NEMA motor protection levels and comparison with IEC-IP code
Comparison of Specific Applications of Enclosures for indoor Locations
**These fibers and flyings are not considered Class lll type ignitable fibers or combustible flyings.
Comparison of Specific Applications of Enclosures for indoor & Outdoor Locations
**External operating mechanisms are not required to be operable when the enclosure is ice covered.
***External operating mechanisms are operable when the enclosure is ice covered.
****These fibers and flyings are not considered Class III type ignitable fibers or combustible flyings.
Environmental conditions corresponding to the protection levels of NEMA motors:
NEMA-1
Enclosures constructed for indoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnelagainst access to hazardous parts and to provide a degree of protection of the equipmentinside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt).
NEMA-2
Enclosures constructed for indoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnelagainst access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of the equipmentinside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt); and, to provide adegree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress ofwater (dripping and light splashing).
NEMA-3
Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection topersonnel against access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of theequipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt andwindblown dust); to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on theequipment due to the ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow); and, that will be undamaged bythe external formation of ice on the enclosure.
NEMA-3R
Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection topersonnel against access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of theequipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt); toprovide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to theingress of water (rain, sleet, snow); and, that will be undamaged by the external formationof ice on the enclosure.
NEMA-3S
Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection topersonnel against access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of theequipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt andwindblown dust); to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on theequipment due to the ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow); and, for which the externalmechanism(s)remain operable when ice-laden.
NEMA-3X
Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection topersonnel against access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of theequipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt andwindblown dust); to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on theequipment due to the ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow); that provides an increased levelof protection against corrosion and that will be undamaged by the external formation of iceon the enclosure.
NEMA-3RX
Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection topersonnel against access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of theequipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt); toprovide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to theingress of water (rain, sleet, snow); that will be undamaged by the exteral formation of iceon the enclosure that provides an increased level of protection against corrosion.
NEMA-3SX
Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection topersonnel against access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of theequipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt andwindblown dust); to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on theequipment due to the ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow); that provides an increased levelof protection against corrosion; and for which the external mechanism(s) remain operablewhen ice-laden.
NEMA-4
Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection topersonnel against access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of theequipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt andwindblown dust); to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on theequipment due to the ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow, splashing water, and hosedirected water); and, that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on theenclosure.
NEMA-4X
Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection topersonnel against access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of theequipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt andwindblown dust); to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on theequipment due to the ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow, splashing water, and hosedirected water); that provides an increased level of protection against corrosion; and thatwill be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.
NEMA-5
Enclosures constructed for indoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnelagainst access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of the equipmentinside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt and settling dust.lint, fibers, and flyings); and, to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmfuleffects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (dripping and light splashing).
NEMA-6
Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection topersonnel against access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of theequipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt); toprovide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to theingress of water (hose directed water and the entry of water during occasional temporarysubmersion at a limited depth); and, that will be undamaged by the external formation of iceon the enclosure.
NEMA-6P
Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection topersonnel against access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of theequipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt); toprovide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to theingress of water (hose directed water and the entry of water during prolonged submersionat a limited depth); that provides an increased level of protection against corrosion and thatwill be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.
NEMA-12
Enclosures constructed (without knockouts) for indoor use to provide a degree of protectionto personnel against access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of theequipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt andcirculating dust, lint, fibers, and filyings); to provide a degree of protection with respect toharmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (dripping and light splashing)and to provide a degree of protection against light splashing and seepage of oil and non-corrosive coolants.
NEMA-12K
Enclosures constructed (with knockouts) for indoor use to provide a degree of protection topersonnel against access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of theequipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt andcirculating dust, lint, fibers, and flyings); and, to provide a degree of protection with respectto harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (dripping and lightsplashing) and to provide a degree of protection against light splashing and seepage of oiland non-corrosive coolants.
NAME-13
Enclosures constructed for indoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnelagainst access to hazardous parts; to provide a degree of protection of the equipmentinside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (faling dirt and circulating dust,lint, fibers, and flyings); to provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects onthe equipment due to the ingress of water (dripping and light splashing): and, to provide adegree of protection against the spraying, splashing, and seepage of oil and non-corrosivecoolants.
NAME-7
Explosion-proof enclosures demonstrating compliance with the requirements of ANS//UL1203 for use in hazardous (classified) locations classified as Class l, Division 1, Groups AB, C, or D as defined in ANSI/NFPA 70.
NEMA-9
Dust-ignition-proof enclosures demonstrating compliance with the requirements of ANS/UL1203 for use in hazardous (classified) locations classified as Class ll, Division 1, Groups EF, or G as defined in ANSI/NFPA 70.
Conversion of NEMA Enclosure Type Ratings to ANSI/IEC 60529 Enclosure Classification Designations (IP)
A = A shaded block in the "A" column indicates that the NEMA Enclosure Type exceeds the requlrements for the respective ANS/IEC 60529 IP First Character Desianation, The IP First Character Desiqnation is the protection against access to hazardous parts and solid foreign obiects
B = A shaded block in the "B" column indicates that the NEMA Enclosure Type exceeds the requirements for the respective ANS/IEC 60529 IP Second Character Desianation, The IP Second Character Designation is the protection against the ingress of water.
