Elasto Proxy fabricates UL 50E gaskets for electrical enclosures that need greater environmental protection than the UL 50 standard provides. We also distribute UL 50E gasket material to enclosure manufacturers. Megalab Group, an A2LA accredited engineering testing facility, tested samples of our UL 50E sponge rubber and provided us with reports of the results.
The results of this independent testing demonstrate that our gasket material complies with UL 50E requirements for non-hazardous locations both indoors and outdoors. More specifically, our gasket material meets requirements for the numbered enclosure types defined in UL 50 and referenced by UL 50E and NEMA 250. (UL 50 is the basis but not the extent of these other standards.)
This article from Elasto Proxy describes our UL 50E gasket material. It also describes UL 50E, why it matters, and its relationship to UL 50, NEMA 250, IP ratings, and CSA standards. Keep reading to learn more and contact Elasto Proxy for UL 50E sponge rubber gaskets and gasket materials.
UL 50 and UL 50E
UL 50E is a standard from Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) that adds environmental protection requirements to the original UL50 standard for electrical enclosures. UL50 includes protection against dust and moisture, but at a more basic level. UL 50E extends the UL 50 standard and includes additional requirements for environmental protection against solids, liquids, and chemicals.
- Solids: falling dirt, circulating dust, settling airborne dust, and windblown dust
- Liquids: hose down & splash, temporary or prolonged submersion; rain, snow, sleet, and ice
- Chemicals: oil and coolant seepage, oil and coolant splash, and corrosion
These additional requirements make UL 50E suitable for outdoor enclosures like battery energy storage systems (BESS) and the junction boxes used in 5G telecommunications. UL 50E enclosures are also better suited for industrial applications in demanding indoor environments such as metalworking facilities. By contrast, UL 50 applies to more general-purpose enclosures.
NEMA 250 and IP Ratings
The National Equipment Manufacturers Association (NEMA) uses the UL 50 classification system to define its own ratings under its NEMA 250 standard. In turn, each NEMA rating indicates the type of environment an electrical enclosure can withstand.
Often, NEMA is compared to the Ingress Protection (IP) system developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC); however, NEMA ratings have more detailed specifications and apply to only North American environments. In some cases, NEMA ratings have IP equivalents.
UL 50 and UL 50E are harmonized with CSA C22.2 No. 94.1/94.2 from the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).
UL 50 Enclosure Types for Elasto Proxy’s UL 50E Gasket Material
Elasto Proxy’s sponge rubber UL 50E gasket material is suitable for use with the following types of UL50 electrical enclosures: 2, 3, 3R, 3RX, 3S, 3SX, 3X, 4, 4X, 5, 6, 6P, 12, 12K and 13. All the samples that Megalab Group tested comply to UL 50E standards for aging, tensile strength, and compression.
The chart below describes protection levels for solids, liquids, and chemicals based on enclosure location and type.
Protection Against | Indoor | Indoor/outdoor | |||||||||||
2 | 5 | 12 | 12K | 13 | 3 | 3S | 3R | 4 | 4X | 6 | 6P | ||
Solids | Incidental Contact | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Falling Dirt | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||
Circulating Dust | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||
Settling Airborne Dust | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||
Windblown Dust | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||
Liquids | Light Splash | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
Hose down and Splash | x | x | x | x | |||||||||
Temporary Submersion | x | x | |||||||||||
Prolonged Submersion | x | ||||||||||||
Rain, Snow & Sleet | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||
Ice Laden | x | ||||||||||||
Chemicals | Oil and Coolant Seepage | x | x | x | |||||||||
Oil and Coolant Splash | x | ||||||||||||
Corrosion | x | x | |||||||||||
Find UL50E Gaskets and UL50E Gasket Materials
Do you need sponge rubber UL50E gaskets or gasket materials? Elasto Proxy has the rubber products you need. Remember, however, that using a UL50E gasket material does not make an enclosure UL certified or compliant. The enclosure (and not just the gasket) still requires testing. Talk to our team about your application and get the gasket guidance that you need.
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