Electrical enclosure

Regulations may dictate the features and performance of enclosures for electrical equipment in hazardous areas, such as petrochemical plants or coal mines.

Electronic packaging may place many demands on an enclosure for heat dissipation, radio frequency interference and electrostatic discharge protection, as well as functional, esthetic and commercial constraints.

Polycarbonate, glass-reinforced, and fiberglass boxes are used where stronger cabinets are required, and may additionally have a gasket to exclude dust and moisture.

Metal cabinets may meet the conductivity requirements for electrical safety bonding and shielding of enclosed equipment from electromagnetic interference.

Non-metallic enclosures may require additional installation steps to ensure metallic conduit systems are properly bonded.

[1] Stainless steel enclosures are suited for medical, pharma, and food industry applications since they are bacterial and fungal resistant due to their non-porous quality.

Enclosures for some purposes have partially punched openings (knockouts) which can be removed to accommodate cables, connectors, or conduits.

Telecommunication enclosures are fully assembled or modular field-assembled transportable structures capable of housing an electronic communications system.