There are two major electrical manufacturing organizations monitoring product enclosures and/or their degree of protection; each organization also publishes technical manufacturing standards.
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Standard 250-2003 addresses non-hazardous locations, enclosure design and its environmental performance requirements. These are referred to as NEMA Types. (www.nema.org)
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 60529 Standard addresses Ingress Protection (IP); this describes the degree of protection provided, not the enclosure itself. The first digit of the IP Code designation describes the degree of protection against the ingress of solids; the second digit designates the degree of protection against the ingress of liquids. IP Codes support NEMA Type designations. (www.iec.ch)
The following information is taken from both electrical industry Standards; it matches NEMA Ratings with its IP counterpart, with a brief description of each rating.
| NEMA Rating | IP Equivalent | NEMA Definition | IP Against Objects | IP Against Liquids |
| 1 | IP10 | Enclosures constructed for indoor use; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment and to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt | 1 = Protected against solid foreign objects of 5 cm (2 in) diameter and greater | 0 = Not protected |
| 2 | IP11 | Enclosures constructed for indoor use; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt, and to provide a degree of protection against dripping and light splashing of liquids | 1 = Protected against solid foreign objects of 5 cm (2 in) diameter and greater | 1 = Protected against vertically falling water drops |
| 3 | IP54 | Enclosures constructed for indoor or outdoor use; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow and windblown dust; and that will be undamaged by external formation of ice on the enclosure | 5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit) | 4 = Protected against water sprayed from all directions; limited to ingress permitted |
| 3R | IP14 | Enclosures constructed for indoor or outdoor use; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt, rain, sleet and snow; and that will be undamaged by external formation of ice on the enclosure | 1 = Protected against solid foreign objects of 5 cm (2 in) diameter and greater | 4 = Protected against water sprayed from all directions; limited to ingress permitted |
| 3S | IP54 | Enclosures constructed for indoor or outdoor use; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to 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 | 5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit) | 4 = Protected against water sprayed from all directions; limited to ingress permitted |
| 4 | IP56 | Enclosures constructed for indoor or outdoor use; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow, windblown dust, splashing water and hose-directed water; and that will be undamaged by external formation of ice on the enclosure | 5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit) | 6 = Protected against strong jets of water from all directions; limited to ingress permitted |
| 4X | IP56 | Enclosures constructed for indoor or outdoor use; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow, windblown dust, splashing water and hose-directed water, and corrosion; and that will be undamaged by external formation of ice on the enclosure | 5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit) | 6 = Protected against strong jets of water from all directions; limited to ingress permitted |
| 5 | IP52 | Enclosures constructed for indoor use; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of 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 | 5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit) | 2 = Protected against direct sprays of water up to 15° from the vertical |
| 6 | IP67 | Enclosures constructed for indoor or outdoor use; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of 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 external formation of ice on the enclosure | 6 = Totally protected against entry of dust | 7 = Protected against effects of submersion from 15 cm (6 in) to 1 m (3 ft) |
| 6P | IP68 | Enclosures constructed for indoor or outdoor use; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt; against hose-directed water and the entry of water during occasional prolonged submersion at a limited depth; and that will be undamaged by external formation of ice on the enclosure | 6 = Totally protected against entry of dust | 8 = Protected against the effects of occasional submersion in water, up to 10 m (33 ft) |
| 12 | IP52 | Enclosures constructed (without knockouts) for indoor use; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt; against circulating dust, lint, fibers and flyings: and to provide a degree of protection to against dripping and light splashing of liquids | 5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit) | 2 = Protected against direct sprays of water up to 15° from the vertical |
| 12K | IP52 | Enclosures constructed with knockout(s) for indoor use; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt; against circulating dust, lint, fibers and flyings: and to provide a degree of protection to against dripping and light splashing of liquids | 5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit) | 2 = Protected against direct sprays of water up to 15° from the vertical |
| 13 | IP54 | Enclosures constructed for indoor use; to provide a degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed equipment; to provide a degree of 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. | 5 = Protected against dust; limited to ingress (no harmful deposit) | 4 = Protected against water sprayed from all directions; limited to ingress permitted |