Full Product Manual

22
Technical Reference
Enclosure Classifications
Enclosures serve the dual purpose of protecting personnel from incidental contact with the enclosed electrical equipment and protecting the enclosed equipment against specified
environmental conditions. Enclosures are rated for use in specific environmental conditions by NEMA, UL, CSA and the IEC. The rating systems most often cited are the NEMA Enclosure
Type Numbers as defined in NEMA Standards Publication 250 (and corresponding UL/CSA designations) and the IEC Enclosure Classification Designation as defined in the International
Standard IEC 60529 - Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code).
IEC Enclosure Classifications
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is an international standards organization that prepares and publishes International Standards for all electrical, electronic and
related technologies. IEC 60529 classifies the degrees of protection provided against the intrusion of solid objects (including body parts like hands and fingers), dust, accidental contact,
and water in electrical enclosures.
IEC 60529 - IP Suitability Ratings
First Number - Degree of Access to Hazardous Parts Second Number - Degree of Protection From Water Ingress
Level Ingress Limit Effective Against Level Ingress Limit Effective Against
0 — No protection against contact and ingress of objects 0 — No protection against water ingress
1 ≥ 50 mm diameter
Any large surface of the body, such as the back of a hand, but no
protection against deliberate contact with a body part
1 Dripping water Dripping water (vertically falling drops) shall have no harmful effect
2 ≥ 12.5 mm diameter Fingers or similar objects 2
Dripping water when
tilted up to 15°
Vertically dripping water shall have no harmful effect when the
enclosure is tilted at an angle up to 15° from its normal position
3 ≥ 2.5 mm diameter Tools, thick wires, etc. 3 Spraying water
Water falling as a spray at any angle up to 60° from the vertical
shall have no harmful effect
4 ≥ 1 mm diameter Most wires, screws, etc. 4 Splashing water
Water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall
have no harmful effect
5 Dust protected
Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in
sufficient quantity to interfere with the satisfactory operation of
the equipment
5 Water jetting
Water projected by a nozzle (6.3 mm) against enclosure from any
direction shall have no harmful effects
6 Dust-tight No ingress of dust 6
Powerful water
jetting
Water projected in powerful jets (12.5 mm nozzle) against the
enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects
7
Temporary immersion
(up to 1 m)
Ingress of water in harmful quantity shall not be possible when
the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of
pressure and time
8
Continuous
immersion
The equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water under
conditions which shall be specified by the manufacturer
9
High pressure and
temperature water
jets
Water projected at high pressure and high temperature against the
enclosure from any direction shall not have harmful effects