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A critical aspect of vent selection begins with defining the level of protection your application, device or housing requires.
IP ratings cannot be “converted” to NEMA ratings, since NEMA requires additional testing not included in IP. However, there are minimum NEMA ratings that will meet or exceed a given IP code.

International standards for Ingress Protection (IEC-60529) are commonly known as "IP ratings." They define the degree to which an enclosure protects against:

  • foreign solid objects (access to hazardous parts and against solid foreign objects)
  • ingress of water

North American standards for protecting electrical enclosures from ingress of particles or liquids, as well as incidental contact by personnel, are defined by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). The NEMA 250 standard also defines additional protective requirements, such as:

  • corrosion resistance
  • gasket aging
  • oil resistance
  • external icing
  • enclosure construction (mechanical impact resistance, door and cover latching, etc.)

NEMA1233X3R3RX3S3SX4 & 4X566P12 & 12K13
IEC Enclosure 
Classification Designation
IP20IP22IP55IP55IP24IP24IP55IP55IP66IP53IP67IP68IP54IP54

IP x y

The Key to Ingress Protection Ratings

Type of Protectionx = Foreign Solid Objectsy = Liquids and Moisture
Level of Protection0None0None
 1Foreign solid objects (≥50mm)1Drops of water or condensation (falling vertically)
 2Foreign solid objects (≥12.5mm)2Direct sprays of water (up to 15° from vertical)
 3Foreign solid objects (≥2.5mm)3Direct sprays of water (up to 60° from vertical)
 4Foreign solid objects (≥1.0mm)4Direct sprays of water (from all directions)
 5Dust (limited, non-harmful ingress)5Low-pressure water jets (from all directions)
 6Dust (zero dust ingress)6High-pressure water jets (from all directions)
   7Temporary immersion in water (up to 1m)
   8Continuous immersion in water (up to 2m; user-defined)
   9kHigh-pressure steam jets (from all directions)

In order for a vent to be able to meet a certain IP rating, the key parameters are the housing design and the part size.

Gore has an extensive portfolio of venting products engineered to meet or exceed the most demanding performance standards, for virtually every application need.

Our vent materials and constructions are rigorously tested and characterized against international standards for dust, splash, and immersion protection as well as acoustic performance. We also employ additional testing protocols, developed by Gore engineers, which more effectively measure the impact of real-world environmental challenges on vents, housing performance, and application longevity. To learn more about how Gore strives to exceed the standards in portable electronic devices, download our white paper:

White Paper: Improved Consistency in Testing

Whether your device and housing must meet IP54, IP64, IP65, IP67, IP68, or IP69k standards our representatives and application engineers can help you determine if a vent is needed and if so, help you select the optimum venting solution. We are eager to collaborate with you, from design through testing and manufacturing integration, to meet those requirements.

The Key to NEMA Ratings

NEMA ratings use a numeric scale, from 1 to 13, to specify the types and levels of environmental protection an enclosure provides to the internal electronics.

If one or more letters follow the numeral, it indicates a variant in protection levels.


4 4X


For example, NEMA 4X includes the same protections as NEMA 4, but the X indicates a difference. In this case, additional protection against corrosive agents is required.

The types of protections typically required to seal or vent enclosures that contain electronics are briefly summarized in the chart below. (Please visit www.nema.org to obtain the complete definitions, features and test criteria for all NEMA enclosure types.)

NEMA Enclosure RatingNon-Hazardous LocationEnclosure protects equipment with from:
Ingress of Solid Foreign ObjectsIngress of WaterOther Damaging Conditions
1IndoorFalling dirt (but not dust-tight)Incidental contact with equipment 
2IndoorFalling dirt.Incidental contact with equipment. Dripping.Severe condensation, as in cooling & laundry rooms.
3Indoor or OutdoorFalling dirt, windblown dust.Rain, sleet, snow.External ice buildup.
3XIndoor or OutdoorFalling dirt, windblown dust.Rain, sleet, snow.External ice buildup. Corrosive agents.
3RIndoor or OutdoorFalling dirt (but no dust protection).Dripping/light splashing. Rain, sleet, snow.External ice buildup.
3RXIndoor or OutdoorFalling dirt (but no dust protection).Dripping/light splashing. Rain, sleet, snow.External ice buildup. Corrosive agents.
3SIndoor or OutdoorFalling dirt, windblown dust.Dripping/light splashing. Rain, sleet, snow.External enclosure mechanisms operate when ice-laden.
3SXIndoor or OutdoorFalling dirt, windblown dust.Dripping/light splashing. Rain, sleet, snow.External enclosure mechanisms operate when ice-laden. Corrosive agents.
4Indoor or OutdoorFalling dirt, windblown dust.Rain, sleet, snow. Splashing or hose-directed water.External ice buildup.
4XIndoor or OutdoorFalling dirt, windblown dust.Rain, sleet, snow. Splashing or hose-directed water.External ice buildup. Corrosive agents.
5IndoorFalling dirt, settling airborne dust, lint, fibers, and flyings.Dripping/light splashing. 
6Indoor or OutdoorFalling dirt.Dripping/light splashing. Rain, sleet, snow. Hose-directed water.External ice buildup. Occasional temporary submersion in water at limited depth.
6PIndoor or OutdoorFalling dirt.Dripping/light splashing. Rain, sleet, snow. Hose-directed water.External ice buildup. Occasional temporary submersion in water at limited depth. Prolonged submersion and corrosive agents.
12IndoorFalling dirt, circulating dust, lint, fibers, and flyings.Dripping/light splashingFor enclosures WITHOUT knockouts.
12XIndoorFalling dirt, circulating dust, lint, fibers, and flyings.Dripping/light splashingFor enclosures WITH knockouts.
13IndoorFalling dirt, circulating dust, lint, fibers, and flyings.Dripping/light splashingSpraying, splashing, and seepage of oil and noncorrosive coolants.

Gore has an extensive portfolio of venting products engineered to meet or exceed the most demanding performance standards, for virtually every application need.

Our vent materials and constructions are rigorously tested and characterized against multiple international and North American standards for dust, splash, and immersion protection.

We also employ additional testing protocols, developed by Gore engineers, which more effectively measure the impact of real-world environmental challenges on vents, enclosure integrity and application longevity.

To learn more about how Gore strives to exceed the standards by venting electronic devices, download our white papers:

When your device and housing must meet IP or NEMA standards, our representatives and application engineers can help you determine if a vent is needed and if so, help you select the optimum venting solution. We are eager to collaborate with you, from design through testing and manufacturing integration, to meet your requirements.

FOR INDUSTRIAL USE ONLY 

Not for use in food, drug, cosmetic or medical device manufacturing, processing, or packaging operations.