7 Most Common Motor Enclosure Types Dened By NEMA

Standards
electrical-engineering-portal.com/7-most-common-motor-enclosure-types-dened-by-nema-standards

Google+

8/9/2013

7 Most Common Motor Enclosure Types Dened By NEMA Standards (on photo: Louis Allis Pacemaker Premium NEMA motor louisallis.com)

Important role of enclosure

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

1/5

NEMA standards MG1-1.25 through 1.27 dene 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 for cooling, but

prevent drops of liquid from falling into motor within a 15 degree angle
from vertical. Typically used for indoor applications in relatively
clean, dry locations.

2. Totally Enclosed Fan Cooled (TEFC)

Prevents the free exchange of air between the inside and outside of
the frame, but does not make the frame completely air tight. A fan
is attached to the shaft and pushes air over the frame during its
operation to help in the cooling process.

Premium Ecient Super-E motor with Open Drip Proof

(ODP) construction by BALDOR

The ribbed frame is designed to increase the surface area for

cooling purposes.
The TEFC style enclosure is the most versatile of all. It is used on
pumps, fans, compressors, general industrial belt drive and direct
connected equipment.

Total Enclosed Fan Cooled vs Open Drip Proof (TEFC

vs ODP)

Weg NEMA Premium Eciency Three Phase TEFC

Motors

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

3. Totally Enclosed Non-Ventilated (TENV)

Similar to a TEFC, but has no cooling fan and relies on convention for cooling. No vent openings, tightly enclosed to
prevent the free exchange of air, but not airtight.
These are suitable for uses which are exposed to dirt or dampness, but not very moist or hazardous (explosive)
locations.

4. Totally Enclosed Air Over (TEAO)

2/5

DAYTON DC Motor, PM, TENV, 1/3 HP, 1800 rpm,

Dust-tight fan and blower duty motors designed for shaft mounted
fans or belt driven fans. The motor must be mounted within the airow
of the fan.

5. Totally Enclosed Wash down (TEWD)

Designed to withstand high pressure wash-downs or other high

humidity or wet environments. Available on TEAO, TEFC and
ENV enclosures totally enclosed, hostile and severe environment
motors:

24VDC

Designed for use in extremely moist or chemical

environments, but not for hazardous locations.

6. Explosion-proof enclosures (EXPL)

The explosion proof motor is a totally enclosed machine and is

designed to withstand an explosion of specied gas or vapor
inside the motor casing and prevent the ignition outside the
motor by sparks, ashing or explosion.
These motors are designed for specic hazardous purposes,
such as atmospheres containing gases or hazardous dusts. For
safe operation, the maximum motor operating temperature must
be below the ignition temperature of surrounding gases or vapors.

US Motors Refrigeration Duty TEAO Motor, 1/2 HP, 3Phase, 1140 RPM Motor

Explosion proof motors are designed, manufactured and tested under

the rigid requirements of the Underwriters Laboratories.

7. Hazardous Location (HAZ)

Baldors Washdown Duty Motor for food processing,

packaging, pharmaceuticals, or applications where
motors are regularly exposed to high pressure wash
down.

3/5

SIEMENSs explosion proof motor for hazardous

environments, such as in chemical plants, the oil industry, in

gas works, in wood and plastic processing industry or in

agriculture.

Motor 3-Phase, 5 HP to Power Fans, Blowers, Pumps or Air Compressors in Areas

That Meet the National Electrical Code for Hazardous Locations

Hazardous location motor applications are classied by the type of hazardous environment present, the
characteristics of the specic material creating the hazard, the probability of exposure to the environment, and the
maximum temperature level that is considered safe for the substance creating the hazard.
The format used to dene this information is a class, group, division and temperature code structure as dened by the
National Electric Code (NFPA-70).
The following hazardous locations are dened:

1) CLASS I
Group A: Acetylene

4/5

Group A: Acetylene
Group B: Butadiene, ethylene oxide, hydrogen, propylene oxide, manufactured gases containing more than
30ydrogen by volume.
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.
Group G: Flour, starch orgrain dust.

3) CLASS III
Easily ignitable bers,such asrayon, cotton, sisal, hemp, cocoa ber, oakum, excelsior and other materials of
similar nature.
The NEMA enclosure description is similar to the IEC Index of Protection (IP) code. The NEMA designations are
more descriptive and general, whereas the IEC IP codes are more precise and narrowly dened by a 2-digit code,
with the rst digit dening how well protected the motor is from solid objects and the second digit describing how well
protected the motor is from 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.

5/5