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7 Most Common Motor Enclosure Types Defined By NEMA

Standards
Edvard

7 Mo s t Co mmo n Mo to r Enc lo s ure Typ e s De fine d By NEMA Stand ard s (o n p ho to : Lo uis Allis Pac e make r Pre mium NEMA
mo to r - lo uis allis .c o m)

Important role of enclosure

T he enclosure of the motor must protect the windings, bearings, and other mechanical parts f rom
moisture, chemicals, mechanical damage and abrasion from grit.

NEMA standards MG1-1.25 through 1.27 def ine more than 20 types of enclosures under the categories of
open machines, totally enclosed machines, and machines with encapsulated or sealed windings.

The 7 most common types of enclosures are:

1. Open Drip Proof (ODP)

Allows air to circulate through the windings f or cooling, but

prevent drops of liquid f rom f alling into motor within a 15
degree angle f rom vertical. Typically used f or indoor
applications in relatively clean, dry locations.

2. Tot ally Enclosed Fan Cooled (TEFC)

Prevents the f ree exchange of air between the inside and

outside of the f rame, but does not make the f rame
completely air tight. A f an is attached to the shaf t and pushes Pre mium Effic ie nt Sup e r-E mo to r with O p e n Drip
air over the f rame during its operation to help in the Pro o f (O DP) c o ns truc tio n b y BALDO R
cooling process.

The ribbed frame is designed to increase the surf ace area

f or cooling purposes.

The TEFC style enclosure is the most versatile of all. It is

used on pumps, f ans, compressors, general industrial belt
drive and direct connected equipment.

Tot al Enclosed Fan Cooled vs Open Drip Proof

(TEFC vs ODP)

Cant see this video? Click here to watch it on Youtube.

We g NEMA Pre mium Effic ie nc y - Thre e Phas e

3. Tot ally Enclosed Non-Vent ilat ed (TENV) TEFC Mo to rs

Similar to a T EFC, but has no cooling fan and relies on

convention f or cooling. No vent openings, tightly enclosed to
prevent the f ree exchange of air, but not airtight.

T hese are suitable f or uses which are exposed to dirt

or dampness, but not very moist or hazardous (explosive)
locations.

4. Tot ally Enclosed Air Over (TEAO)

Dust-tight f an and blower duty motors designed f or shaf t DAYTO N DC Mo to r, PM, TENV, 1/3 HP, 1800 rp m,
mounted f ans or belt driven f ans. T he motor must be 24VDC

mounted within the airf low of the f an.

5. Tot ally Enclosed Wash down (TEWD)

Designed to withstand high pressure wash-downs or

other high humidity or wet environments. Available on
T EAO, T EFC and ENV enclosures totally enclosed, hostile
and severe environment motors:

Designed for use in extremely moist or chemical

environments, but not for hazardous locations.

6. Explosion-proof enclosures (EXPL)

T he explosion proof motor is a totally enclosed machine US Mo to rs - Re frig e ratio n Duty TEAO Mo to r, 1/2 HP,
3-Phas e , 1140 RPM Mo to r
and is designed to withstand an explosion of specified
gas or vapor inside the motor casing and prevent the
ignition outside the motor by sparks, f lashing or explosion.

T hese motors are designed f or specific hazardous

purposes, such as atmospheres containing gases or
hazardous dusts. For saf e operation, the maximum motor
operating temperature must be below the ignition temperature
of surrounding gases or vapors.

Explosion proof motors are designed, manuf actured and

tested under the rigid requirements of the Underwriters
Laboratories.

Bald o r' s Was hd o wn Duty Mo to r fo r fo o d

p ro c e s s ing , p ac kag ing , p harmac e utic als , o r
7. Hazardous Locat ion (HAZ) ap p lic atio ns whe re mo to rs are re g ularly
e xp o s e d to hig h p re s s ure was h d o wn.

Hazardous location motor applications are classif ied by

the type of hazardous environment present, the
characteristics of the specif ic material creating the hazard,
the probability of exposure to the environment, and the
maximum temperature level that is considered saf e f or the
substance creating the hazard.

T he f ormat used to def ine this inf ormation is a class,

group, division and temperature code structure as def ined
by the National Electric Code (NFPA-70).

The following hazardous locations are defined:

1) CLASS I

Group A: Acetylene
Group B: Butadiene, ethylene oxide, hydrogen,
propylene oxide, manuf actured gases containing more
than 30ydrogen by volume.
SIEMENS' s e xp lo s io n p ro o f mo to r fo r haz ard o us
e nviro nme nts , s uc h as in c he mic al p lants , the o il
ind us try, in g as wo rks , in wo o d and p las tic
p ro c e s s ing ind us try o r in ag ric ulture .
 Group C: Acetaldehyde,
cyclopropane, diethyl ether, ethylene.
Group D: Acetone, acrylonitrile,
ammonia, benzene, butane, ethanol,
ethylene dichloride, gasoline, hexane,
isoprene, methane (natural gas),
methanol, naphtha, propane,
propylene, styrene, toluene, vinyl
acetate, vinyl chloride, xylene.

2) CLASS II

Group E: Aluminum, magnesium, and

other metal dusts withsimilar
characteristics.
Group F: Carbon black, coke or
coaldust.
Mo to r 3-Phas e , 5 HP - to Po we r Fans , Blo we rs , Pump s o r Air Co mp re s s o rs
Group G: Flour, starch orgrain dust. in Are as That Me e t the Natio nal Ele c tric al Co d e fo r Haz ard o us Lo c atio ns

3) CLASS III

Easily ignitable f ibers,such asrayon, cotton, sisal, hemp, cocoa f iber, oakum, excelsior and other
materials of similar nature.

The NEMA enclosure description is similar to the IEC Index of Protection (IP) code. T he NEMA
designations are more descriptive and general, whereas the IEC IP codes are more precise and narrowly
def ined by a 2-digit code, with the f irst digit def ining how well protected the motor is f rom solid objects and
the second digit describing how well protected the motor is f rom moisture.

For example, a NEMA OpenDrip Proof (ODP) motor corresponds to an IP22 and a NEMA Totally
Enclosed motor corresponds to an IP54, a NEMA WeatherProof motor to an IP45, and a NEMA
Wash-Down motor toan IP55.

Reference: Understanding Motor Nameplate Information: NEMA vs. IEC Standards Continuing Education
and Development, Inc.