NEMA Ratings

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) is a self-regulating industry body that publishes standards for enclosures as well as other products for the electrical industry. These standards assist the end-user and the manufacturer in the identification and standardization of many electrical components.

  • NEMA 1: Indoor use primarily to provide a degree of protection against limited amounts of falling dirt.
  • NEMA 3: Outdoor use primarily to provide a degree of protection against rain, sleet, wind-blown dust, and damage from external ice formation.
  • NEMA 3R: Outdoor use primarily to provide a degree of protection against rain, sleet, and damage from external ice formation.
  • NEMA 4: Indoor or outdoor use primarily to provide a degree of protection against wind-blown dust and rain, splashing water, hose-directed water, and damage from external ice formation.
  • NEMA 4X: Indoor or outdoor use primarily to provide a degree or protection against corrosion, wind-blown dust and rain, splashing water, hose-directed water, and damage from external ice formation.
  • NEMA 12: Indoor use primarily to provide a degree of protection against dust, falling dirt, and dripping non-corrosive liquids.
  • NEMA 13: Indoor use primarily to provide a degree of protection against dust, spraying water, oil, and non-corrosive coolant.

NEMA Standards Publication No. 250 ‘Enclosures for Electrical Equipment (100 Volts Maximum)'

NEMA Standards Publication No.ICS6 ‘Enclosures for Industrial Controls & Systems'

National Electrical Manufacturers Association – 2101 L Street Northwest, Washington, DC, 20037

JIC Designation

The Joint Industry Council (JIC) was an organization of interested companies and associations primarily concerned with safety, efficiency, and maintenance of electrical apparatus as related to machine tools and similar industrial equipment. This concern led to the publication of two advisory standards:

  • EMP-1 ‘Electrical Standards for Mass Production Equipment’
  • EGP-1 ‘Electrical Standards for General Purpose Machine Tools’
  • Joint Industry Council - 7901 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA, 22101

CSA

The purpose of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) is to establish, maintain, and operate laboratories for the examination and testing of devices, systems, and materials to determine their relation to hazards to life and property.

  • CSA Standard C22.2 No.14 'Industrial Control Equipment for Use in Ordinary (Non-Hazardous) Locations.'
  • CSA Standard C22.2 No.40 'Cut-out, Junction and Pull Boxes'
  • CSA Standard C22.2 No.94 'Special Purpose Enclosures'
  • Canadian Standards Association - 178 Rexdale Boulevard, Rexdale, ON, M9W 1R3

UL

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to establish, maintain, and operate laboratories for the examination and testing of devices, systems, and materials to determine their relation to hazards to life and property.

  • UL 50 - Cabinets & Boxes
  • UL508 - Industrial Control Equipment
  • UL870 - Wireways, Auxiliary Gutters, & Associated Fittings
  • Underwriters Laboratories - 333 Pfingston Road, Northbrook, IL, 60062

IEC

The International Electrotechnical Commission is a European organization similar in scope to UL and CSA in North America. It provides, through the IEC 529, a system for specifications based on the degree of protection required by an electrical enclosure (IP).

  • IEC 529 'Classification of Degrees of Protection Provided by Enclosures'

OTHER

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