Selecting an Enclosure for Non-Traditional IT Environments

Protecting your technology investment.
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Enclosure Selection for
Non-Traditional IT Environments

Comparing Traditional IT Enclosure Designs to Industrial Designs

• Designed to allow ambient airflow
to enter enclosure to cool
equipment in high volumes
• 78% open perforations
• Gaps between frame and doors
• Gaps typical between panels and
frame
• Single latch quick release side
panels
• Single point or multi-point door
latches
• Upper and lower hinges
• Open bottom
Traditional IT Enclosures

• Panels and structural frame abutted
against each other
• Top panels include holes, cable
access brushes, light duty
grommets for easy cable entry or
attachment other structures
• Flat frame surfaces at front and
rear
• All equipment exposed to any
airborne contaminants
• No protection against liquids
• Does not provide the proper
environment
Traditional IT Enclosures

• Designed to isolate the interior of
the enclosure from the room
environment
• Solid doors, sides, roof and floor
• Gaskets used between frame and
all panels
• Bolt-on side panels with strict
distance between each connection
• Multiple hinges with strict distance
between each
• Multi-point door latches
• Solid bottom or plinth base
Industrial Enclosures

• Frames designed to seal against
panels
• Sealing surfaces and gaskets create
gutter
– Wick liquids away from gaskets
– Channel water from horizontal to vertical
– Minimize dripping when door opened
• Continuous welds at all seams
– Eliminate pathways for liquids or dust to
enter enclosure

• Solid top protects against falling
liquids and dust
– All offer protection from water
– Some ratings protect against coolants and
oils
– Varying protection against dust
• Solid bottom panels
– Seal enclosures at base
– Removable panels provide access when
required
– Provide support surface to add cable entry
grommets when required

Sealing Method is Critical to Long Term Performance
 Continuous, no
gaps
 Low water
absorption
 High
mechanical
strength/tear
resistance
 Very high
tensile strength
X Strip gaskets –
multiple seams
(corners, along
vertical rise)
X Gaps formed
(expansion/cont
raction,
installation) –
potential leak
X Gaskets subject
to peeling if
gaps form
Foam Tape Gaskets Formed in Place Formed Gaskets

Important Cooling Considerations
• Three basic methods for enclosure cooling
• Ambient conditions influence cooling product selection
• Choosing the wrong method may result in a solution that is
undersized, oversized or fails due to incompatible ambient
conditions

Utilizing Filter Fans
• Cool, filtered air propelled into the
enclosure
• Build positive pressure
• An equal surface area exhaust filter must
be used in combination with Filter Fans
• Filter Fans should be mounted in the lower
third of the cabinet and the exhaust filter(s)
near the top of the cabinet

Cooling Unit Applications
• Heat pump transfers heat to a higher temperature
by refrigeration
• Use cooling units if ambient temperature is higher
than the target internal temperature
• Closed loop system (to maintain Type rating: 12,
4, 4x)
– Inside loop recirculates air within the enclosure
– Outside loop removes heat from the enclosure to the
environment
• Electronics are sensitive to high temp (above
95°F) – battery systems, PLC, servers/computers

Penetrations Require Listed Grommets to Maintain Protection Rating

Standards and Ratings Overview
NEMA | UL | CSA | IEC

Objectives - Standards & Ratings
• Understanding certifications
– Self Certification
– Third-party Certification
• Know which system is used in North America and in Europe
• What do the types mean?
• Why you should require 3rd party certification
IEC 60529
(IP)

• North America – Enclosures rated by “Types” that
are defined by:
– National Electrical Manufacturers Association
(NEMA)
– Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
– Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
• NEMA
– Publish standards to define products, processes and
procedures
– NEMA Standards Publication 250 – “Enclosures for
Electrical Equipment (1000 Volts Maximum)”
• Defines 13 Types of enclosures (Type 1, Type 2,
etc.)
• Grouped for use in non-hazardous and
hazardous locations
• Identified for use indoors or outdoors
• Varying degrees of protection against ingress of
solids and liquids
• Europe & Globally – Enclosures are rated by
“Ingress Protection” Classes defined by:
– International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
• IEC
– Publish standards to define products, processes and
procedures
– IEC 60529 Degrees of Protection Provided by
Enclosures (IP Code)
• Defines a two-digit classification system
• Grouped by solid object protection and liquid protection
• Varying degrees of protection against ingress of solids
and liquids

