Guide to IP Ratings

The European system, known as ingress protection (IP), defines two numbers for an enclosure. The first number denotes the protection against solid objects whilst the second digit demonstrates the protection offered against liquids. Each number defines the protection offered with the higher the number the better protection that is offered. So therefore and IP65 enclosure offers both better dust proofing and waterproofing than an IP54 enclosure.

First Digit (solid object protection)
0    No special protection offered
1    Protection from solid objects greater than 50mm in diameter.
2    Protection against fingers or other object not greater than 80mm in length and 12mm in diameter.
3    Protection from entry by tools, wires etc, with a diameter of 2.5 mm or more.
4    Protection against solid bodies larger than 1mm
5    Protected against dust that may harm equipment.
6    Totally dust tight.

Second Digit (moisture protection)
0    No protection offered.
1    Protection against condensation.
2    Protection against droplets deflected up to 15° from vertical
3    Protected against spray up to 60° from vertical.
4    Protected against water spray from all directions.
5    Protection against low pressure water jets (all directions)
6    Protection against high pressure water jets and waves.
7    Protected against temporary immersion.
8    Protected against prolonged effects of immersion

NEMA Guidance

The NEMA standard is devised by the USA’s National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and is similar to the European system although only a single digit is used.

NEMA 1 – protection against falling dirt and large objects such as fingers

NEMA 2 – Same as NEMA 1 including protection against light splashing of liquids.

NEMA 3 – Enclosures that provide a degree of protection against falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow, and windblown dust; and that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.

NEMA 3R – Same as NEMA 3 excluding protection against windblown dust.

NEMA 3S – Enclosures 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.

NEMA 4 – Protection against falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow, windblown dust, splashing water, and hose-directed water; and that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.

NEMA 4X – Same as NEMA 4 including protection against corrosion.

NEMA 5 – Enclosures 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.

NEMA 6 – Enclosures 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 the external formation of ice on the enclosure.

NEMA 6P – Same as NEMA 6 including protection against the entry of water during prolonged submersion at a limited depth.

NEMA 7 – Enclosures are for indoor use in locations classified as Class I, Groups A, B, C, or D and shall be capable of withstanding the pressures resulting from an internal explosion of specified gases,

NEMA 9 –  Enclosed heat generating devices shall not cause external surfaces to reach temperatures capable of igniting or discoloring dust on the enclosure or igniting dust-air mixtures in the surrounding atmosphere.

NEMA 12 – Enclosures protection against falling dirt; against circulating dust, lint, fibers, and flyings; and against dripping and light splashing of liquids.

NEMA 12K – Same as NEMA 12 including enclosures constructed with knockouts.

NEMA 13 – Enclosures 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.

Information courtesy of IEC, NEMA and CENELEC

Rating Systems for Industrial Computers is a post from: Armagard

Breathing in dust can be extremely dangerous, even innocuous substances can bad not just for your health but also for any equipment used in dusty areas.

The difficulty in dealing with dust is that it can be made from literally anything. A lot of household dust, for instance, contains skin cells. However, in factory conditions dust is generated by all sorts of processes so can contain everything from metallic elements to chemical, water and food products.

The effects dust has on can depend entirely on what elements constitute it. At best dust will act as an insulator, blocking filters and causing equipment to overheat. It can also penetrate an electrical device and block up any moving parts such as hard drives on a PC. Worse still, if the constitution of the dust is conductive (such as metals) it will short circuit an electrical device and even start fires.

Some dust can even be explosive too, particularly metallic elements or even food stuffs such as sugar, coffee powder and even custard. These organic compounds can form dust clouds that will ignite and explode from a spark (like those being generated inside most electrical appliances.

Protection against dust can quite easily be achieved by a dustproof computer enclosure, printer enclosures and LCD enclosures can all be designed to prevent any dust from penetrating allowing the use of computers, printers and digital signage in dusty environments.

