--- title: How to Determine Enclosure Thermal Management description: Learn how to determine the correct enclosure thermal management to extend the lifetime of electronics in manufacturing environments. image: https://blog.itsenclosures.com/hs-fs/hub/364008/file-1909873400.png --- ![](https://blog.itsenclosures.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ITSENCLOSURES%20HEADER%20LOGO%20VIEWSTATION%20ICESTATION.png?width=425&height=87&name=ITSENCLOSURES%20HEADER%20LOGO%20VIEWSTATION%20ICESTATION.png "ITSENCLOSURES HEADER LOGO VIEWSTATION ICESTATION.png") [![](https://blog.itsenclosures.com/hubfs/itsenclosurescallnowviewstationicestationphone.png)](tel:1-800-423-9911)   [![SocIcon-LiveChat](https://blog.itsenclosures.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SocIcon-LiveChat.png?width=210&name=SocIcon-LiveChat.png)](https://www.websitealive9.com/433/operator/guest/gDefault_v2.asp?cframe=login&chattype=normal&groupid=433&websiteid=0&departmentid=0&sessionid_=&iniframe=&ppc_id=&autostart=&proactiveid=&text2chat_info=&loginname=&loginnamelast=&loginemail=&loginphone=&infocapture_ids=&infocapture_values=&dl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.itsenclosures.com%2F%23&loginquestion=)   **[1-800-423-9911](tel:1-800-423-9911) | [Info@itsenclosures.com](mailto:info@itsenclosures.com) ** - [Home](http://www.itsenclosures.com/) - [Products](http://www.itsenclosures.com/products) - [Computer Enclosures](http://www.itsenclosures.com/IceStation) - [LCD Enclosures](http://www.itsenclosures.com/ViewStation-LCD-Enclosures) - [Printer Enclosures](http://www.itsenclosures.com/Printer-Enclosures) - [Rack Mount Enclosures](http://www.itsenclosures.com/Rack-Mount-Enclosures) - [Vented Rack Enclosures](http://www.itsenclosures.com/NetStation) - [Arm Solutions](http://www.itsenclosures.com/Articulating-Arm-Enclosure-Solutions) - [Electrical Enclosures](http://www.itsenclosures.com/IceBox-Junction-Enclosures) - [Thermal Management](http://www.itsenclosures.com/Thermal-Management) - [Industrial Keyboards](http://www.itsenclosures.com/Industrial-Keyboards-and-Pointing-Devices) - [Steals and Deals](https://info.itsenclosures.com/hot-list-deals) - [Purge Controls](http://www.itsenclosures.com/Hazardous-Area-Purge-Controls) - [About Us](http://www.itsenclosures.com/about-us) - [Blog](http://www.itsenclosures.com/blog) - [Images](http://www.itsenclosures.com/Image-Gallery) - [Computer Enclosures](http://www.itsenclosures.com/IceStation-Computer-Enclosure-Image-Gallery) - [LCD Enclosures](http://www.itsenclosures.com/ViewStation-LCD-Enclosure-Image-Gallery) - [Digital Menu Boards](http://www.itsenclosures.com/ViewStation-Outdoor-Digital-Menu-Boards-Image-Gallery) - [Video Gallery](http://www.itsenclosures.com/Video-Gallery) - [Computer Enclosures](http://www.itsenclosures.com/IceStation-Videos) - [LCD Enclosures](http://www.itsenclosures.com/LCD-Enclosures-Videos) - [Digital Menu Boards](http://www.itsenclosures.com/Digital-Menu-Boards-Videos) - [VLOGs](http://www.itsenclosures.com/VLOGs) - [News](http://www.itsenclosures.com/press-releases) - [Press Releases](http://www.itsenclosures.com/press-releases) - [Case Studies](http://www.itsenclosures.com/Case-Studies) - [Product Spotlights](http://www.itsenclosures.com/IceStation-Product-Spotlights) - [Contact](http://www.itsenclosures.com/contact-us) - [FAQs](http://www.itsenclosures.com/Frequently-Asked-Questions-FAQs) # ITSENCLOSURES Blog # How to Determine Enclosure Thermal Management Posted by [Jennifer Bissell](https://blog.itsenclosures.com/blog/author/jennifer-bissell) on Oct 20, 2014 11:48:00 AM Find me on: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/pages/ITSENCLOSURES/85041578207) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferbissell) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/itsenclosures) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) **How do I select cooling or heating for an industrial enclosure?** In manufacturing environments, it is very common to use some sort of heating and cooling on computer enclosures. Proper enclosure [thermal management](https://blog.itsenclosures.com/blog/3-problems-the-right-thermal-management-eliminates-for-pc-enclosures) keeps electronics operating within a normal temperature range despite the ambient temperature. Selecting the proper cooling and heating is not difficult but does require basic information about the environment and electronics that will be protected inside of the enclosure. ### 3 Items You Need to Know![Filtered_Fan_System_ITSENCLOSURES-1](https://blog.itsenclosures.com/hs-fs/hub/364008/file-1909873400.png) 1. **Enclosure Size:** Height x Width x Depth 2. **Ambient Temperatures** - highest and lowest expected temperature outside enclosure - highest and lowest temperature allowed inside enclosure 3. **Equipment Total Load in Watts:** Representative of computer, monitor, printer, server, UPS, etc.  Note: If enclosing an UPS, use 1/4 of output power capacity. Once you have the information above, use this formula to estimate the enclosure thermal management. **(watts x 3.413) + (1.25 x area in sq. feet x DT temperature difference in degrees F) = BTU/hr** ***Watts =** total heat load inside enclosure, sum of all heat producing equipment* ***Area =** total exposed surface area of enclosure in square feet* ***DT =** difference between maximum expected temperature in F outside of enclosure and maximum desired temperature in F inside of enclosure* Other factors that can affect [thermal management](https://blog.itsenclosures.com/blog/3-problems-the-right-thermal-management-eliminates-for-pc-enclosures) are enclosure construction and the installation environment.   An enclosure’s construction dictates how heat dissipates.  Exterior environments that are exposed to direct sunlight will also affect cooling and heating. The correct enclosure thermal management will create optimum conditions for the reliable operation of electronic and electrical components in a manufacturing environment.  From filtered fans to air conditioners to heaters, there are a number of [thermal management options](https://blog.itsenclosures.com/blog/4-types-of-enclosure-thermal-management) available to ensure maximum productivity and uptime while protecting your controls and equipment. --- [![TO ORDER FILTERS FAN ICESTATION ITSENCLOSURES STORE-1.jpg](https://blog.itsenclosures.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TO%20ORDER%20FILTERS%20FAN%20ICESTATION%20ITSENCLOSURES%20STORE-1.jpg?width=550&height=78&name=TO%20ORDER%20FILTERS%20FAN%20ICESTATION%20ITSENCLOSURES%20STORE-1.jpg)](http://www.itsenclosures.com/ITSENCLOSURES-Accessories-Store?categoryid=0&keywords=)    For help sizing and selecting the correct thermal management, download the **ITSENCLOSURES** cooling requirement worksheet. 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