bl1701-ip-rated-enclosures

January 2017

Getting the right IP rating for your industrial electronic enclosures is crucial. Get it wrong and you risk making a very expensive mistake. IP ratings (and their US NEMA equivalents) are only the start of the specifying journey but they are a vital first step…

IP65, IP66, IP67, IP69k – Get The Right IP Rating

There are many standards of ‘waterproof’ so make sure your IP rating is the right one for your electronics. If in doubt, play safe. Over-specification is always better than trying to squeak by on a lower IP rating. It’s just not worth the risk.

The first digit of the IP rating needs to start with a ‘6’. That guarantees complete protection from dust ingress.

The second digit determines water ingress. Industrial electronic enclosures are usually rated IP 65 or higher:

• IP65 enclosures can cope with water jets (6.3 mm nozzle) splashing against the enclosure from all directions (12.5 litres/minute for three minutes)
• IP66 housings can withstand strong water jets (12.5 mm nozzle) from any direction (100 litres/minute for three minutes)
• IP67 cases can be immersed in up to one metre of water for 30 minutes
• IP69k enclosures can handle close-range high pressure wash downs (14-16 litres/minute for 30 seconds x four angles – two minutes in total).

But remember – all that protection could be compromized if you have to remove the lid when installing the enclosure in foul weather or other challenging environments.

Solution: specify enclosures which can be installed ‘lid closed’ – protecting the seal and the electronics. For example, see our latest aluDISC, aluCASE, aluCLIC, aluPLUS and technoPLUS enclosures.

Which Material is Best For Your Industrial Electronic Enclosures?

It’s easy to pigeonhole materials – plastic for indoor, metal for outdoor – but that’s missing a trick. There’s much more to it than that. And plenty of opportunities to be gained by digging deeper:

• Diecast aluminum enclosures are more robust than plastic, lighter than steel and offer excellent value. It’s also possible to specify enclosures with built-in RFI/EMI contact ridges, removing the need for a special shielded gasket.
• Stainless steel (A2 or A4) enclosures (IP66/67/69k) are extremely tough. Specify them for marine/offshore applications. Electro-polishing them to a gleaming finish further enhances their resistance to corrosion.
• Polycarbonate enclosures such as technoCASE (IP 66) get round the corrosion issue completely – and they’re very tough. It’s no coincidence that riot shields and CDs are manufactured from polycarbonate.
• Polyester enclosures (IP65/66/67) are not just tough – they’re also highly resistant to chemical attack.
• Luran enclosures such as technoPLUS (IP66) for pole-mounted applications offer great UV stability and so are ideal for outdoor applications.

How Much Security?

Optional key locks on your enclosures enable easy opening for servicing and maintenance but prevent tampering. Popular models such as aluCASE (IP66/67/69k) offer a lid key lock and a choice of either integrated retaining straps or hinges with no visible fixing screws. Like the easy click-to-fit of aluCLIC (IP67/69k) but want more security? Specify its more secure brother aluSMART (IP67/69k) which features a similar mounting bracket but with screw-in installation.