Some industrial computer enclosures and LCD enclosures are also ATEX compliant. ATEX is the European guideline that denotes protection against explosive environments. An ATEX approved industrial computer enclosure will protect the outside environment from sparks generated by any device that could trigger an explosion.

Challenging Technology – Part Four – Dealing With Dust is a post from: Armagard

An IP 65 enclosure is the standard enclosure suited for a wash down environment making it a pre-requisite for using computers in food production areas. For this reason most computer enclosures designed to IP 65 standard are manufactured from food grade stainless steel (316).

All electrical equipment that has to operate in environments where water is used to wash down areas needs to be protected to at least IP 65. Complications can arise if you are looking for a supplier of an enclosure based outside Europe where the IP rating is replaced by the National Association of Electrical Manufacturers – NEMA code.

Whilst strictly speaking there are no coloration between the European IP rating and the NEMA codes, a NEMA 4 enclosure required would suit a European IP 65 environment (and vice versa).

IP54 is another European Standard that demonstrates the protective capabilities of an industrial PC enclosure. IP 54 is more commonly used in environments where there is less of a threat of water splashing but a high prevalence of dust.

IP54 PC enclosures are used on shop floors, warehouses, packing areas and anywhere there are high concentrations of dust.

Waterproof and Dustproof Computer Protection is a post from: Armagard

In most environments a (very) careful vacuum of the inside of a computer will get rid of most the dust and as the particles that constitute the dust in our offices and homes tends to be benign substances such as skin cells or carpet fluff then this small piece of maintenance will possibly all that is required to keep a computer running healthily.

However, in many environments dust and airborne debris can have calamitous results. High levels of dust can cause severe over heating and can clog filters and drives. Even worse is that dust in some areas such as industrial environments contains hazardous particles. These can be conductive which will cause a short in a computer’s circuit board and even worse they can cause explosions!

Many airborne particles – quite surprisingly innocuous substances like food powders – can actually spark and ignite when there is enough volume. For this reason computers in these areas not only have to keep the dust out but also have to insulate and potential sparks from the electrical device.

Industrial computer enclosures are used in almost every conceivable industry from food manufacturers to engineering plants; they are the most flexible way of using computers in dust-filled environments.

There are of course other methods in using IT in dust environments. Industrial computers have been around for decades and these machines are designed to be sealed to prevent dust penetration. They are however, quite expensive and there design offers little flexibility if the machine breaks down meaning a service engineer has to be called and whatever operation the computer is controlling will have to stop.

Conventional computers covered in dust covers are another solution but these offer limited and only temporary solutions to the problem and can’t protect from explosive risks.

Industrial computer enclosures on the other hand can e built to ATEX guidelines ensuring they are safe to use in combustible areas. They are also built to European IP ratings which denote the protection that the enclosure can afford. An industrial computer enclosure built to IP54 standard will mean the enclosed computer can operate in almost any dust-filled environment without fear of dust infiltration inside the enclosure.

Protecting Computers from Airborne Debris is a post from: Armagard

Some enclosures are even installed in ovens and other hot rooms. If the location for your industrial computer does suffer from extreme temperature then ensure adequate additional cooling comes fitted with the enclosure. In cold conditions too such as chillers and fridges enclosures can be fitted with additional heating elements to keep a stable working temperature for the IT equipment.

Protection from heavy impacts is also another consideration for an enclosure located in industrial areas. A careless swipe from a forklift or other heavy impact risks are all too common in industrial areas which is why many customers look for a steel computer enclosure over any other form or industrial IT protection.

Somel enclosures that are designed to operate in explosive atmospheres and are tested to European ATEX guidelines ensuring they are safe to use in explosive risk areas.

There are many manufacturers of industrial computer enclosures but unfortunately many use cheap materials and poor engineering which is reflected in both the price and quality of their products. There is no reason why an industrial computer enclosure, sited in a heavy industrial area should not last a lifetime if it is manufactured correctly and should be able to withstand almost anything.

