Information about NEMA and IP Enclosures

NEMA and IP enclosures are designed to house electrical components, protect personnel from accidental injury, and prevent the ingress of environmental contaminants such as dust and water. NEMA enclosures are rated by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), a non-profit organization that recommends safety standards for electrical equipment. IP enclosures comply with Ingress Protection (IP) standards from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). There are many types of NEMA and IP enclosures. Examples include electronic and instrument enclosures, operator interface enclosures, console enclosures, consolet enclosures, pushbutton enclosures, personal computer (PC) enclosures, rack enclosures, modular enclosures, and terminal and junction boxes. NEMA and IP enclosures are rectangular or T-shaped and available in many different sizes. Length, width, and height are important dimensions. Inside length, inside width, and inside height are also important considerations. Because some NEMA and IP enclosures can be mounted in several different ways, suppliers recommend viewing product pictures or diagrams to determine which dimensions refer to length and which dimensions refer to width.

Products & Services Related to NEMA and IP Enclosures

Console and Consolet Enclosures

Console and consolet enclosures are freestanding structures with a sloped front or top for mounting electric or electronic control components. They protect sensitive equipment such as computer monitors in harsh, wet, dirty, or dusty environments.

Electronic and Instrument Enclosures

Electronic enclosures and instrument enclosures house electronic components and instruments. They are usually designed for handheld or desktop applications.

Industrial Enclosures

Industrial enclosures are used to house electronic components, equipment and devices. They are designed to protect personnel from accidental injury and to prevent the ingress of environmental contaminants.

Modular Enclosures

Modular enclosures consist of smaller components that can be assembled to create custom enclosures, often for temporary or mobile systems. These modular components are available in standard sizes and allow modular enclosures to be used for a variety of purposes.

Operator Interface Enclosures

Operator interface enclosures are used to house industrial controls such as display screens, pushbuttons, keyboards, lights, and other operator control devices. They are usually mounted on suspension/pendant systems or pedestals.

PC Enclosures

PC enclosures are designed to protect personal computers (PCs) in industrial or office environments. They are designed to prevent the ingress of environmental contaminants such as dust and water and can be used to integrate a monitor, central processing unit (CPU), keyboard, and printer into one cabinet.

Rack Enclosures

Rack enclosures (rack cabinets, laboratory enclosures) are used to house standard 19 in. rack-mounted components or other standard-sized devices.