NEMA 250 Enclosure Ingress Protection Testing
NEMA 250 addresses the ingress protection of enclosures for electrical equipment rated at 1000 Volts or less. This equipment is intended to be installed and used in specific non-hazardous and hazardous locations. NEMA 250 has defined 20 different enclosure types offering various degrees of protection.
The enclosures are grouped by hazardous and non-hazardous locations as well as indoor, outdoor and mining. The level of protection includes protection against solids and water ingress. Below is a summary of each category and its specific enclosures:
Non-Hazardous (unclassified) locations NEMA 250 Enclosures:
- Indoor locations, Types 1, 2, 5, 12, 12K and 13.
- Indoor or outdoor locations, Types 3, 3X, 3R, 3RX, 3S, 3SX, 4, 4X, 6 and 6P.
Hazardous (classified) locations NEMA 250 Enclosures:
- Enclosures for indoor locations, Types 7 and 9.
- Enclosures for indoor or outdoor locations, Type 8.
- Enclosures for mining applications, Type 10.
This international standard assists in determining the ingress protection rating or ip rating. Testing NEMA enclosures includes testing for the entry of solid foreign objects. This includes items such as dust ingress, which are the smallest solid particles. The testing determines if solid particles create a harmful effect when they enter in sufficient quantity.
The liquid testing includes exposure to vertically dripping water and continuous immersion in water. The IP Code is based on the protection of both solids and liquids.
Keystone Compliance is a certified NEMA 250 testing lab. What sets Keystone Compliance’s NEMA testing apart is our experience in helping manufacturers determine ingress points. We partner with our customers to assist with identifying potential solutions. We also have significant expertise in interpreting the NEMA 250 standard.
If the unit that requires testing is too large to move, no problem. We have experience completing ingress protection testing at the customer’s facilities.
Why is Keystone Compliance the right NEMA 250 ingress protection lab to complete your ingress testing? Our customers enjoy our short lead times and ability to explain the process. Our team also offers consultative engineering support when failures occur and affordable pricing.
Contact us to receive a quote for ingress protection testing. Learn why we are the only ingress protection lab for so many manufacturers from around the country.
Click on the tabs below for more information on each of the 20 types of NEMA 250 enclosures:
NEMA Type 1
NEMA 250 Type 1 enclosures are defined as enclosures constructed for indoor use. These enclosures provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts and provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects such as falling dirt. For more information, please visit our NEMA 250 Type 1 enclosure testing page.
NEMA Type 2
NEMA 250 Type 2 enclosures are constructed for indoor use. These enclosures provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. They also provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against the ingress of solid foreign objects such as falling dirt. Lastly, these enclosures provide a degree of protection with respect to the harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of dripping water and light splashing water. For more information, please visit our NEMA Type 250 enclosure testing page.
NEMA Type 3
NEMA 250 Type 3 enclosures are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use. These enclosures provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. They also provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects such as falling dirt and windblown dust. These NEMA enclosures also provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water from rain, sleet, or snow. To be classified NEMA 250 Type 3, the enclosure must be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure. For more information, please visit our NEMA 250 Type 3 enclosure testing page.
NEMA Type 3R
NEMA 250 Type 3R enclosures are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. These enclosures provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects such as falling dirt. They also provide a degree of protection with respect to the harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water from events such as rain, sleet or snow. The enclosure must remain undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure. For more information, please visit our NEMA 250 Type 3R enclosure testing page.
NEMA Type 3S
NEMA 250 Type 3S enclosures are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. These enclosures provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects such as falling dirt and windblown dust. They also provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water such as rain, sleet or snow. NEMA 250 Type 3S enclosures also must permit any external mechanism(s) to remain operable when ice laden. For more information, please visit our NEMA 250 Type 3S enclosure testing page.
NEMA Type 3X
NEMA 250 Type 3X enclosures are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. These enclosures provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects including falling dirt and windblown dust. These NEMA enclosures provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of rain, sleet and snow. Type 3X containers provides an increased level of protection against corrosion and must be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure. For more information, please visit our NEMA Type 3X enclosure testing page.
NEMA Type RX
NEMA 250 Type 3RX enclosures are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. These NEMA containers provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects like falling dirt. They provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of rain, sleet or snow. NEMA Type 3RX enclosures must be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure and provide an increased level of protection against corrosion. For more information, please visit our NEMA 250 Type 3RX enclosure testing page.
NEMA Type 3SX
NEMA 250 Type 3SX enclosures are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects such as falling dirt and windblown dust. These enclosures provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water from rain, sleet or snow. They also provide an increased level of protection against corrosion. These enclosures must permit any external mechanism(s) to remain operable when ice laden. For more information, please visit our NEMA 250 Type 3SX enclosure testing page.
NEMA Type 4
NEMA 250 Type 4 enclosures are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use. These enclosures provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. They also provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects. Examples would be falling dirt and windblown dust. These enclosures provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of liquid such as rain, sleet, snow, splashing water and hose directed water. Lastly, Type 4 enclosures must be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure. For more information, please visit our NEMA 250 Type 4 enclosure testing page.
NEMA Type 4X
NEMA 250 Type 4X enclosures are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. These enclosures provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects such as falling dirt and windblown dust. They also provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water from rain, sleet, snow, splashing water and hose directed water. Lastly, these enclosures provide an increased level of protection against corrosion and must remain undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure. For more information, please visit our NEMA 250 Type 4X enclosure testing page.
NEMA Type 5
NEMA 250 Type 5 enclosures are constructed for indoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. These enclosures provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects such as falling dirt and settling airborne dust, lint, fibers and flyings. They also provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of dripping water and light splashing water. For more information, please visit our NEMA 250 Type 5 enclosure testing page.
NEMA Type 6
NEMA 250 Type 6 enclosures are constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. The enclosures provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects like falling dirt. They provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water such as hose directed water and the entry of water during occasional temporary submersion at a limited depth. Type 6 enclosures must be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure. For more information, please visit our NEMA 250 Type 6 enclosure testing page.
NEMA Type 6P
NEMA 250 Type 6P Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. These enclosures provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects like falling dirt. They provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of hose directed water and the entry of water during prolonged submersion at a limited depth. These enclosures provide an increased level of protection against corrosion and are undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure. For more information, please visit our NEMA 250 Type 6P enclosure testing page.
NEMA Type 12
NEMA 250 Type 12 enclosures are constructed without knockouts. They are for indoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. These enclosures provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects such as falling dirt and circulating dust, lint, fibers and flyings. Type 12 enclosures provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of dripping and light splashing water. They also provide a degree of protection against light splashing and seepage of oil and noncorrosive coolants. For more information, please visit our NEMA 250 Type 12 enclosure testing page.
NEMA Type 12K
NEMA 250 Type 12K enclosures are constructed with knockouts for indoor use. They provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. These enclosures provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects like falling dirt and circulating dust, lint, fibers, and flyings. They provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (dripping and light splashing). They also provide a degree of protection against light splashing and seepage of oil and non-corrosive coolants. For more information, please visit our NEMA 250 Type 12K enclosure testing page.
NEMA Type 13
NEMA 250 Type 13 enclosures are constructed for indoor use. They provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts. They also provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects such as falling dirt and circulating dust, lint, fibers, and flyings. Type 13 enclosures provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of dripping and light splashing water. They also provide a degree of protection against the spraying, splashing, and seepage of oil and non-corrosive coolants. For more information, please visit our NEMA 250 Type 13 enclosure testing page.