REFERENCES
IP and NEMA Ratings – What Do They Mean?
Dust and water are often found together in industrial environments. Unfortunately, they can also be exceptionally harmful to electrical components. If a computer is being used in an environment where dust and moisture are prevalent, then the IP (Ingress Protection) and NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturer Association) ratings must be considered.P ratings are standards for electrical enclosures defined by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission). The rating refers to the degree of protection against water and dust provided by a computer's enclosure. The IP rating is expressed as a two-digit number (Example: IP-65). The first number designates protection from solids, while the second number designates protection from liquids. On the other hand, NEMA ratings are standards that are useful in defining the types of environments in which an electrical enclosure can be used. The NEMA rating system is defined by the NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturer Association), and frequently signifies a fixed enclosure’s ability to withstand certain environmental conditions.