NEMA Enclosure Type Classifications
NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) enclosure type classifications are a system used to categorize and specify the
environmental protection and safety features of electrical enclosures. These NEMA enclosure types ensure that electrical equipment is appropriately
shielded from environmental elements, allowing them to function reliably and safely in diverse settings, from indoor environments to outdoor and
marine applications. Proper selection of the NEMA enclosure type is crucial for safeguarding electrical components and ensuring their longevity and performance.
NEMA Enclosure Type Chart
= Constructed for Indoor Use
|
= Constructed for Indoor and Outdoor Use
| A Degree of Protection Against: |
NEMA Type 1 |
NEMA Type 2 |
NEMA Type 3 |
NEMA Type 3R |
NEMA Type 3S |
NEMA Type 4 |
NEMA Type 4X |
NEMA Type 5 |
NEMA Type 6 |
NEMA Type 6P |
NEMA Type 7 |
NEMA Type 9 |
NEMA Type 12 |
NEMA Type 12K |
NEMA Type 13 |
| Personal Contact with Enclosed Equipment |
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| Falling Dirt |
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--- |
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| Windblown Dust |
--- |
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--- |
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--- |
--- |
--- |
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|
--- |
--- |
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| Air-Born Dust, Lint, Fibers, Flyings |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
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--- |
--- |
--- |
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| Seepage of Water, Oil, Non‑Corrosive Coolants |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
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| Corrosion |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
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--- |
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--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
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| Liquid: Dripping and Minor Splashing |
--- |
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--- |
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--- |
--- |
--- |
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| Hose‑Directed Water |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
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--- |
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--- |
--- |
--- |
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| Rain, Sleet, Snow |
--- |
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--- |
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--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
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| Temporary Submersion |
--- |
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--- |
--- |
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--- |
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| Prolonged Submersion |
--- |
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--- |
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--- |
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--- |
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--- |
--- |
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| Damage from External Ice Formation |
--- |
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| Inoperation from External Ice Formation |
--- |
--- |
--- |
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--- |
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--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
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| Pressure from Internal Explosion Igniting External Gas |
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--- |
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--- |
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--- |
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--- |
--- |
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| Internal High Heat Igniting External Gas-Air |
--- |
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--- |
--- |
--- |
--- |
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--- |
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| Internal High Heat Igniting External Dust-Air |
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= Constructed for Indoor Use
= Constructed for Indoor and Outdoor Use
| A Degree of Protection Against: |
NEMA Type 1 |
NEMA Type 2 |
NEMA Type 3 |
| Personal Contact with Enclosed Equipment |
|
|
|
| Falling Dirt |
|
|
|
| Windblown Dust |
--- |
--- |
|
| Air-Born Dust, Lint, Fibers, Flyings |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Seepage of Water, Oil, Non‑Corrosive Coolants |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Corrosion |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Liquid: Dripping and Minor Splashing |
--- |
|
--- |
| Hose‑Directed Water |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Rain, Sleet, Snow |