When looking for an enclosure supplier the most effective method of ensuring they can supply the right product for you is to ask the prospective where else their enclosures have been fitted. Most manufacturers will be happy to provide testimonial support and examples of the durability and quality of their previously sold products.

Industrial Computer Enclosure – A Buyers’ Guide (part 3) is a post from: Armagard

Dust is one of the main aggravating factors for computers, it has a habit of  blocking filters, over insulating the machine and even penetrating the circuits and drives; clogging them and causing short circuits. In fact some experts suggest that dust is responsible for 80 per cent of all computer failures and even in office conditions can exist in sufficient quantities to drastically shorten a computer’s life.

Impacts are another computer killer. While most computer enclosures will withstand the odd accidental kick anything firmer and the shock could disable a system. In some environments such as industrial areas, hazards such as forklift trucks and other machinery can potentially destroy a computer with a quick swipe.

Another hazard for computers is water. Outdoor areas, industrial plants, food productions zones; are all areas where water is found. The average computer can short circuit even with the tiniest of splashes while the hose-down environments of a food processing plant make computer use extremely difficult.

When using a PC outside of an office environment it is important to protect the machine fro the hazards mentioned above. The easiest and most cost effective way to do that is to place the machine in an industrial computer enclosure.

These computer cabinets will defend against dust and dirt as well as protecting against water (including jets of water) whilst also protecting the machine from any impacts. Industrial computer enclosures are usually graded according to how much protection they offer against dust or water. An IP 54 computer enclosure is ideal for dusty areas whilst an IP 65 is better suited for areas where there is water.

Rugged Computer Options is a post from: Armagard

Printers, monitors, computers, touchscreens and digital signage are all used to control, inform and monitor industrial processes. Unfortunately however, many of the areas this equipment has to work in are not suitable for the sensitive electronics that constitute the modern PC or monitor.

Fortunately protection of electronic devices is covered by European and International directives and issued with relative coding and ratings, describing the amount of protection they offer.

Dustproof enclosures are often rated to IP 54 (European Ingress Protection) or NEMA 4 (USA) and will defend from any dust or dirt permeating into the enclosure and causing blockages, over-insulation or short circuits. Dustproof enclosures are ideal even for areas with relatively low amounts of dust as they will expand the life of the PC many-fold.

In some areas where dust can have even more serious consequences such as causing explosions industrial computer enclosures can be built to European ATEX guidelines.

Waterproof enclosures are also covered by IP and NEMA. An enclosure that can withstand a jet wash or hosedown will have to adhere to IP65. AN IP65 or NEMA 4 x enclosure are ideal for food production areas as they are made from stainless steel and can withstand even the liberal amounts of water used in that industry without fear of corrosion.

PC Protection for Industrial Applications is a post from: Armagard

Dust has terrible consequences for people’s health but it can also have other hidden dangers as well as being highly damaging to equipment and machinery.

One of the problems of dust is that it can consist of literally any material from skin cells and paper fibres, to metals, ceramics and chemicals. These different constituents can have differing effects on the health of workers and the machinery.

Face masks, coveralls and gloves can protect your workforce from breathing in any hazardous dust particles but what about the expensive IT solutions that are controlling your production processes? Dust has a myriad of effects on a computer. It can clog moving parts, block filters, cause over heating and even short circuit PCB’s.

In some industries, such as food production, explosive dust clouds can that when they come into contact with electrical items such as computers they can ignite and explode. Even innocuous substances such as flour or custard can have highly explosive results if the dust gathers in enough quantities.

For this reason many computers, monitors and printers used in industrial areas are housed in dustproof computer enclosures. These industrial computer cabinets are normally rated to European IP or International NEMA rating systems to describe the amount of dust protection they offer. Some are also ATEX compliant (ATEX – European explosive atmospheres guidelines).

Dustproof industrial computer enclosures are used in all types of businesses from heavy industry to food production and packing areas.

