NEMA

There are two major electrical manufacturing organizations monitoring product enclosures and/or their degree of protection; each organization also publishes technical manufacturing standards. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Standard No. 250 – 2003 addresses non-hazardous locations, enclosure design and its environmental performance requirements. These are referred to as NEMA Types. (www.nema.org)

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 60529 Standard addresses Ingress Protection (IP); this describes the degree of enclosure protection provided, not the enclosure itself. The first digit of the IP rating designation describes the degree of protection against the ingress of solids; the second digit designates the degree of protection against the ingress of liquids. IP rating support NEMA Type designations. (www.iec.ch)

Tough Corps rugged laptops, rugged tablets and rugged PDA’s are designed to exceed Standard Sections NEMA 6 and IP65; these rugged devices incorporate a range of environmentally-sealed connectors and enclosures engineered to provide a safe and secure dust and waterproof environment in harsh rugged conditions, meeting NEMA 6 and IP65.

The following information is taken from both electrical industry Standards; it matches NEMA Ratings with its IP counterpart, with a brief description of each rating.

NEMA Rating	IP Equivalent	NEMA Definition	IP Against Objects	IP Against Liquids
1	IP10	Enclosures constructed for indoor use; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment and to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt.	1 = Protected against solid foreign objects of 5 cm (2 in) in diameter and greater	0 = Not protected
2	IP11	Enclosures 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, and to provide a degree of protection against dripping and light splashing of liquids.	1 = Protected against solid foreign objects of 5 cm (2 in) in diameter and greater.	1 = Protected against vertically falling water drops.
3	IP54	Enclosures constructed for 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; and that will be undamaged by external formation of ice on the enclosure.	5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit).	4 = Protected against water sprayed from all directions; limited to ingress permitted.
3R	IP14	Enclosures constructed for 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; and that will be undamaged by external formation of ice on the enclosure.	1 = Protected against solid foreign objects of 5 cm (2 in) in diameter and greater.	4 = Protected against water sprayed from all directions; limited to ingress permitted.
3S	IP54	Enclosures constructed for 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; and in which the external mechanism(s) remain operable when ice laden.	5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit).	4 = Protected against water sprayed from all directions; limited to ingress permitted.
4	IP56	Enclosures constructed for 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; and that will be undamaged by external formation of ice on the enclosure.	5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit)	6 = Protected against strong jets of water from all directions; limited to ingree permitted
4X	IP56	Enclosures constructed for 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, and corrosion; and that will be undamaged by external formation of ice on the enclosure.	5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit).	6 = Protected against strong jets of water from all directions; limited to ingree permitted.
5	IP52	Enclosures 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; against settling airborne dust, lint, fibers and flyings: and to provide a degree of protection against dripping and light splashing of liquids.	5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit).	2 = Protected against direct sprays of water up to 15° from the vertical.
6	IP67	Enclosures constructed for 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; against hose-directed water and the entry of water during occasional temporary submersion at a limited depth; and that will be undamaged by external formation of ice on the enclosure.	6 = Totally protected against entry of dust.	7 = Protected against effects of submersion from 15 cm (6 in) to 1 m (3 ft).
6P	IP68	Enclosures constructed for 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; against hose-directed water and the entry of water during occasional prolonged submersion at a limited depth; and that will be undamaged by external formation of ice on the enclosure.	6 = Totally protected against entry of dust.	8 = Protected against the effects of occasional submersion in water, up to 10 m (33 ft).
12	IP52	Enclosures constructed with knockout(s) 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; against circulating dust, lint, fibers and flyings: and to provide a degree of protection to against dripping and light splashing of liquids.	5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit).	2 = Protected against direct sprays of water up to 15° from the vertical.
12K	IP52	Enclosures constructed with knockout(s) 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; against circulating dust, lint, fibers and flyings: and to provide a degree of protection to against dripping and light splashing of liquids.	5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit).	2 = Protected against direct sprays of water up to 15° from the vertical.
13	IP54	IP54 Enclosures 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; against circulating dust, lint, fibers and flyings: and against the spraying, splashing and seepage of water, oil and non-corrosive coolants.	5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit).	4 = Protected against water sprayed from all directions; limited to ingress permitted.