Looking for a different NEMA rating? Check out our complete line of NEMA rated enclosures. Read more below to learn about the basics of NEMA 5 enclosures and whether they’re right for your needs.
NEMA Rating Basics
NEMA enclosure ratings are a system established by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association to rate the protective qualities of electrical enclosures. These ratings incorporate a wide variety of factors — from waterproofing to corrosion resistance — into a rating scale from 1 to 13 that’s widely used across North America.
One key fact about NEMA standards is that higher numbers don’t necessarily indicate a higher degree of protection. Instead, each rating has its own definition with specific protective requirements. That’s why NEMA 5 rated enclosures offer a lower degree of protection than (for example) NEMA 4X enclosures.
When determining the best NEMA enclosure rating for your application, the first step is to get familiar with the specifics of the various ratings. For more information on the NEMA system and the various enclosure types, see Polycase’s complete guide to NEMA enclosure ratings.
What Is a NEMA 5 Enclosure?
NEMA 5 rated enclosures are qualified for indoor use in environments that require dust tight protection. They’re common in a variety of applications, from office and retail use to certain types of manufacturing facilities. Although a NEMA 5 rating alone isn’t considered sufficient for outdoor use, it’s also common for NEMA 5 enclosures to have additional higher ratings.
You can count on a NEMA 5 enclosure to protect the enclosed equipment from hazards that include:
For more details on the level of protection that NEMA 5 enclosures offer, see our NEMA 5 rating guide.
NEMA 5 Enclosures from Polycase
Polycase’s NEMA 5 enclosures include some of our most popular polycarbonate enclosure series. These enclosures are UL tested for NEMA 5 compliance, and most are also designed to comply with higher level NEMA standards like NEMA 4X (for corrosion resistance) and even NEMA 6P (for prolonged submersion).
Thanks to their robust design, our NEMA 5 models are suitable for a huge range of uses. Many are available with optional features such as mounting flanges, hinged covers and more. We offer a wide selection of accessories (available in each model’s Accessories tab) as well as robust customization options through our in-house CNC machining and digital printing services.
Browse our selection of NEMA 5 enclosures here and find the perfect option for your application. Looking for enclosures rated for outdoor use? Shop our entire selection of outdoor enclosures.Â
Explore a range of weatherproof boxes rated for protection in the harshest environments
Explore a range of weatherproof boxes rated for protection in the harshest environments