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IP Ratings & Enclosure Types

Discover what differentiates IP ratings and enclosure types and view all available combinations for Stearns brakes.

IP Ratings

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) developed ingress protection (IP) ratings to grade an enclosure's resistance to solids and liquids. The higher the rating, the increased protection against the intrusion of external materials, such as dust and water.
Stearns brakes have various IP ratings when properly installed. Brake modifications and customer-installed accessories may change this rating.

 

IP Rating Meaning
  Solids Liquids
00 Unprotected against a solid object greater than 50mm, such as a hand. Unprotected against vertically falling drops of water.
20 Protected against a solid object greater than 12.5mm, such as a finger. Unprotected against vertically falling drops of water.
21 Protected against vertically falling drops of water. Limited ingress permitted.
23 Protected against sprays of water up to 60 degrees from vertical. Limited ingress permitted for three minutes.
40 Protected against a solid object greater than 2.5mm, such as a wire. Unprotected against vertically falling drops of water.
54 Dust protected. Limited ingress of dust permitted. Will not interfere with operation of the equipment. Two to eight hours. Protected against water splashed from all directions. Limited ingress permitted.
55 Protected against jets of water. Limited ingress permitted.
56 Water from heavy seas or water projected in powerful jets shall not enter the enclosure in harmful quantities.
57 Protection against the effects of immersion in water between 15cm and 1m for 30 minutes.

UL Type Enclosures

Underwriter Laboratories (UL) set product safety standards and establish strict compliance testing, including varying degrees of enclosure protection against external substances like dust and water.
Stearns engineers ensure all solenoid actuate brakes (SABs) go through rigorous UL testing and are certified to meet or exceed UL enclosure standards.

 

Enclosure Meaning
UL Type 1 Indoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts and the ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt).
UL Type 4 Indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt, windblown dust) and water (rain, sleet, snow, splashing water, hose-directed water); will be undamaged be the external formation of ice on the enclosure.
UL Type 4X Indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt, windblown dust) and water (rain, sleet, snow, splashing water, hose-directed water); will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure; increased protection against corrosion.

NEMA Enclosures

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) developed technical standards for measuring an enclosure's integrity and electrical connections. These ratings are key for products operating in hazardous locations, such as mines, oil rigs and Navy applications.
Stearns brakes have various NEMA ratings when properly installed.

 

Enclosure Meaning
NEMA 7 Designed to contain an internal explosion without causing an external hazard.
NEMA 9 Designed to prevent the ignition of combustible dust.

 

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