--- |
--- |
|
| Temporary Submersion |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Prolonged Submersion |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Damage from External Ice Formation |
--- |
--- |
|
| Inoperation from External Ice Formation |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Pressure from Internal Explosion Ignites External Gas |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Internal High Heat Ignites External Dust |
--- |
--- |
--- |
= Constructed for Indoor Use
= Constructed for Indoor and Outdoor Use
| A Degree of Protection Against: |
NEMA Type 3R |
NEMA Type 3S |
NEMA Type 4 |
| Personal Contact with Enclosed Equipment |
|
|
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| Falling Dirt |
|
|
|
| Windblown Dust |
--- |
|
|
| Air-Born Dust, Lint, Fibers, Flyings |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Seepage of Water, Oil, Non-Corrosive Coolants |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Corrosion |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Liquid: Dripping and Minor Splashing |
--- |
--- |
|
| Hose-Directed Water |
--- |
--- |
|
| Rain, Sleet, Snow |
|
|
|
| Temporary Submersion |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Prolonged Submersion |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Damage from External Ice Formation |
|
--- |
|
| Inoperation from External Ice Formation |
--- |
|
--- |
| Internal High Heat Ignites External Dust |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Pressure from Internal Explosion Ignites External Gas |
--- |
--- |
--- |
= Constructed for Indoor Use
= Constructed for Indoor and Outdoor Use
| A Degree of Protection Against: |
NEMA Type 4X |
NEMA Type 5 |
NEMA Type 6 |
| Personal Contact with Enclosed Equipment |
|
|
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| Falling Dirt |
|
|
|
| Windblown Dust |
|
--- |
--- |
| Air-Born Dust, Lint, Fibers, Flyings |
--- |
|
--- |
| Seepage of Water, Oil, Non-Corrosive Coolants |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Corrosion |
|
--- |
--- |
| Liquid: Dripping and Minor Splashing |
|
|
--- |
| Hose-Directed Water |
|
--- |
|
| Rain, Sleet, Snow |
|
--- |
--- |
| Temporary Submersion |
--- |
--- |
|
| Prolonged Submersion |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Damage from External Ice Formation |
|
--- |
|
| Inoperation from External Ice Formation |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Pressure from Internal Explosion Ignites External Gas |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Internal High Heat Ignites External Dust |
--- |
--- |
--- |
= Constructed for Indoor Use
= Constructed for Indoor and Outdoor Use
| A Degree of Protection Against: |
NEMA Type 6P |
NEMA Type 7 |
NEMA Type 9 |
| Personal Contact with Enclosed Equipment |
|
|
|
| Falling Dirt |
|
--- |
--- |
| Windblown Dust |
--- |
--- |
|
| Air-Born Dust, Lint, Fibers, Flyings |
--- |
|
|
| Seepage of Water, Oil, Non-Corrosive Coolants |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Corrosion |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Liquid: Dripping and Minor Splashing |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Hose-Directed Water |
|
--- |
--- |
| Rain, Sleet, Snow |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Temporary Submersion |
|
--- |
--- |
| Prolonged Submersion |
|
--- |
--- |
| Damage from External Ice Formation |
|
--- |
--- |
| Inoperation from External Ice Formation |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Pressure from Internal Explosion Ignites External Gas |
--- |
|
--- |
| Internal High Heat Ignites External Dust |
--- |
--- |
|
= Constructed for Indoor Use
= Constructed for Indoor and Outdoor Use
| A Degree of Protection Against: |
NEMA Type 12 |
NEMA Type 12K |
NEMA Type 13 |
| Personal Contact with Enclosed Equipment |
|
|
|
| Falling Dirt |
|
|
|
| Windblown Dust |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Air-Born Dust, Lint, Fibers, Flyings |
|
|
|
| Seepage of Water, Oil, Non-Corrosive Coolants |
--- |
--- |
|
| Corrosion |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Liquid: Dripping and Minor Splashing |
|
|
|
| Hose-Directed Water |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Rain, Sleet, Snow |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Temporary Submersion |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Prolonged Submersion |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Damage from External Ice Formation |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Inoperation from External Ice Formation |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Pressure from Internal Explosion Ignites External Gas |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| Internal High Heat Ignites External Dust |
--- |
--- |
--- |
NEMA Type 1 Enclosure
A NEMA Type 1 Enclosure is 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
Shop NEMA Type 1 Enclosure
NEMA Type 2 Enclosure
A NEMA Type 2 Enclosure is 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
- To provide a degree of protection against dripping and light splashing of liquids.
