FREE Product Guide: Environmental Considerations for EMI Shielding

Quickly navigate EMI shielding materials available to choose the right product for shielding and environmental requirements.

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RE: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR EMI SHIELDING

How Will the EMI Shielding Guide Help with Environmental Scope?

Once you’ve determined that electrical systems and components need isolation from surrounding electromagnetic fields, or equipment, choosing the right shielding product for your intended environment is crucial.

Why Are Environmental Considerations Important to Effective EMI Shielding?

Choosing the right materials for intended environment makes all the difference in EMI Shielding effectiveness, the right materials are different when you are designing for enclosures involving: outdoor exposure or indoor use, commercial vs military specifications, varying temperatures, NEMA or IP standards, and marine or land desert applications.

Common Environmental Specification for EMI Shielded Enclosures

Environmental Requirements

Outdoor

Applications exposed to the elements such as rain, moisture, salt fog and uneven temperatures.

Indoor

Applications in semi-controlled environments, no rain but possible moisture and temperature variations.

Commercial

-29C-66C | -20F-150F
For applications where MIL-STD-810 design considerations and compliance is NOT required.

Military

-55C-125C | -67F-257F
For applications where MIL-STD-810 design considerations and compliance IS required.

Land / Desert

NEMA 3 | IP 54
Indoor and outdoor use, protection for personnel against access of hazardous parts, falling solid foreign objects, windblown dust and the ingress of rain, sleet and snow.

Marine

NEMA 4 | IP 56
Indoor and outdoor use, protection for personnel against access of hazardous parts, falling solid foreign objects, windblown dust and the ingress of rain, sleet and snow, splashing water and hose directed water.

Warehouse

NEMA 12 | IP 52 | NO TEMPERATURE OR HUMIDITY CONTROL
Indoor use, protection for personnel against access to hazardous parts, falling solid foreign objects, circulating dust, lint, fibers, and the ingress of dripping water and light splashing.

Office

NEMA 1 | IP 10 | TEMPERATURE & HUMIDITY CONTROL
Indoor use, protection for personnel against access to hazardous parts, protection against ingress of solid foreign objects or falling dirt.

IP Requirements

IP 10

Protection from object greater in size than 50mm such as a hand.

IP 52

Protection from dust. Limited ingress of dust. Will not interfere with operation of the equipment. Two to eight hours.
Protection from vertically falling drops of water with enclosure tilted up to 15 degrees from the vertical. Limited ingress permitted.

IP 54

Protection from dust. Limited ingress of dust. Will not interfere with operation of the equipment. Two to eight hours.
Protection from water splashed from all directions. Limited ingress permitted.

IP 54

Protection from dust. Limited ingress of dust. Will not interfere with operation of the equipment. Two to eight hours.
Protection from water splashed from all directions. Limited ingress permitted.

IP 56

Protection from dust. Limited ingress of dust. Will not interfere with operation of the equipment. Two to eight hours.
Water from heavy seas or water projected in powerful jets shall not enter the enclosure in harmful quantities.

Additional IP Rating Information

NEMA Requirements

NEMA 1

Indoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel, enclosure and electrical equipment from:

access to hazardous parts
ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt and windblown dust)

NEMA 3

Indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel, enclosure and electrical equipment from:

access to hazardous parts
ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt and windblown dust)
water (rain, sleet, snow)
damage from formation of ice on the enclosure

NEMA 4

Indoor or outdoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel, enclosure and electrical equipment from:

access to hazardous parts
ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt and windblown dust)
ingress of water (rain, sleet, snow, splashing water, and hose directed water)
water (rain, sleet, snow)
damage from formation of ice on the enclosure

NEMA 12

Indoor use to provide a degree of protection to personnel, enclosure and electrical equipment from:

access to hazardous parts, to be constructed without knockouts
ingress of solid foreign objects (falling dirt and windblown dust)
ingress of water (dripping and light splashing)

For the Fastest EMI Shielding Product Selection RE: Environmental Considerations

Try the easy to use, interactive product guide which walks you through the process in seconds to help you identify the products you need.

INTERACTIVE PRODUCT GUIDE

RE: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR EMI SHIELDING

Prefer to manually use a flow chart, or download the guide as a reference?

CLICK HERE

The Environmental Considerations for EMI Shielding Flow Chart

Easily find the right materials for your EMI Shielding application.

1. Simply begin on the left side, selecting your specifications as you move right to the product type.
2. Then consult the EMI Shielding Products RE: Environmental Specification Chart below.
3. If you need more information on an environmental specification, review the Environmental Specs above.

EMI Shielding Products RE: Environmental Specification

Using your assigned letter for product choices, locate the appropriate product. Click through on a product to learn more, request a sample or place an order.

Shielding Products for Box and Enclosure Doors / Covers
Product Name	Conductive Elastomer	Fingerstock Gasket	Shield Strip Gasket	Multicon Gasket	Knitted Wire Gasket	Conductive Fabric	Conductive Window
NEMA/ IP Compliant Product Type	A, B, C, D, E, F	E, F	A, B, E, F	A, B, C, D, E, F	E, F	E, F	A, B, C, D, E, F

Shielding Products for Air Intake and Exhaust
Product Name	Vent Panel	Air Filter	Frame Gasket	Honeycomb Waveguide Panels	Slim Line Ventilation Panels	EMI Shielded Ventilation Panels
NEMA/ IP Compliant Product Type	E, F	E, F	E, F	E, F	E, F	E, F

Shielding Products for Connectors and Cables
Product Name	Wire Mesh Tape	Metal Foil Tape	Ferrite Material	Wire Mesh Washer	Connector Gasket
NEMA/ IP Compliant Product Type	N/A	N/A	N/A	E, F	A, B, C, D, E, F

Shielding Products for Electronics
Product Name	Board Level Shield	Absorber Material
NEMA/ IP Compliant Product Type	N/A	N/A