There are two major electrical manufacturing organizations monitoring product enclosures and/or their degree of protection. Each organization also publishes technical manufacturing standards.
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Standard 250-2020 mainly addresses non-hazardous locations, enclosure design, and its environmental performance requirements. These are referred to as NEMA Types.
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 60529 Standard addresses Ingress Protection (IP). This describes the degree of protection provided, not the enclosure itself. The first digit of the IP Code designation describes the degree of protection against the ingress of solids, while the second digit designates the degree of protection against the ingress of liquids. IP Codes support NEMA Type designations.
The following information is taken from both electrical industry standards. The NEMA Ratings are matched with its IP counterpart, with a brief description given for each rating. There are no IP equivalents for NEMA 7 AND 9, which are for enclosures able to handle hazardous conditions.
| NEMA Rating | IP Equivalent | NEMA Definition | IP Against Objects | IP Against Liquids |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IP20 | Enclosures constructed for indoor use; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt; and to fundamental protection. | 2 = Protected against solid foreign objects of 12 mm (.47 in) diameter and greater. | 0 = Not protected |
| 2 | IP22 | Enclosures constructed for indoor use; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt, and to provide a degree of protection against dripping and light splashing of liquids. | 2 = Protected against solid foreign objects of 12 mm (.47 in) diameter and greater. | 2 = Protected against direct sprays of water up to 15° from vertical. |
| 3 | IP55 | Enclosures constructed for indoor or outdoor use, especially around construction sites, ship docks, tunnels, and subway trains; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow, and windblown dust; and that will be undamaged by external formation of ice on the enclosure. | 5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit) | 5 = Protected against low pressure water jets from any direction; limited ingress permitted. |
| 3R | IP24 | Enclosures constructed for indoor or outdoor use; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt, rain, sleet, and snow; and that will be undamaged by external formation of ice on the enclosure. | 2 = Protected against solid foreign objects of 12 mm (.47 in) diameter and greater. | 4 = Protected against water sprayed from all directions; limited to ingress permitted |
| 3RX | IP24 | Enclosures constructed for indoor or outdoor use, commonly used in places where there is exposure to saltwater; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow, and windblown dust; protection against corrosion; and that will be undamaged by external formation of ice on the enclosure. | 2 = Protected against solid foreign objects of 12 mm (.47 in) diameter and greater. | 4 = Protected against water sprayed from all directions; limited to ingress permitted |
| 3S | IP55 | Enclosures constructed for indoor or outdoor use; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow, and windblown dust; and in which the external mechanism(s) remain operable when ice laden. | 5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit). | 5 = Protected against low pressure water jets from any direction; limited ingress permitted. |
| 3SX | IP55 | Enclosures constructed for indoor or outdoor use, commonly used in places where there is exposure to saltwater; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow, and windblown dust; protection against corrosion; that will be undamaged by external formation of ice on the enclosure; and in which the external mechanism(s) remain operable when ice laden. | 5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit). | 5 = Protected against low pressure water jets from any direction; limited ingress permitted. |
| 3X | IP55 | Enclosures constructed for indoor or outdoor use, commonly used in places where there is exposure to saltwater; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow, and windblown dust; protection against corrosion; and that will be undamaged by external formation of ice on the enclosure. | 5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit). | 5 = Protected against low pressure water jets from any direction; limited ingress permitted. |
| 4 | IP56 | Enclosures constructed for indoor or outdoor use, often ship docks, wastewater treatment plants, breweries, and dairies; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow, windblown dust, splashing water, and hose-directed water; and that will be undamaged by external formation of ice on the enclosure. | 5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit) | 6 = Protected against strong jets of water from all directions; limited to ingress permitted |
| 4X | IP56 | Enclosures constructed for indoor or outdoor use, often ship docks, wastewater treatment plants, breweries, and dairies; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow, windblown dust, splashing water, corrosion, and hose-directed water; and that will be undamaged by external formation of ice on the enclosure | 5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit) | 6 = Protected against strong jets of water from all directions; limited to ingress permitted |
| 5 | IP53 | Enclosures constructed for indoor use, often in cement plants and steel mills; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt; against settling airborne dust, lint, fibers, and filings: and to provide a degree of protection against dripping, and light splashing of liquids. | 5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit) | 3 = Protected against direct sprays of water up to 60° from the vertical |
| 6 | IP67 | Enclosures constructed for indoor or outdoor use, frequently in manholes, quarries, and mines; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt; against hose-directed water and the entry of water during occasional temporary submersion at a limited depth; and that will be undamaged by external formation of ice on the enclosure. | 6 = Totally protected against entry of dust | 7 = Protected against effects of submersion from 15 cm (6 in) to 1 m (3 ft) |
| 6P | IP68 | Enclosures constructed for indoor or outdoor use, frequently in manholes, quarries, and mines; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt; against hose-directed water and the entry of water during occasional prolonged submersion at a limited depth; and that will be undamaged by external formation of ice on the enclosure. | 6 = Totally protected against entry of dust | 8 = Protected against the effects of occasional submersion in water, up to 10 m (33 ft) |
| 7 | N/A | Enclosures where there are distinct hazardous conditions present; and enclosures constructed for indoor or outdoor use in Class I, and Groups A, B, C, and D locations. | N/A | N/A |
| 9 | N/A | Enclosures where there are distinct hazardous conditions present; and enclosures constructed for indoor or outdoor use in locations classified as Class II, and Groups E, F, and G locations. | N/A | N/A |
| 12 | IP54 | Enclosures constructed (without knockouts) for indoor use; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt; against circulating dust, lint, fibers and filings: and to provide a degree of protection against dripping and light splashing of liquids. | 5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit) | 4 = Protected against water sprayed from all directions; limited to ingress permitted |
| 12K | IP55 | Enclosures constructed with knockout(s) for indoor use; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt; against circulating dust, lint, fibers, and filings: against non-corrosive fluids; and to provide a degree of protection against dripping and light splashing of liquids. | 5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit) | 5 = Protected against low pressure water jets from any direction; limited ingress permitted. |
| 13 | IP54 | Enclosures constructed for indoor use; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt; against circulating dust, lint, fibers, and filings: and against the spraying, splashing and seepage of water, oil, and non-corrosive coolants. | 5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit) | 4 = Protected against water sprayed from all directions; limited to ingress permitted |