NEMA Type 3 Enclosure
A NEMA Type 3 Enclosure is constructed for either 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
- That will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure
Shop NEMA Type 3 Enclosure
NEMA Type 3R Enclosure
A NEMA Type 3R Enclosure is constructed for either 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
- That will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure
Shop NEMA Type 3R Enclosure
NEMA Type 3S Enclosure
A NEMA Type 3S Enclosure is constructed for either 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
- NEMA Type 3S Enclosure external mechanism(s) remain operable when ice laden
Shop NEMA Type 3S Enclosure
NEMA Type 4 Enclosure
A NEMA Type 4 Enclosure is constructed for either 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, windblown dust, splashing water, and hose-directed water
- A NEMA Type 4 Enclosure will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure
Shop NEMA Type 4 Enclosure
NEMA Type 4X Enclosure
A NEMA Type 4X Enclosure is constructed for either 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, windblown dust, splashing water, and hose-directed water
- To provide a degree of protection against corrosion
- A NEMA Type 4X Enclosure will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure
Shop NEMA Type 4X Enclosure
NEMA Type 5 Enclosure
A NEMA Type 5 Enclosure is 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
- To provide a degree of protection against settling airborn dust, lint, fibers, and flyings
- To provide a degree of protection against dripping and light splashing liquids
Shop NEMA Type 5 Enclosure
NEMA Type 6 Enclosure
A NEMA Type 6 Enclosure is constructed for either 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
- To provide a degree of protection against hose-directed water and the entry of water during occasional temporary submersion at a limited depth
- A NEMA Type 6 Enclosure will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure
Shop NEMA Type 6 Enclosure
NEMA Type 6P Enclosure
A NEMA Type 6P Enclosure is constructed for either 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
- To provide a degree of protection against hose-directed water and the entry of water during prolonged submersion at a limited depth
- A NEMA Type 6P Enclosure will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure
Shop NEMA Type 6P Junction Box
NEMA Type 7 Enclosure
A NEMA Type 7 Enclosure is for indoor use in locations classified by the NEC® 500 as Class I, Groups A, B, C, or D
- A NEMA Type 7 enclosure shall be capable of withstanding the pressures resulting from an internal explosion of specified gases, and contain such an explosion sufficiently
that an explosive gas-air mixture existing in the atmosphere surrounding the enclosure will not be ignited
- Enclosed heat generating devices shall not cause external surfaces to reach temperatures capable of igniting explosive gas-air mixtures in the surrounding
atmosphere
- A NEMA Type 7 enclosure shall meet explosion, hydro-static, and temperature design tests
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NEMA Type 9 Enclosure
A NEMA Type 9 Enclosure is intended for indoor use in locations classified by the NEC® 500 as Class II, Groups E, F, or G
- A NEMA Type 9 Enclosure shall be capable of preventing the entrance of dust
- Enclosed heat generating devices shall not cause external surfaces to reach temperatures capable of igniting or discoloring dust on the enclosure or
igniting dust-air mixtures in the surrounding atmosphere
- A NEMA Type 9 Enclosure shall meet dust penetration and temperature design tests, and aging of gaskets (if used)
Shop NEMA Type 9 Enclosure
NEMA Type 12 Enclosure
A NEMA Type 12 Enclosure is 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
- To provide a degree of protection against circulating dust, lint, fibers, and flyings
- To provide a degree of protection against dripping and light splashing of liquids
Shop NEMA Type 12 Junction Box
NEMA Type 12K Enclosure
A NEMA Type 12K Enclosure is constructed (with 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
- To provide a degree of protection against circulating dust, lint, fibers, and flyings
- To provide a degree of protection against dripping and light splashing of liquids
NEMA Type 13 Enclosure
A NEMA Type 13 Enclosure is 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
- To provide a degree of protection against circulating dust, lint, fibers, and flyings
- To provide a degree of protection against spraying, splashing, and seepage of water, oil, and non-corrosive coolants
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Warning: When using this information to perform electrical work, call a licensed electrician and consult the NEC® for safety. All
licensed electricians have passed examinations covering the National Electric Code®, know state and local building codes, and may carry insurance to cover damages.