NEMA Enclosures

NEMA Enclosures

NEMA ratings describe an enclosure's resistance to contamination by dust, moisture, liquid in large volumes, impact, corrosion and other hazards. NEMA's rating system can help industrial manufacturers, municipalities and other operations find out how best to protect their components. Electrical enclosures and cabinets are used to protect a wide variety of equipment. The operation of traffic signals, for example, is often dependent on a computer regulatory system that manages the speed at which the signals change throughout the day. These panels are usually located near intersections; they can be suspended from telephone poles, or they can be placed on concrete platforms, especially in the case of large intersections. Such equipment must be able to operate without impairment by weather conditions or other potentially disruptive forces. NEMA ratings help during the installation of those and similar enclosures by indicating to professionals the functional properties of enclosure construction materials.

NEMA's rating system begins with rating #1, which is given to basic enclosures that provide some protection from contaminants when used indoors in applications where exposure to hazards is low. Rating #2 is similar to rating #1, except that #2 enclosures feature "drip-tight" provisions that prevent the seepage of moisture through the enclosure. Such enclosures are useful in settings where moisture is given to condensation on enclosure surfaces. Other ratings indicate varying levels of weather-resistance, water-tightness, dust-tightness, submergibility and general hazard resistance. Industry professionals value standardization of enclosure construction because of the extent to which they rely on enclosures to protect important equipment. There are many possible construction materials from which professionals can choose; aluminum and stainless steel are just two examples, but they can fabricated in many different ways and to different specifications. When professionals can predict exactly how a given enclosure can perform, that professional can make a better enclosure choice. NEMA is also involved in efforts to promote the rules and standards for enclosure manufacturing set by the International Electrotechnical Commission, which is based in Switzerland and seeks to bring international standards for electrical equipment into closer alignment.

Nema Enclosure Image Provided by POLYCASE