Nema 6 Enclosures and Nema 6P Boxes

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NEMA 6 and 6P Submersible Metal Enclosures

Sparton offers three basic standard designs: Internal Flange, External Flange, and the Torpedo Style. The most common NEMA 6 enclosure we manufacture has an external flange. All of our designs utilize a series of bolts applying a specific pressure to seamless gaskets.

Nema 6P Standard Design Types
Enclosure Style	Advantages	Disadvantages
External Flange	Least Expensive Shortest Lead Time Simple	External Flange is Visible and Not as Attractive
Torpedo Shaped	Potentially Most Durable Simple Compact	Longer Lead Time Very Limited Sizes
Internal Flange	Most Attractive Design	Price More complicated Design Longer Lead Time

What does the NEMA 6 (NEMA TYPE 6) rating imply?

A NEMA Type 6 enclosure must be submersible for short periods of time and not be damaged by ice forming externally.

The NEMA website uses the following description:

Either indoor or outdoor use
To provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts
To provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt)
To provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (hose directed water and the entry of water during occasional temporary submersion at a limited depth); and that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.

A NEMA Type 6P enclosure must be submersible for prolonged periods of time, not be damaged by ice forming externally, and additionally provide corrosion protection.

The NEMA website uses the following description:

E ither indoor or outdoor use
To provide a degree of protection to personnel against access to hazardous parts
To provide a degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt)
To provide a degree of protection with respect to harmful effects on the equipment due to the ingress of water (hose directed water and the entry of water during prolonged submersion at a limited depth); that provides an additional level of protection against corrosion and that will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.

Standard Nema 6 and Nema 6P Enclosures

While we do not offer off the shelf type 6 enclosures, we do however have several standard designs with optional standard features. There are a few basic designs with several variations, as you can see from the table above. Ordering one of our standard designs in a standard sizes will speed up the process and be the most affordable option.

If lead time is your primary concern, ordering a standard design and standard size without any customization such as cut-outs or other features will eliminate the design process.

Submersible Enclosure Material Choices

Base Material	NEMA 6	NEMA 6P	Comments
304 stainless steel			Standard corrosion resitant material
316 Stainless Steel			Premium corrosion resistance
5052 Aluminum			Standard corrosion resistant material
5086 Aluminum			Marine and Naval Grade Fabrication more costly Larger bend radii required
6061 Aluminum			Torpedo style enclosures
Cold Rolled Steel (CRS)			Less expensive Least corrosion resistance
Any Polymer	N/A	N/A	We do not manufacture polymer based enclosures

Custom Manufactured NEMA 6 and 6P Enclosures

Custom enclosures are generally not offered. However, there are material options available.

Material Options
Our standard NEMA 6 and 6P enclosures are constructed from 304 stainless steel. However, we can upgrade your enclosure to type 316 Stainless. Aluminum is only available in limited applications, and we have stopped offering this material as a standard option.

Please keep in mind that the more custom your enclosure is the more the cost is driven up, both by design and fabrication time. Because your enclosures are totally built in a "make to order" batch style, the price is very dependent on how many enclosures are built together to offset the set-up time of each operation.

We are interested in hearing about all enclosure opportunities, but be advised that NEMA 6 and NEMA 6P enclosures cost more to fabricate than your typical NEMA 3, 3R, 4, or 4X enclosure that most people are familiar with purchasing. They are very different and require much more labor intensive fabrication processes.

Why are NEMA 6 and 6P Enclosures significantly more expensive than standard 4x enclosures?

This is fairly straight forward. The answer is simply volume, and a very significant difference in testing requiremnets. The following table illustrates some of the differences.

NEMA 4, 4X vs NEMA 6 & 6P
Cost Drivers	NEMA 4	NEMA 4X	NEMA 6 or 6P
Enclosure Material	Least expensive, thin gage steel	Needs corrosion resistance (think rust). Generally thin gage stainless steel	Needs corrosion resistance and must be very durable to withstand increased pressure, as submerged in water. Generally heavier gage stainless steel
Gasket Material	Seamed polymer strips or formed in place gasket (Inexpensive)	Seamed polymer strips or formed in place gasket (Inexpensive)	One piece (not seamed), thick gasket, generally silicone. (Expensive)
Volume	Manufactured by countless companies in high volume, driving cost down	Manufactured by countless companies in high volume, driving cost down	Specialty Product produced in low volume, driving the cust up. Only two to three companies in North America manufacturing compliant enclosures.
Testing	Standard time proven designs requiring limited testing (Inexpensive)	Standard time proven designs requiring limited testing (Inexpensive)	Extensive testing of each enclosure is critical. Issues such as porossity in the weld seams, bad gasket seal (Very Expensive)

Let Sparton Manufacture Your Project

Do you have other brackets or parts to be fabricated for your project? Streamline your purchasing by having us quote those along with the enclosure. Often we manufacture the enclosures along with other sheet metal and machined components for customers. We can be your one stop shop for your mechanical requirements including integration.

Often we manufacture the enclosures along with other sheet metal and machined components for customers. We can be your one stop shop for your mechanical requirements including integration.

Pricing

Please take a moment to complete our online NEMA 6P RFQ form. If we are able to have the form in hand before your call, we can ask you fewer questions and filling out the form will force you to think about many more aspects of your design. It is easy to do.

Lead Times

Quote Lead Times: This varies by the number of quotes, but expect a 3-4 day turn around

Enclosure Lead Times: 8-10 weeks.