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Electrical Enclosure Ratings: NEMA
3S to 8
Electrical enclosure protection ratings — NEMA 250-2020 types (1 through 13 with variants) and IEC 60529 IP codes (IP20 through IP69K); includes protection descriptions, indoor/outdoor use, IP equivalents, corrosion resistance, hazardous location class/group, typical materials, and typical applications
| rating system | designation | corrosion resistance | dust protection level | enclosure id | hazardous location | indoor outdoor | ip equivalent | protection description | standard | typical applications | typical materials | water protection level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEMA | 3S | no | windblown dust | NEMA 3S | no | indoor outdoor | IP54 | Protects against windblown dust; rain; sleet; snow; external mechanisms remain operable when covered with ice | NEMA 250-2020, UL 50/50E | outdoor locations where ice formation requires external operation switches outdoor controls requiring operation under icing conditions | steel galvanized; stainless steel | rain sleet snow ice |
| NEMA | 3SX | yes (moderate) | windblown dust | NEMA 3SX | no | indoor outdoor | IP54 | Same as Type 3S plus corrosion-resistant construction; external mechanisms operable when ice-covered | NEMA 250-2020, UL 50/50E | coastal/marine outdoor locations requiring operable controls under icing and corrosion conditions | stainless steel 316; fiberglass GRP | rain sleet snow ice |
| NEMA | 3X | yes (moderate) | windblown dust | NEMA 3X | no | indoor outdoor | IP54 | Same as Type 3 plus corrosion-resistant construction (X = corrosion resistant) | NEMA 250-2020, UL 50/50E | coastal outdoor installations salt-air environments chemical plant outdoor equipment | stainless steel 304/316; aluminum; fiberglass GRP | rain sleet snow |
| NEMA | 4 | no | dust-tight | NEMA 4 | no | indoor outdoor | IP66 | Protects against windblown dust; rain; sleet; snow; splashing water; hose-directed water; ice formation | NEMA 250-2020, UL 50/50E | outdoor hose-down areas washdown food processing industrial outdoor general purpose watertight | carbon steel painted; hot-dip galvanized steel | hose-directed water splashing |
| NEMA | 4X | yes (high) | dust-tight | NEMA 4X | no | indoor outdoor | IP66 | Same as Type 4 plus corrosion-resistant construction | NEMA 250-2020, UL 50/50E | food and beverage processing marine/coastal chemical plants pharmaceutical washdown areas | stainless steel 304/316; fiberglass GRP; aluminum; PVC | hose-directed water splashing |
| NEMA | 5 | no | settling dust lint fibers flyings | NEMA 5 | no | indoor | IP52 | Protects against settling airborne dust; lint; fibers; flyings; dripping non-corrosive liquids | NEMA 250-2020, UL 50/50E | textile mills woodworking areas flour mills indoor dusty environments | steel painted | dripping non-corrosive |
| NEMA | 6 | no | dust-tight | NEMA 6 | no | indoor outdoor | IP67 | Protects against windblown dust; rain; sleet; snow; hose-directed water; temporary submersion at limited depth (< 6 ft / 1.8 m brief) | NEMA 250-2020, UL 50/50E | underground installations submersible pump controls flood-prone locations occasional immersion | steel painted; cast aluminum; stainless steel | temporary submersion (brief) |
| NEMA | 6P | no | dust-tight | NEMA 6P | no | indoor outdoor | IP67 | Protects against windblown dust; rain; sleet; snow; hose-directed water; prolonged submersion at limited depth (> 6 ft for extended time) | NEMA 250-2020, UL 50/50E | wastewater treatment underground vaults prolonged submersion applications below grade installations | stainless steel 316; cast aluminum; fiberglass GRP | prolonged submersion |
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