Food and beverage settings require the utmost cleanliness!
When using electronics in production areas, it is important to keep them dry and still maintain a sanitary environment. The collective, protective requirement regulations for electronic equipment, deployed in industrial environments, have given rise to safety classifications developed by a number of manufacturing organizations, notably the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). Enclosure classifications of specific relevance to wash-down environments is referred to as NEMA 4X. The operative descriptors for NEMA 4X (indoor or outdoor) enclosures are airtight protection against hose‐directed water and resistance to corrosion and harsh chemicals, which normally dictates stainless steel construction. Proper wash-down cleaning can remove the possibility of contamination or costly recalls caused by unsanitary conditions.
It is important to specify the correct NEMA 4X computer enclosure prior to deploying electronics in a wash down environment. The following list will help to provide a guideline for features that are critical when researching an enclosure.
4 Must Have Features for NEMA 4X Enclosures in Wash-down Environments:
- Lift off hinges with removable pins - Lift off hinges create an airtight seal on the door, are quick to clean and can be removed easily.
Hinges that are continuous will not adequately protect the electronics inside of the enclosure and are not designed to counterattack contamination.
- Sloped Surface – This allows for an acceptable amount of runoff during the cleaning process. It also ensures that water/liquid will not sit or pool on the top of the enclosure, which can cause damaging germs or bacteria to form. The sloped surface (see image) can also significantly reduce a collection of dust, dirt, grease, or oil.
- Minimum 304 Stainless Steel Construction (316 stainless steel is also available) – Stainless steel is a material that is non-porous and therefore impermeable to liquids. In other words, it is waterproof, resists moisture access, and will protect a computer, monitor, printer and any other electronics that will be housed in the enclosure.
- Sanitary Legs – If the enclosure comes standard with casters, then sanitary legs can replace them, which will make the enclosure stationary. Sanitary legs should be at least 6 inches long, so that the enclosure is not sitting directly on the floor/ground and there is a good amount of space and unobstructed clearance under the enclosure.
Overall, it is vital to not harbor microbial contaminants. Always keep the industrial or manufacturing area uncontaminated and sanitary. NEMA 4X enclosures ensure that equipment will be up and running for a long time. Nobody can afford unnecessary downtime. Protecting equipment will protect the bottom line.
Read More on this Topic: 3 Considerations for Choosing a NEMA 4X Enclosure
HAVE QUESTIONS?
LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN BEST ASSIST YOU! CONTACT AN 'ITSENCLOSURES EXPERT' AT 1-800-423-9911 -OR- SEND US AN EMAIL: INFO@ITSENCLOSURES.COM
