What is the NEMA 3R Rating?
Electrical Enclosures: What is the NEMA 3R Rating?
NEMA 3R Definition with General Reference Applications
NEMA 3R enclosures are widely used for outdoor applications for industrial uses, such as protecting electrical wiring and junction boxes. NEMA 3R enclosures protect electrical equipment from water ingresses such as falling rain, sleet, snow and external ice formation caused by extremely cold weather. And NEMA 3R enclosures are compatible with both outdoor and indoor use and applications. NEMA 3R enclosures can also be used for indoor applications to protect electrical equipment or wiring from unexpected water dripping from water pipes or a leaking roof that needs repair.
NEMA 3R Electrical Enclosures – General Features:
- Outdoor protection from rain, ice formation, and foreign substances.
- Indoor protection from falling dirt and dripping water from pipes
- Provides protection for electrical equipment from incidental contact.
NEMACO™ Offers Several Types of NEMA 3R Electrical Enclosures
- Indoor & Outdoor Floor Mounted Cabinets
- Indoor & Outdoor Wall Mounted Enclosures
- Indoor& Outdoor Electrical Wiring Boxes, Junction Boxes and Pull Boxes
- Electrical Wiring Trough Enclosures
Additional NEMA 3R Information
NEMACO™ offers NEMA 3R enclosures for industrial applications that can be used for protecting and housing electrical components such as switchgear, power distribution controls, and electrical wiring. NEMACO™sells NEMA 3R electrical enclosures that are manufactured to NEMA and industrial standards that ensure quality to our customers.
We manufacture electrical enclosures from top-grade carbon steel and we can customize enclosures according to a customer’s specifications.
Alternate Materials for NEMA 3R Enclosures
NEMACO™ manufactures NEMA 3R enclosures primarily with quality grades of carbon steel. But NEMACO™ can offer stainless steel and aluminum materials as an option for many applications. Each of the ferrous and non-ferrous raw materials has specific and unique qualities that make an enclosure optimum based on the application. The different materials show several characters and capabilities that make NEMA 3R enclosures unique and specifically suited for certain environments and applications. Call NEMACO™for suggestions about materials selection for your application.
- Powder Coated Carbon Steel (HR / CRS) – Strong & Durable
- Powder Coated Aluminum (5052, 6061) – Low Weight
- Stainless Steel (Material Grades 304/316) – Strong, Durable, Corrosion Resistant
Carbon Steel used for Enclosures
Most forms of carbon steel are malleable, therefore it can be easily formed, shaped, cut and welded. Typically, cold rolled carbon steel (CRS) are common grades of steel of low or medium carbon content in the steel.
CRS in flat sheet format is commonly used as an electrical enclosure and cabinet material since it has structural strength and rigidity when formed(folded) into enclosure sides and other related enclosure parts. Of course, CRScost less than stainless steel and it has many functions and advantages but it does
Powder coated CRS is ideal for many NEMA 3R Enclosures products generally due to the materials lower cost, overall strength and weldability.