Industry Definitions

Definitions Pertaining to Non-Hazardous Locations

Type 1 Enclosures

are constructed for indoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts and to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt).

Type 2 Enclosures

are constructed for indoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts, to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirty, and to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (dripping and light splashing).

Type 3 Enclosures

are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts, to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt) and windblown dusty, to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow), and that will be undamaged by external formation of ice on the enclosure.

Type 3R Enclosures

are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts, to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt) and windblown dusty, to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow), and that will be undamaged by external formation of ice on the enclosure.

Type 3S Enclosures

are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts, to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt and windblown dust) to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow), red for which the external mechanisms) remain operable when ice laden.

Type 3X Enclosures

are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts, to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt) and windblown dusty, to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow), that provides and additional level of protection against corrosion and that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.

Type 3XR Enclosures

are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts, to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt), to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow), that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure that provides an additional level of protection against corrosion, and that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.

Type 3SX Enclosures

are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts, to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt and windblown dusty, to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (rain, sleet, snowy, that provides an additional level of protection against corrosion, and for which the external mechanisms) remain operable when ice laden.

Type 4 Enclosures

are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts, to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt and windblown dusty, to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow, splashing water, and hose directed water), and that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.

Type 4X Enclosures

are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts, to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (windblown dusty, to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow, splashing water, and hose directed water), that provides an additional level of protection against corrosion, and that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.

Type 5 Enclosures

are constructed for indoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts, to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt and settling airborne dust, lint, fibers, and flyings), and to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (dripping and light splashing).

Type 6 Enclosures

are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts, to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt), to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (hose directed water and entry of water during occasional temporary submersion at a limited depths), and that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.

Type 6P Enclosures

are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts, to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt), to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (hose directed water and the entry of water during prolonged submersion at a limited depths), that provides an additional level of protection against corrosion that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.

Type 12 Enclosures

are constructed (without knockouts) for indoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts, to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt and circulating dust, lint, fibers, and flyings), and to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (dripping and light splashing).

Type 12K Enclosures

are constructed (with knockouts) for indoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts, to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt and circulating dust, lint, fibers, and flyings), and to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (dripping and light splashing).

Type 13 Enclosures

are constructed for indoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts, to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt and circulating dust, lint, fibers, and flyings), to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (dripping and light splashing), and to provide a degree of protection against the spraying, splashing, and seepage of oil and non-corrosive coolants.

Definitions Pertaining to Hazardous (Classified) Locations

Type 7 Enclosures

constructed for indoor use in hazardous locations classified as Class I, Division 1, Groups A, B, C, or D, as defined in NFPA70. NEMA 250-2003.

Type 8 Enclosures

constructed for either indoor or outdoor use in hazardous locations classified as Class I, Division 1, Groups A, B, C, or D, as defined in NFPA70. NEMA 250-2003.

Type 9 Enclosures

constructed for indoor use in hazardous locations classified as Class II, Division 1, Groups E, F, or G, as defined in NFPA70. NEMA 250-2003.

Type 10 Enclosures

constructed to meet the requirements of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, 30 CFR, Part 18. NEMA 250-2003. NEMA 250-2003.

Application for Enclosure Types

Type 1

general-purpose enclosures are suitable for general-purpose application indoors, where atmospheric conditions are normal. These enclosures serve as protection against falling dirt but are not dust tight.

Type 2

drip-tight (indoor) enclosures are similar to Type 1 enclosures, suitable for application where condensation may be severe, such as that encountered in cooling rooms or laundries.

Type 3

enclosures provide proper protection against windblown dust and weather hazards such as dirt, rain, sleet, or snow. They are suitable for application outdoors on ship docks, canal locks, construction work, and for application in subways and tunnels, use indoors where dripping water is a problem.

Type 3R

enclosures provide proper protection falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow, undamaged by external formation of ice. They are suitable for application outdoors, they will not withstand wind blown dust.

Type 4

watertight enclosures are suitable for dairies, breweries, etc., where the enclosure may be subjected to large amounts of water from any angle. (They are not submersible).

Type 4X

corrosion resistant enclosures satisfy the same requirements of Type 4, in addition, they are suitable for food processing plants, dairies, refineries, and other industries where corrosion is prominent.

Type 6

submersible enclosures are suitable for application where the equipment may be subject to occasional temporary submersion, such as quarries, mines, and manholes. The enclosure design will depend upon the specified conditions of pressure and time.

Type 9

hazardous location enclosures – Class II, Group E, F, or G. These enclosures are designed to meet the requirements of the “Canadian Electrical Code” Part I for Class II hazardous locations, and CSA codes section 18, Class II, Group E, F, and G.

Class II, Group E – atmospheres containing metal dust.

Class II, Group F – atmospheres containing carbon black, coal, or coke dust

Class II, Group G – atmospheres containing flour, starch, or grain dust

Type 12

industrial use enclosures protect against dripping and light splashing of liquids. Hammond Type 12 enclosures meet JIC standard and also satisfy requirements of NEMA.

Type 12K

industrial use enclosure same as type 12 but includes knockouts in the top and bottom end walls only.

Type 13

industrial use enclosures, protection against dust, spraying of water, oil, and non-corrosive coolant. These enclosures are suitable for application to machine tools and other industrial processing machines.

Others

Comparison of Specific Applications of Enclosures for Indoor Non Hazardous Locations

1 These enclosures may be ventilated
2 These fibers and flyings are nonhazardous materials and are not considered Class III type ignitable fibers or combustible flyings. For Class III type ignitable fibers or combustible flyings see the National Electrical Code, article 500.

Comparison of Specific Applications of Enclosures for Outdoor Non Hazardous Locations

1 These enclosures may be ventilated
2 External operating mechanisms are not required to be operable when the enclosure is ice covered.

Protection Grades IEC 529 (IEC/International Electrotechnical Commission)

The IEC has established an enclosure grading system that produces an IP rating. (For example, IP-54 – “5” is the first character – refer to tables I & II. “4” is the second character – refer to table III – following page).

Table I - Degrees of Protection against Hazardous Parts

Degree of protection is indicated by the first characteristic numberal

**NOTE: In the case of the first characteristic numerals 3, 4, 5 and 6, protection against access to hazardous parts is satisfied if adequate clearance is kept. Due to the simultaneous requirement specified in Table II the definition “shall not penetrate” is give in Table I.

Table II - Degrees of Protection against Solid Foreign Objects

Degree of protection is indicated by the first characteristic numeral

1 The full diameter of the object probe shall not pass through an opening of the enclosure.

Table III - Degrees of Protection against Water

Degree of protection is indicated by the second characteristic numeral

NEMA to IEC - Enclosure Rating Cross-Reference 1

(CANNOT be used to convert IEC Classification designations to NEMA Type Ratings)

1 This cross reference is an approximation of NEMA and IEC classifications for reference only. Please consult the appropriate agencies for requirements and test qualifications for complete information.