Dust and IP54 Protection is a post from: Armagard

Water is prevalent in many industrial areas particularly those that process food products and water and computers do not mix well together. Water, if it penetrates a computer or other electrical item; will instantly short circuit it and probably render the device inoperable in the future.

For this reason many industrial computers are designed as waterproof computers. They are built intrinsically sealed to prevent any ingress of water and a potential short circuit.

Another major constituent of industrial areas is the prevalence of dust. Dust is generated from all sorts of industrial processes from grinding and polishing to simple cleaning. Dust can clog filters and encase an electrical item like a PC and over-insulate it causing it to overheat. Another aspect of dust is that it can contain many elements including conductive particles. When these dust particles penetrate an electrical item, such as an industrial computer this will also cause a short circuit for this reason Industrial computers are built also as dustproof computers.

Heavy impacts are another peril of the industrial workplace. No matter how carefully areas are marked accidents involving forklifts and other heavy machinery Is still common. A swipe from a forklift will finish off a PC so Industrial computers are built solid state (without moving parts) to ensure they are rugged enough to withstand impacts.

An industrial computer is therefore well suited to the environment that it has to work in but all this protection does come with a cost; flexibility.

The unfortunate problem with an industrial computer is because they are intrinsically sealed to make them waterproof and dustproof and because they are solid state to withstand heavy impacts, this makes them incredibly difficult to repair or upgrade. If an industrial computer goes down a specialist engineer has to be called to open up or take-away the intrinsically sealed unit. This obviously costs in down production time. Also because of these difficulties industrial computers are built with outdated technology and older versions of software to maximise their reliability. This obviously makes them less efficient than their desktop counterparts.

Fortunately a solution to this problem is in the guise of an industrial computer enclosure. These industrial cabinets can house an ordinary off-the-shelf desktop PC but protect them to the same standards as an industrial computer preventing ingress of dust and water and providing protective armour against heavy impact.

These industrial computer enclosures can house any type of PC and monitor, mouse, keyboard combination and the units can be replaced simply, easily and without the hassle and cost of expensive downtime.

Industrial Computer – Reasons for Failure is a post from: Armagard

Its no surprise to find that computers are now everywhere in industry, controlling production lines and processing plants; industries that have existed for decades before the arrival of the computer.

The advantages of computerisation in industry is obvious, computers can raise production, reduce waste, provide better efficiency and most importantly generate higher profits.

But the arrival of industrial computers brought with it unexpected factors in some industries. Many industrial environments are not suited at all for sensitive electronics such as a PC.

Computers can be protected from the elements in the atmosphere by an industrial computer enclosure but what about protecting the atmosphere? Computers are electrical so by their nature have electricity running through them and electricity can spark. In many industrial areas dust is generated by industrial processes and can cause potential devastating problems.

Dust can gather in clouds and if it contains metallic or even organic matter, such as food-stuffs it can explode. Even something as innocuous as custard can cause a catastrophic explosion.

Of course there are laws implemented to ensure that risk of explosions are kept to a minimum but how many companies actually follow them? In the EU’s ATEX directive was introduced in to ensure companies were aware of the risks attached with explosive materials.

Obviously, computers, monitors and printers are electrical and can spark (particularly in dusty environments where the dust itself can short circuit boards), yet many companies neglect to ensure that their IT is approved to use in that area. The most common reason for this neglect is put down to cost.

Obviously replacing all IT systems with intrinsically safe and air-purged machines can be extremely expensive, especially if you are in the habit of upgrading your IT on a regular basis.

However, some industrial computer enclosures are ATEX compliant and can be used in ATEX zones, particularly ATEX Zone 2. These are widely available and can be manufactured in all materials including food-grade stainless steel. They have the advantage of not only preventing any fault in a computer or monitor from setting light to your factory but they also afford protection from other industrial elements.

Industrial Computer: Potential Explosive Atmospheres: ATEX is a post from: Armagard