Buying the right electrical enclosure is the first consideration to ensure the proper functioning of electrical equipment, mainly in terms of size, material, internal construction, and degree of protection.

Today, we will discuss the IP rating system, a common system used around the world to rate the quality of protection provided by electrical enclosures. More specifically, we will discuss what the IP67 rating means and when it is most likely to be used. Finally, we will discuss several of HIGHYI’s many high-quality enclosures to help you choose the most suitable housing to protect your important equipment.

What Does IP67 Mean? 

‌IP rating‌, or Ingress Protection (IP) rating, is a standard established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to describe the level of protection provided by the enclosure of electrical equipment against the intrusion of foreign objects. The IP rating consists of two numbers, the first number indicates the level of dust protection, and the second number indicates the level of water resistance.‌http://www.iec.ch/index.htm

The first digit (6) of IP67 is the highest level of protection against solid intrusion, such as dust, dirt or finger contact. The second digit (7) indicates a high level of protection against liquids, such as rain, dew or dirty water splashed by vehicles. In general, IP67-rated enclosures are required to withstand most solid dust intrusion and can be immersed in a depth of 150 mm to 1000 mm (1 meter) for not less than 30 minutes. IP67-rated enclosures are guaranteed to work properly in indoor, outdoor, wet and harsh industrial and commercial environments.

See How HIGHYI Enclosure performs with IP 67:

How to choose your wanted IP rating？

After understanding the meaning of IP, you can determine what level of protection your device needs to resist the impact of the environment.

We recommend that you refer to the chart and describe the protection level of solids and liquids to determine the waterproof level.

Of course, you can also directly consider using a high-level IP level, which can cover the requirements of a lower level of protection level,

such as considering trying our HIGHYI IP67 cast aluminum waterproof box/plastic waterproof box.

Where Are IP67-Rated Enclosures Used?

IP67-rated enclosures are used in many areas:

• Industrial : In manufacturing plants to protect components from dust and in outdoor power equipment against dust and water.
• Transportation:Under the hood in vehicles and for marine equipment to endure water and dust exposure.
• Outdoor & Infrastructure : For traffic control systems and telecommunication base stations outdoors.
• Food & Beverage In processing plants during cleaning and in wet environments.
• Agriculture For irrigation system control units exposed to dust and water in fields.

Where Are Difference Between IP Rating and NEMA Enclosures?

NEMA Enclosures

Testing: NEMA has its own testing methods that are specific to its standards. These tests take into account different factors relevant to the North American market and industrial usage scenarios. The NEMA ratings are more commonly used and specified within the United States and Canada in particular.

Protection Level: NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) enclosures have their own set of ratings. While they have some similarities to IP ratings in terms of protecting against dust and water, they also offer additional aspects. For example, NEMA ratings can include protection against corrosion and atmospheric gases, which isn’t covered by the basic IP ratings. NEMA enclosures are designed to be used in North American industrial applications and are tailored to the specific environmental challenges often faced in that region, like dealing with harsher industrial chemicals or certain climate conditions.

Key Differences

• Scope of Protection: IP67 mainly focuses on dust and water protection. In contrast, NEMA enclosures may offer broader protection that can extend to issues like corrosion and gas protection, depending on the specific NEMA rating.
• Geographical Prevalence: IP67 is an international standard and is used worldwide. NEMA enclosures and their ratings are more prevalent in North America, although they can be found in other regions where there is compatibility with North American industrial equipment or specific requirements aligning with NEMA’s additional protection features.
• Size and Cost: NEMA enclosures generally tend to be larger in size compared to some enclosures designed to meet just the IP67 standard. They also often come at a higher cost due to their more comprehensive protection features and the fact that they are typically built for harsher industrial environments. This can make them less suitable for applications where space is limited or cost is a major factor, whereas IP67 enclosures can be a more compact and cost-effective choice when only basic dust and water protection is needed.
• Application Suitability: For applications where the main concern is simple dust and water protection in a relatively normal environmental context (like in many consumer electronics or some outdoor installations in milder climates), IP67-rated enclosures might be sufficient. However, in industrial settings in North America that deal with more extreme chemical exposures, harsh weather combined with industrial pollutants, or where protection against corrosion is crucial, NEMA enclosures with appropriate ratings would be a better fit.