The Comprehensive Guide to NEMA Ratings Part 4

Type 6: these enclosures are engineered for both indoor and outdoor use. This rating provides protection for personnel using the electrical enclosure from hazardous parts. Can also prevent accidental contact from happening. It also offers protection for the equipment inside the enclosure from solid and water ingress. This ingress can be caused by falling dirt, foreign objects, hose directed water, water drippings, and occasional temporary submersion. It also offers protection from external ice formation on the enclosure. 

Type 6P: these enclosures are engineered for both indoor and outdoor use. This rating provides protection for personnel using the electrical enclosure from hazardous parts. Can also prevent accidental contact from happening. It also offers protection for the equipment inside the enclosure from solid and water ingress. This ingress can be caused by falling dirt, foreign objects, hose directed water, water drippings, and occasional temporary submersion. It also offers protection from external ice formation on the enclosure. Has an additional protection for corrosion compare to the previous rating. 

Type 12: these enclosures are engineered for both indoor and outdoor use. This rating provides protection for personnel using the electrical enclosure from hazardous parts. Can also prevent accidental contact from happening. It also offers protection for the equipment inside the enclosure from solid and water ingress. This ingress can be caused by falling dirt, foreign objects, circulating dust, lint, fibers, flyings, water dripping and light splashing. 

Type 12K: these enclosures are engineered for both indoor and outdoor use. This rating provides protection for personnel using the electrical enclosure from hazardous parts. Can also prevent accidental contact from happening. It also offers protection for the equipment inside the enclosure from solid and water ingress. This ingress can be caused by falling dirt, foreign objects, circulating dust, lint, fibers, flyings, water dripping and light splashing. 

Type 13: these enclosures are engineered for indooR. This rating provides protection for personnel using the electrical enclosure from hazardous parts. Can also prevent accidental contact from happening. It also offers protection for the equipment inside the enclosure from solid and water ingress. This ingress can be caused by falling dirt, foreign objects, circulating dust, lint, fibers, flyings, water dripping and light splashing. It can also give protection from spraying, splashing, and ingress of oil and non-corrosive coolants. 

Your chosen manufacturer of your desired enclosure rating should have a good and efficient database to find the right coding on their respective website and product literature. If you have any question about the enclosure or unsure what rating should be choosing, don’t assume. It will do more harm than good. Always keep in mind that IP code might be somehow related to NEMA code but they are not equal to each other. A good knowledge about these ratings is a good start. It is important to note however that the materials that can be used in making these enclosures should also be considered to highlight the ratings. When a design engineer goes for an enclosure manufacturing company, the ratings and materials should be clearly set.