Harsh Environments
Accounting for the Elements
Whether it’s extreme heat, blistering winds, or toxic chemicals - electronics are more susceptible to damage when operating in harsh environments.
Engineers must account for environmental factors before the design stage, choosing products with proper qualifications and ratings to protect valuable equipment and personnel.
Browse Top Products by AttributeAbout Harsh Environments
Characteristics:
- Extremely humid, wet and/or dry conditions
- Exposure to chemicals, particulates oil, or bodily fluids
- Constant or frequent vibration and jarring
- Flexing, twisting, or bending of wire & cable
- Voltage or current spikes and risks of short-cricuits
- Extreme or rapidly changing temperatures
Recommended Technical Resources:
Understanding IP Ratings
IP (Ingress Protection) ratings consist of the letters IP followed by two digits and an optional letter.
The first digit refers to the level of protection against hazardous parts and the ingress of solid foregin objects. The second digit refers to the level of protection against the ingress of water.
This standard provides engineers with more detailed information regarding the protection status of a product than vague terms like waterproof. Below is a brief table outlining some of the common IP ratings that you'll see across our site. We do offer products with ratings not listed below.
| IP Rating | Water Protection | Dust Protection |
|---|---|---|
| IP65 | Water at 12.5 liters per minute through 6.3mm nozzle from any direction | Total dust ingress protection |
| IP66 | Water at 100 liters per minute through 12.5mm nozzle from any direction | Total dust ingress protection |
| IP67 | Submersion into water up to 1 meter deep for amount of time specified by manufacturer | Total dust ingress protection |
| IP68 | Permanent submersion beyond 1 meter into water of depth stated by manufacturer | Total dust ingress protection |
| IP69K | Water at 80-100MPa (megapascal) and 14-16 liters per minute from four angles while the device is rotated at 5RPM | Total dust ingress protection |
Learn About NEMA Ratings for Enclosures
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) provides a popular standard for protective enclosures. These conditions include ingress of water and foreign objects (e.g. dust or fibers), but go beyond IP code, accounting for corrosive agents and various gases and atmospheres. The table provides a brief description of each level of protection, which NEMA specifies with a NEMA Enclosure Type Number.
Indoor Nonhazardous Locations
This is a brief table outlining the NEMA ratings as related to the use of enclosures in an indoor nonhazardous location.
| Provides a Degree of Protection Against the Following Environmental Conditions | Enclosure NEMA Type | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 4 | 4X | 5 | 6 | 6P | 12 | 12K | 13 | ||
| Access to hazardous parts | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Ingress of solid foreign objects (Falling dirt) | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Ingress of water (Dripping and light splashing) | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||
| Ingress of solid foreign objects (Circulating dust, lint, fibers, and flyings **) | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||
| Ingress of solid foreign objects (Settling airborne dust, lint, fibers, and flyings **) | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||
| Ingress of water (Hosedown and splashing water) | x | x | x | x | |||||||
| Oil or coolant seepage | x | x | x | ||||||||
| Oil or coolant spraying and splashing | x | ||||||||||
| Corrosive agents | x | x | |||||||||
| Ingress of water (Occasional temporary submersion) | x | x | |||||||||
| Ingress of water (Occasional prolonged submersion) | x | ||||||||||
Outdoor Nonhazardous Locations
This is a brief table outlining the NEMA ratings as related to the use of enclosures in an outdoor nonhazardous location.
| Provides a Degree of Protection Against the Following Environmental Conditions | Enclosure NEMA Type | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3X | 3R | 3RX | 3S | 3SX | 4 | 4X | 6 | 6P | ||
| Access to hazardous parts | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Ingress of water (Rain, snow, and sleet **) | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
| Sleet | x | x | |||||||||
| Ingress of solid foreign objects (Windblown dust, lint, fibers, and flyings) | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||
| Ingress of water (Hosedown) | x | x | x | x | |||||||
| Corrosive agents | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||
| Ingress of water (Occasional temporary submersion) | x | x | |||||||||
| Ingress of water (Occasional prolonged submersion) | x | ||||||||||
Trends We Are Seeing in Harsh Environments
Air Quality
Problem: According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fine particles, which are often caused by burning fossil fuels, can settle deep into lungs or even enter the bloodstream and pose health risks.
Solution: Honeywell has developed a new particle sensor designed to help building owners and consumers monitor the air for potentially harmful particulate contaminants caused by dust, soot and smoke. The laser based sensor which uses light scattering method to detect and count particles in a given environment. "Particle sensors play a critical role in measuring and managing the quality of the air we breathe to help protect our health," said Graham Robinson, president of Honeywell's Sensing and Internet of Things business.
Humidity
Problem: Fluctuations in humidity & temperature in testing and manufacturing facilities can cause electronic components and other materials to warp and fail to stay within specifications.
Solution: Amphenol has created sensing solutions to monitor and evaluate humidity & temperature levels in a variety of harsh environments to ultimately aid in controlling these levels to avoid any damage to products or components.
