Fixture: [Archive] - Self Help Forums

Wgoodrich

October 7th, 2002, 01:34 PM

Below is a definition of ENCLOSED

Copied section of NEC 2002 Article 100

Enclosed. Surrounded by a case, housing, fence, or wall(s) that prevents persons from accidentally contacting energized parts.

The term totally enclosed while used frequently in the commentary of the handbook is not with a specific definition in the NEC.

OPINION;
If we were talking legal terms then totally enclosed to me would mean dust proof, water proof, vapor proof and all other terms of enclosures.

The actual definition of ENCLOSED would imply that you could build a fence around a product with no roof but with a gate and this product would be enclosed.

I would not expect totally enclosed would meet just enclosed.

However the true term totally enclosed when unsed in my experience concerning the electrical field would be a generic term that changes with the conditions.

An enclosure that totally enclosed a product meeting the requirements of conditions in the setting this product was intalled would meet totally enclosed.

In other words if we were installing a panel box in a high dust area classified as a class 2 location concerning exessive dust and the panel was not rated for a class 2 structure then the room or box this panel is installed in must then meet the requirments only of a dust proof area not all other classifications that may appear in say a class 1 gas fume area.

What I am trying to say is my opinion of a totally enclosed condition would be that enclosure meets the requirements of an enclosure in the conditions that product is installed. This would mean the definition of totally enclosed would adjust in a generic manner to the classification or conditions involved in each installation type of classification such as weatherproof or dustproof or explosion proof depending on the term totally enclosed adjusting to meet the requirements of that wiring condition per classified area it is installed.

Hope this helps

Wg