction Boxes, Terminal Boxes, Power Supplies etc.
~Syed J, Engineer, Jubail, Saudi Arabia
Wellhead control panels, explosion proof junction boxes, junction boxes
~Dave Ramjeawan, Design Engineer, Port of Spain, Trinidad
Motor control centers, duplex pump controls, HVAC control systems
~Marketing/Sales, Mobile, AL
Outdoor phone line enclosures, Network equipment enclosures
~Mark N., Chief, cook, and bottle washer, Surprise, AZ
Control panels, wiring termination/distribution boxes, etc
~Manufacturing, Shah Alam, Malaysia
For rouged free Industrial applications
~Abhinav A, General Management, New Dlehi, India
Electronics housing for turbine meters
~Marketing/Sales, Winsford, Great Britain
Used on ovens, nc machines, salt tanks
~Maintenance Electrician, Wichita, KS
IP 15 and NEMA Enclosures
~Engineering, Consulting, Abudhabi, United Arab Emirates
Marine monitoring systems
~Christian G, Design Engineer, Dublin, Ireland
Electrical panelboard
~Engineering, Process/Production, JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia
Electrical Enclosure
~Engineering, Process/Production, Lima, Peru
Please share with us any “non-standard” applications that NEMA and IP enclosures have been used for.
6 answers
Technicians normally don't use IP rating enclosures for wind, hydro and solar applications
~OLAF ALVAREZ, Engineering Consultant, TOLUCA, MEXICO
Aluminum or Stainsteel material, internal diameter size must be 100 cm.
~Research & Development, Jakarta, Indonesia
--Lighting products; telephone housings; emergency equipment stations
~Marty S, Sales Mgr., Canton, OH
L V Panel, Feeder panel. food & fuel storage
~Adam Limbada, Marketing/Sales, Duabi, UAE
Installation of non-IP enclosures
~Syed J, Engineer, Jubail, Saudi Arabia
Mining sensors
~General Corporate Mgmt, Bucuresti, Romania
Do you know of any disastrous mistakes that occurred due to the incorrect usage of NEMA and IP enclosures?
6 answers
There are common disasters due to selection, or pushing the ratings to their max due to cost. If there were a greater degree between the LP levels it would over come this problem.
~Chris Wood, Queensland Regional Manager, Brisbane, Australia
IP enclosures of correct ratings have been used without taking into consideration the site temperature requirements. This caused the enclosures to warp and also crack.
~Syed J, Engineer, Jubail, Saudi Arabia
--Non hazardous enclosures in hazardous areas can be lethal.
--Low grade materials in corrosive or wet atmospheres can be costly in terms of safety and maintenance.
~Marty S, Sales Mgr., Canton, OH
I have seen many that were not properly mounted to walls that have fallen off. Especially in Arizona when people attempt to mount a box on stucco.
~Mark N., Chief, cook, and bottle washer, Surprise, AZ
ABS enclosures used for Street light pole box application and the boxes melted at old hyd airport.
~ASHOK M, Marketing/Sales, MUMBAI, India
Loss of electronic equipment
Malfunction of solar devices
~OLAF ALVAREZ, Engineering Consultant, TOLUCA, MEXICO
FeaturesTop
What would your design or feature "wish list" be for this product?
9 answers
Multiple options for opening and closing; multiple options for component installation; varying depths in standard heights & widths.
~Marty S, Sales Mgr., Canton, OH
Higher life of the gasket, transit damages proof, high quality polyester powder paint and less weight with more working space.
~ASHOK M, Marketing/Sales, MUMBAI, India
Design enclosures with "wireless" in mind, like ip / atex approved enclosure with "glass bell" for antenna, etc.
~General Corporate Mgmt, Bucuresti, Romania
They work fine for my applications, I wouldn't recommend any changes.
~Mark N., Chief, cook, and bottle washer, Surprise, AZ
Better IR Resistance, better temperature rating and lighter weight
~Syed J, Engineer, Jubail, Saudi Arabia
Plastic or metal, flange door/lid, flat sides before all!
~Christian G, Design Engineer, Dublin, Ireland
High ip with high UV stabilization.
~Chris Wood, Queensland Regional Manager, Brisbane, Australia
Inlets and Outlets plug and play
~OLAF ALVAREZ, Engineering Consultant, TOLUCA, MEXICO
New panelboard and Switchgear
~Engineering, Process/Production, JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia
Buying AdviceTop
Do you have any advice for people relative to buying or using NEMA and IP enclosures?
8 answers
Please be sure of gasket quality better salt spray test and light weight. Higher weight does not mean enclosure is good. The enclosures should be tested as per international specifications like UL, LRS, GL, KEMA etc.
~ASHOK M, Marketing/Sales, MUMBAI, India
For the Australian market the IP ratings are pushed to their maximum, the market cost is the main driver; this attitude is industry wide and creates problems within projects due to wrong selection of product.
~Chris Wood, Queensland Regional Manager, Brisbane, Australia
Know your size requirement; know the environment where the enclosure is to be installed; know how you want to get in and out of the enclosure and how you want to close it.
~Marty S, Sales Mgr., Canton, OH
They should always follow the rules, local codes, and ratings for every application.
~OLAF ALVAREZ, Engineering Consultant, TOLUCA, MEXICO
Study the specifications and site requirements very carefully.
~Syed J, Engineer, Jubail, Saudi Arabia
Actually always try to use in design for oil and gas facility.
~Dave Ramjeawan, Design Engineer, Port of Spain, Trinidad
To consult with expertise required application.
~Adam Limbada, Marketing/Sales, Duabi, UAE
Buy it bigger than you think you'll need.
~Mark N., Chief, cook, and bottle washer, Surprise, AZ
Is there any advice you want to share with users to help them avoid common errors in selection or usage of NEMA and IP enclosures?
7 answers
--Under size or over size the enclosure. Too small and your components won't fit. Too big and you lose space (and dollars).
--Consider the material of the enclosure related to the environment in which it will be placed.
~Marty S, Sales Mgr., Canton, OH
The IP schedule is a very good selection chart for most users; I have always thought if there was a greater separation between each of the IP levels it would then dictate the right enclosure for the application.
~Chris Wood, Queensland Regional Manager, Brisbane, Australia
Don't go by higher weight, but make sure 3rd part test certification is there. Mild steel enclosures are the best.
~ASHOK M, Marketing/Sales, MUMBAI, India
Be careful, sometimes the specifications of the enclosures do not meet the site requirements.
~Syed J, Engineer, Jubail, Saudi Arabia
1. place of application Indoor Out door.
2. Application required for
3. Environment
~Adam Limbada, Marketing/Sales, Duabi, UAE
Follow local codes and special application.
~OLAF ALVAREZ, Engineering Consultant, TOLUCA, MEXICO
Measure twice, drill once.
~Mark N., Chief, cook, and bottle washer, Surprise, AZ
