The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) set safety, reliability, and efficiency standards. These standards apply to enclosures, which vary in the way they’re constructed for their specific use and environmental conditions.
There are many types of NEMA enclosures that we have listed here. It is a good idea to take note of the enclosures that match the conditions of your project / application.
Type 1
Enclosure for indoor use. Some protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. Some protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against solid foreign objects: falling dirt.
Type 2
Enclosure for indoor use. Some protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. Some protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against solid foreign objects: falling dirt. Some protection from water: dripping and light splashing of water.
Type 3
Enclosures for either indoor or outdoor use. Some protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. Some protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against solid foreign objects: falling dirt and windblown dust. Some protection of the equipment from water: rain, sleet, and snow. Enclosure will not be damaged by the external formation of ice.
Type 3R
Enclosures for either indoor or outdoor use. Some protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. Some protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against solid foreign objects: falling dirt and windblown dust. Some protection of the equipment from water: rain, sleet, and snow. Enclosure will not be damaged by the external formation of ice.
Type 3S
Enclosures for either indoor or outdoor use. Some protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. Some protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against solid foreign objects: falling dirt and windblown dust. Some protection of the equipment from water: rain, sleet, and snow. Enclosure will not be damaged by the external formation of ice.
Type 3X
Enclosures for either indoor or outdoor use. Some protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. Some protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against solid foreign objects: falling dirt and windblown dust. Some protection of the equipment from water: rain, sleet, and snow. Provides additional protection against corrosion. Enclosure’s mechanisms will remain operable despite heavy ice formation.
Type 3RX
Enclosures for either indoor or outdoor use. Some protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. Some protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against solid foreign objects: falling dirt and windblown dust. Some protection of the equipment from water: rain, sleet, and snow. Provides additional protection against corrosion. Enclosure will not be damaged by the external formation of ice.
Type 3SX
Enclosures for either indoor or outdoor use. Some protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. Some protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against solid foreign objects: falling dirt and windblown dust. Some protection of the equipment from water: rain, sleet, and snow. Provides additional protection against corrosion. Enclosure’s mechanisms will remain operable despite heavy ice formation.
Type 4
Enclosures for either indoor or outdoor use. Some protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. Some protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against solid foreign objects: falling dirt and windblown dust. Some protection of the equipment from water: rain, sleet, snow, splashing water, and hose directed water. Enclosure will not be damaged by the external formation of ice.
Type 4X
Enclosures for either indoor or outdoor use. Some protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. Some protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against solid foreign objects: windblown dust. Some protection of the equipment from water: rain, sleet, snow, splashing water, and hose directed water. Provides additional protection against corrosion. Enclosure will not be damaged by the external formation of ice.
Type 5
Enclosures for indoor use. Some protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. Some protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against solid foreign objects: falling dirt and settling airborne dust, lint, fibers, and flyings. Some protection of the equipment from water: dripping and light splashing.
Type 6
Enclosures for either indoor or outdoor use. Some protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. Some protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against solid foreign objects: falling dirt. Some protection of the equipment from water: hose directed water and the entry of water during occasional temporary submersion at a limited depth. Enclosure will not be damaged by the external formation of ice.
Type 6P
Enclosures for either indoor or outdoor use. Some protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. Some protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against solid foreign objects: falling dirt. Some protection of the equipment from water: hose directed water and the entry of water during prolonged submersion at a limited depth. Provides additional protection against corrosion. Enclosure will not be damaged by the external formation of ice.
Type 12
Enclosures (without knockouts) for indoor use. Some protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. Some protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against solid foreign objects: falling dirt and circulating dust, lint, fibers, and flyings. Some protection of the equipment from water: dripping and light splashing.
Type 12K
Enclosures (with knockouts) for indoor use. Some protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. Some protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against solid foreign objects: falling dirt and circulating dust, lint, fibers, and flyings. Some protection of the equipment from water: dripping and light splashing.
Type 13
Enclosures for either indoor or outdoor use. Some protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. Some protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against solid foreign objects: falling dirt and circulating dust, lint, fibers, and flyings. Some protection of the equipment from water: dripping and light splashing. Provides some protection from spraying, splashing, and seepage of oil and non-corrosive coolants.
Click here to check out other educational articles on electrical equipment