Certification Methods
Comparing Certification Levels Self-Certified Third-Party Certified
Design based on NEMA or IP Standards Interpretation X X
Product is manufactured to design based on assumed performance X
Product is manufactured to design based on proven performance X
Individual raw materials reviewed and certified to meet standards requirements X
Design reviewed and certified to meet standards requirements X
Product must pass a battery of tests to prove the design meets performance requirements X
Product marked and labeled with third party certification (UL, CSA) X

Comparison of NEMA Enclosure Types

Ingress Protection (IP)
Europe, Global
IP Number
First Digit-Refers to Solids
Ingress of SOLID objects
IP Number
Second Digit-Refers to Liquids
Ingress of LIQUIDS
0 No Protection 0 No Protection
1
Protected against solid objects over 50mm e.g.
hands, large tools
1 Protected against vertically falling drops of water or condensation.
2
Protected against solid objects over 12.5mm e.g.
hands, large tools.
2
Protected against falling drops of water, if the case is disposed up
to 15 from vertical.
3
wire, small tools.
3
Protected against sprays of water from any direction, even if the
case is disposed up to 60from vertical.
4
wires.
4 Protected against splash water from any direction
5
Limited protection against dust ingress.
(no harmful deposit)
5
Protected against low pressure water jets from any direction.
Limited ingress permitted.
6 Totally protected against dust ingress. 6
Protected against high pressure water jets from any direction.
Limited ingress permitted.
7 Protected against short periods of immersion in water.
8 Protected against long, durable periods of immersion in water.
9k
Protected against close-range high pressure, high temperature
spray downs.

How NEMA Types compare to IEC IP Codes

Industrial Enclosures Styles

Modular Enclosure
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• Welded, roll-formed steel frame
• Punched with 1” (25 mm)
attachment pattern
• 19” EIA mounting rail option
• Adjustable depth mounting plate
option
• Lifting eye bolts for lifting
• Can be bayed to create larger
multi-bay units
• Plinth base or leveling feet
• Typically used for IT applications

Swing Wall-Mount Enclosure
• Welded steel structure
• Wall mounted swing-out design
• Three part cabinet consists of:
– Front Door
– Center Section
– Rear Section
• Equipment mounting options include:
– 19” EIA Mounting Rails
– Adjustable Depth Mounting Panel for center section
– Rear Mounting Panel for Rear Section
• Typically used for IT applications

• Removable stands
• Provide 12” (305 mm) clearance below the cabinet
• Used in areas subject to pooling water
• Allows the use of accessory drains
• Clearance for conduits penetrating the floor or to
connect conduit to enclosure base
• Single or Double Doors
• Multi-point door latches with padlock hasp
• Optional equipment mounting plate
• Type 3R, Type 4, or Type 12 protection class
• Typically used instrumentation, automation controls,
power electronics, PLC, VFD
Floor-Mount with Stands

• Sits flat on floor
• Single or double doors
• Single access or dual access (front/rear)
• Multi-point door latches with padlock hasp
• Optional equipment mounting plate can adjust in depth
location
power electronics, PLC, VFD
Free-Standing

• Wall mounted
• Swing-out front door
• Single or double doors
• Multi-point latches or ¼ turn cam latches
• Optional equipment mounting plate can adjust in depth
location
• Wall-mounting bracket options
power electronics, PLC, VFD, Security
Wall-Mount

Conclusions
• Industrial applications require a different enclosure
design; IT Enclosures do not provide the correct
environment
• Gasket design is critical to performance
• Cooling requirements are important
– Clean air stream
– Meet cooling requirements
– Maintain enclosure type rating
• Third-party certification validates performance against
standards
– “Type” ratings are used in North America
– “IP” protection class is used globally
• Multiple design styles are available to meet a variety of
IT based or automation and control type of equipment

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Thank you!
Visit us online at:
www.chatsworth.com/industrial-enclosures
Sam Rodriguez, Sr. Product Manager,
Cabinet & Thermal Solutions

Selecting an Enclosure for Non-Traditional IT Environments

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Editor's Notes