Outdoor Electrical Enclosures are made of steel and are used to protect components. Shouke® is a professional electrical cabinet manufacturer with quality assurance.
Outdoor Electrical Enclosure Ingress Protection Rating Standards
I. IEC Rating Definitions
The IEC ratings refer to the Ingress Protection ratings for Outdoor Electrical Enclosure under the International Electrotechnical Commission standards.
Below are the specific meanings of each rating:
|
Rating |
Dust Tightness &Water Resistance |
|
IEC 60529 IP 00 |
No protection |
|
IP 01 |
Protected against vertically falling drops of water |
|
IP 02 |
Protected against vertically and obliquely falling drops of water |
|
IP 03 |
Protected against spray water from a 60° angle nozzle (2.5 mm nozzle) |
|
IP 04 |
Protected against water splashing from any direction |
|
IP 05 |
Protected against water jets from any direction (limited ingress permitted) |
|
IP 06 |
Protected against powerful water jets from any direction (no harmful effects) |
|
IP 10 |
Protected against solid objects over 50mm in diameter |
|
IP 12 |
Protected against solid objects over 2.5mm in diameter |
|
IP 13 |
Protected against solid objects over 1.0mm in diameter |
|
IP 54 |
Protected against dust and splashing water |
|
IP 55 |
Protected against dust and water jets |
|
IP 56 |
Protected against dust and powerful water jets |
|
IP 65 |
Totally dust-tight and protected against water jets from any direction |
|
IP 66 |
Totally dust-tight and protected against powerful water jets from any direction |
|
IP 67 |
Totally dust-tight and immersible in water up to a specified pressure and time |
For instance, an Outdoor Electrical Enclosure with an IEC 60529 IP65 rating is suitable for electrical equipment in harsh environments, providing complete protection against dust and light splashing water.
The selection of the appropriate electrical cabinet Ingress Protection rating is crucial for different application environments to ensure the safety and stability of electrical equipment.
II. NEMA Rating Descriptions
The NEMA ratings represent the environmental capabilities of Outdoor Electrical Enclosure according to the standards set by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.
Below are the specific meanings of each rating:
|
Rating |
Description |
|
NEMA1 |
Provides basic indoor protection |
|
NEMA3 |
Provides outdoor protection against precipitation and strong winds |
|
NEMA4 |
Provides outdoor protection and splash protection |
|
NEMA6 |
Provides protection in deep waters |
|
NEMA7 |
Suitable for hazardous gas deployments |
|
NEMA12 |
Provides general industrial protection |
For example, a NEMA 4X cable gland box is suitable for harsh or corrosive environments caused by external factors, such as food processing and sewage treatment.
III. Most Common IP Ratings
The IP ratings refer to the Ingress Protection ratings under the International Electrotechnical Commission standards, represented by two digits: the first digit indicates dust tightness, and the second digit indicates water resistance. For instance, IP65 indicates that the Outdoor Electrical Enclosure has a dust tightness rating of 6 and a water resistance rating of 5.
Below are the specific meanings of each rating:
|
Rating |
Dust Tightness |
Water Resistance |
Suitable Environments |
|
IP54 |
5 | 4 |
Environments with moderate contamination and light splashing |
|
IP55 |
5 | 5 |
Environments with heavy contamination and splashing |
|
IP56 |
5 | 6 |
Environments with heavy contamination, spraying, and powerful water jets |
|
IP65 |
6 | 5 |
Environments with heavy contamination and light water jets |
|
IP66 |
6 | 6 |
Environments with heavy contamination, spraying, and powerful water jets |
For instance, signal cable gland boxes used in railways, highways, and tunnels typically require an IP65 rating or higher to ensure proper operation in harsh environments.
