nVent Hoffman Stainless Steel Enclosures
Stainless steel enclosures There are two types of stainless steel commonly found in the fabrication of enclosures. Type 304 stainless steel contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel. While it prevents corrosion in most conditions, it does not perform well in high saline environments. Type 316 stainless steel contains 16% chromium, 10% nickel and 2% molybdenum. This is a higher grade of stainless steel and withstands chemical and saline exposure. Some of the advantages of using stainless steel for electrical enclosures are that they have a high resistance to corrosion and function well in extreme temperatures. They are also easy to fabricate and sanitize. Most stainless steel enclosures are NEMA 4X rated which indicates that they protect equipment from damaging environmental conditions such as rain, ice formation and dirt. Stainless steel enclosures are commonly found in water treatment facilities, marine environments, oil and gas industries and industrial food processing.
nVent Hoffman has the industry’s most comprehensive protection portfolio that meets global and local standards for a wide range of applications. The portfolio for enclosures that are available with stainless steel construction include: Wall mount and free standing enclosures.
More Information about nVent Hoffman Stainless Steel Enclosures
nVent Hoffman wall mount enclosures are available in Type 304 and Type 316 stainless steel and include their INLINE and CONCEPT enclosures. INLINE enclosures have an outward formed body flange to prevent contaminants from entering the enclosure and are available in three cover styles: hinged solid door, hinged window door and solid screw cover. CONCEPT enclosures are ideal for machine control applications and offer the widest selection of sizes and include: single-door, window-door, two-door, flush-mount, sloped-top and EMC models.
nVent Hoffman Zonex enclosures are made of Type 316 stainless steel and are certified to meet the standards for increased safety in housing electrical components in Zone 1 and Zone 2 applications.
nVent Hoffman Watershed enclosures are made of Type 304 stainless steel and are specifically designed for use in sanitary wash down production environments, particularly food and beverage manufacturing. They feature a sloped top, sloped door edges and bullet-style hinges that facilitate water runoff.
Stainless Steel Enclosures: Type 304 vs 316
304 Stainless Steel
304 Stainless Steel contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel. It is the most widely used stainless steel within industrial applications. 304 stainless steel resists corrosion and oxidizing agents, which can cause rusting. However, it can tarnish. 304 stainless steel is very strong and can be bent without decreasing the strength, but it can be difficult to manipulate. Because of its corrosive resistance, 304 stainless steel enclosures are commonly used in dairy plants, mills, bakeries, and many other food processing industries.
316 Stainless Steel
316 Stainless Steel is a much higher grade of stainless steel containing 16% chromium, 10% nickel and 2% molybdenum, which significantly increases its resistance to pitting and cracking. It has increased corrosive resistance to chloride pollutants, such as salt. 316 stainless steel enclosures are ideal for areas there may have a high salt content, such as coastal areas and areas that use de-icing salts. This type of stainless steel is much more resistant to chemical environments that include sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid or many other chemicals. These types of stainless steel enclosures can be found in areas with high levels of corrosive agents, such as water, wastewater, chemical plants and fertilizer plants. Both 304 and 316 stainless steel enclosures have a NEMA rating of NEMA 4X because they are corrosion resistant, however it is important to remember to never use any chemicals that contain chlorine.