NEMA Enclosure ratings define where an enclosure was designed to be used and the level of protection it was designed to provide.
In the electrical world, NEMA stands for National Electrical Manufacturers Association, an association of US based equipment manufacturers that produce standards used by many equipment manufacturers.
Below is our NEMA Enclosure ratings list for beginners.
- See Best NEMA Enclosures for our manufacturer recommendations.
NEMA Enclosure Ratings for beginners
| Enclosure Rating | Popularity | Definition |
| NEMA Type 1 | Popular | General-purpose. Protects against dust, light, and indirect splashing but is not dust-tight; primarily prevents contact with live parts; used indoors and under normal atmospheric conditions. |
| NEMA Type 3R | Popular | Intended for outdoor use. Provides a degree of protection against falling rain and ice formation. Meets rod entry, rain, external icing, and rust-resistance design tests. |
| NEMA Type 4, 4X | Popular | Watertight (weatherproof). Must exclude at least 65 GPM of water from 1-in. nozzle delivered from a distance not less than 10 ft for 5 min. Used outdoors on ship docks, in dairies, and in breweries. The 4X model has corrosion resistance. |
| NEMA Type 7 | Popular | Hazardous. For indoor use in Class I, Groups A, B, C, and D environments as defined in the NEC. |
| NEMA Type 12 | Popular | General-purpose. Intended for indoor use, provides some protection against dust, falling dirt, and dripping noncorrosive liquids. Meets drip, dust, and rust resistance tests. |
Entire list of NEMA Enclosure Ratings
| Enclosure Rating | Popularity | Definition |
| NEMA Type 1 | Popular | General-purpose. Protects against dust, light, and indirect splashing but is not dust-tight; primarily prevents contact with live parts; used indoors and under normal atmospheric conditions. |
| NEMA Type 2 | Rare | Drip-tight. Similar to Type 1 but with addition of drip shields; used where condensation may be severe (as in cooling and laundry rooms). |
| NEMA Type 3, 3S, 3X | Rare | Weather-resistant. Protects against weather hazards such as rain and sleet; used outdoors on ship docks, in construction work, and in tunnels and subways. 3X includes corrosions. |
| NEMA Type 3R | Popular | Intended for outdoor use. Provides a degree of protection against falling rain and ice formation. Meets rod entry, rain, external icing, and rust-resistance design tests. |
| NEMA Type 4, 4X | Popular | Watertight (weatherproof). Must exclude at least 65 GPM of water from 1-in. nozzle delivered from a distance not less than 10 ft for 5 min. Used outdoors on ship docks, in dairies, and in breweries. The 4X model has corrosion resistance. |
| NEMA Type 5 | Rare | Dust-tight. Provided with gaskets or equivalent to exclude dust; used in steel mills and cement plants. |
| NEMA Type 6, 6P | Rare | Submersible. Design depends on specified conditions of pressure and time; submersible in water or oil; used in quarries, mines, and manholes. |
| NEMA Type 7 | Popular | Hazardous. For indoor use in Class I, Groups A, B, C, and D environments as defined in the NEC. |
| NEMA Type 8 | Rare | Hazardous. For indoor and outdoor use in locations classified as Class I, Groups A, B, C, and D as defined in the NEC. |
| NEMA Type 9 | Rare | Hazardous. For indoor and outdoor use in locations classified as Class II, Groups E, F, or G as defined in the NEC. |
| NEMA Type 10 | Rare | MSHA. Meets the requirements of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, 30 CFR Part 18 (1978). |
| NEMA Type 11 | Rare | General-purpose. Protects against the corrosive effects of liquids and gases. Meets drip and corrosion-resistance tests. |
| NEMA Type 12, 12K | Popular | General-purpose. Intended for indoor use, provides some protection against dust, falling dirt, and dripping noncorrosive liquids. Meets drip, dust, and rust resistance tests. |
| NEMA Type 13 | Rare | General-purpose. Primarily used to provide protection against dust, spraying of water and noncorrosive coolants. Meets oil exclusion and rust resistance design tests. |