Design FAQs

All About Enclosures

What is the difference between a modular enclosures feature a foam-in-place gasket that is poured continuously
enclosure and a unibody enclosure? around the perimeter of the enclosure skin (door, sidewall, etc.) to
Every industrial enclosure has two basic functions: providing a prevent gaps. This provides a better seal and memory retention, which
central place to house electrical/electronic equipment and providing increases atmospheric and corrosive protection.
protection/security for equipment that must not be exposed to the
What is the best application for each?
ambient environment. When choosing enclosures, facility managers
Welded enclosures are used for permanent, single-enclosure applications
want to fit the maximum amount of equipment into the smallest space
that are unlikely to require extensive modifications that would involve
possible to minimize floor space requirements.
removing or customizing panels or baying multiple enclosures.
The strength of welded enclosures (sometimes referred to as OGBs
In contrast, modular enclosures allow quick interchanges, so doors
for “Old Gray Boxes”) comes from the heavy (10/12 gauge) steel used
and panels can be switched, removed, and reversed to create new
in their construction. All surfaces are load-bearing. Doors are typically
designs or allow baying or relocation. Typically, only a single worker
attached with piano hinges, which can take 45 minutes to an hour
is needed to handle tasks like reversing doors, removing panels, etc. In
to remove or reattach when it’s necessary to modify the enclosure.
many cases, one person can handle jobs like door reversal, removing
The roof, rear wall, and side walls are fixed in place, which makes it
the mounting panel, and other common tasks. Modified panels can be
difficult or impossible to connect multiple enclosures in a bayed or
slipped into place easily without strenuous effort.
suited configuration. Internal mounting options are also limited.
This flexibility makes modular enclosures appropriate for a wide
Installing panel inserts usually requires lifting them in and out with a
range of industrial equipment applications, such as in food and
crane. The range of accessories available is often somewhat limited.
beverage processing; oil and gas exploration and production; air and
Because the lifecycle of a typical industrial enclosure is filled with
rail transportation; power generation and renewable energy systems;
unanticipated modifications and repairs, using a unibody enclosure
water and wastewater treatment; and electrical power distribution
can increase costs and downtime. Most basic unibody enclosures use
equipment. They are also widely used in IT applications such as finance
a peel-and-stick strip gasket for the door seal.
and insurance data management, higher education and research,
Modular freestanding enclosures offer a number of key advantages healthcare data management, government, defense and homeland
over traditional unibody enclosures. The frame-based design used in security, colocation data facilities, and plant floor networking.
modular enclosures allows for a much greater range of dimensions and
How do NEMA ratings affect enclosure applications?
higher configurability with standard components. Unlike heavy-walled
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) publishes
unibody enclosures, a modular enclosure’s strength comes from its
a variety of technical standards relevant to enclosures and their
roll-formed and welded frame. Because the weight of all the equipment
accessories. Enclosure specifications will always include a NEMA rating
inside is transferred to the frame, modular enclosures can support up
that informs the buyer about the level of protection from incidental
to 3,000 lb of equipment. This design also supports multiple mounting
contact with equipment that the enclosure provides to personnel and
options within the same platform.
the level of protection from external factors provided to the equipment.
When modifications are required, doors, roofs, and side walls can be This allows buyers to evaluate whether a particular enclosure is
removed and replaced readily. Custom motor control center (MCC) appropriate for a specific application environment. Here are some
solutions can be configured with several smaller partial doors making common NEMA ratings and their explanations.
up the face of the cabinet. Both horizontal and vertical dividers can then
NEMA 3R: Outdoor use, protects against rain, sleet, snow; also protects
be added to the frame, so it’s easy to separate these compartments,
against damage from external formation of ice on the enclosure.
such as into high voltage and low voltage sections. Most modular
NEMA 4: Indoor or outdoor use, protects against windblown dust and
Sponsored by rain, splashing and hose-directed water; also protects against damage
from external formation of ice on the enclosure.
NEMA 4X: Indoor or outdoor use, protects against windblown dust and
rain, splashing and hose-directed water and corrosion; also protects
against damage from external formation of ice on the enclosure.
NEMA 12: Indoor use; protects against falling dirt,
circulating dust and dripping non-corrosive liquids.
NEMA 13: Indoor use; protects against dust, falling dirt,
splashed water and oil, as well as non-corrosive coolants.

What are the material considerations

between fiberglass, carbon steel,
and stainless steel?
Although carbon steel is appropriate for the majority of
enclosure applications, environments that require placing
Built
electrical equipment within corrosive environments
require a level of protection greater than painted carbon
steel enclosures can provide. Enclosures made of stainless
steel fill this void with superior strength and corrosion-
Tough.
resistant properties. How tough is the
TS 8 Modular Enclosure
For example, the equipment used in food and beverage from Rittal?
manufacturing must enable the most thorough cleaning
Tough enough to support
in the most cost-effective manner. In this setting, cleaning 1500 pounds—about the weight
and sanitization are vital to keeping manufacturing of a young Sumatran rhinoceros.
compliant and running. Because sanitation time is also
downtime, increasing the speed with which compliant
cleaning and disinfecting can be accomplished increases Tough is…
efficiency. One way is to use caustic cleaning solutions, n a carbon steel base and
higher heat, and a spray with greater intensity. Stainless zinc-plated carbon steel
steel enclosures are widely used in these applications mounting panel
because they are impervious to corrosive atmospheres. n a 16x steel folded frame
Stainless steel offers excellent resistance to high n a durable, rugged corrosion-
temperature, acid, and alkali cleaners. resistant finish from our
3-step coating process
Wallmount fiberglass enclosures offer good chemical
n a unique frame structure
resistance in corrosive applications. Fiberglass is molded
that delivers 15% more
under pressure and heat, then reinforced with a polyester mounting surface
resin, allowing it to function both indoors and withstand
extreme temperatures.
12 million customers
in 12 years can’t be
How do you future-proof wrong—they’ve made
your enclosure investment? TS 8 the No. 1 industrial
Modular enclosure design allows easy baying to improve enclosure, worldwide!
scalability of operations. Easy-to-customize doors,
mounting panels, and rail accessories create additional
space for controls and power systems. New equipment
added to a single or bayed enclosure adds to its heat load,
which makes thermal management more critical. Modular
enclosures simplify adding filter fans, heat exchangers, Change for the Better.
and air conditioning units because they can be mounted
RITTAL SHIPS QUICK!
to the door, roof, or side panels with minimal modification. Made in the USA
Sponsored by
www.RittalEnclosures.com
(800) 477-4000