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NEMA Emergency Lights

Emergency Lights and NEMA Ratings

NEMA emergency lights are safety lighting fixtures that feature housings and components which are rated for the different degrees of protection that they offer. NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) has developed this rating system over the past 75 years.

NEMA emergency lights for non-hazardous locations are offered with 1 of 7 different ratings. Different applications require different types of emergency lights. In many commercial and industrial settings, emergency lights come into contact with water, moisture, dust, and vapors.

The construction of the emergency light, both inside and out, depends on the environment the emergency light is being installed into. For example, a NEMA 4X emergency light, which can handle rain, snow, and sleet, features a watertight cabinet and optional battery heater for cold locations. Some NEMA emergency lights can even be submerged into water for short or long times.

Most NEMA emergency lights are waterproof and rated for wet locations that feature washdowns at a high PSI. Certain NEMA enclosures, such as 7, 8, and 9 are designed for hazardous locations and feature explosion proof housings. For help with finding the right NEMA rated emergency light, please call us today at 800-480-0707.

The most popular NEMA ratings are explained below in the following chart:

NEMA Emergency Light

There are a few additional NEMA ratings that are less common, they are as follows:

Type 7 - Intended for use indoors in locations classified as Class l, Groups A, B, C, or D as defined in the National Electrical Code®.

Type 8 - Intended for indoor or outdoor use in locations classified as Class l, Groups A, B, C, & D as defined in the National Electrical Code®.

Type 9 - Intended for indoor locations classified as Class ll, Groups E, F & G, as defined in the National Electrical Code®.

Type 10 - Enclosures are constructed to meet the applicable requirements of the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Type 11 - Intended for indoor use primarily to provide, by oil immersion, a degree of protection to enclosed equipment against the corrosive effects of liquids

and gases.

Type 12 - Intended for indoor use primarily to provide a degree of protection against dust, falling dirt, and dripping noncorrosive liquids.

Type 12K - Enclosure with knockouts intended for indoor use primarily to provide a degree of protection against dust, falling dirt, and dripping non-corrosive

liquids other than at knockouts.

Type 13 - Intended for indoor use primarily to provide a degree of protection against dust, spraying of water, oil, and noncorrosive coolant.

By Evan Delaporte+


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