National Electrical Manufacturers Association

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association or NEMA is a U.S.-based association, which was created on September 1, 1926, when the Associated Manufacturers of Electrical Supplies and the Electric Power Club merged. It is headquartered in Rosslyn, Virginia. It sets many common standards used in electrical products among its over 400 members.

NEMA has established a range of standards for electrical equipment enclosures. For more detailed and complete information, see the NEMA Standards Publication 250.

NEMA defines standards for many commonplace electrical interconnects, as well as outlining manufacturing standards for electrical products, such as various grades of electrical enclosures.

NEMA Enclosures

A NEMA Enclosure used as the housing for a recreation of the Flux capacitor in Back to the Future

NEMA defines standards for various grades of electrical enclosures typically used in industrial applications. Each is rated to protect against designated environmental conditions. A typical NEMA enclosure might be rated to provide protection against environmental hazards such as water, dust, oil or coolant or atmospheres containing corrosive agents such as acetylene or gasoline. A full list of NEMA enclosure types is available from the NEMA website.

External links

• NEMA website
• NEMA members
• Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie (ZVEI) (German equivalent to the NEMA)
• NEMA conversions to IP rating for Enclosures

See also

• NEMA connector
• Energy efficiency
• COCIR