Most submersible enclosures are designed to meet a rating. NEMACO™ tests our submersibles to exceed those ratings.
Standards like NEMA 6P, IP68, and UL Type 6P define minimum thresholds for depth, duration, and pressure retention. NEMACO™ goes further by testing each enclosure beyond those limits, using extended submersion ranges, tighter pressure control, and fully documented validation before the enclosure leaves the factory. The result is a performance record tied to each unit, not just a compliance checkbox.
To learn more about submersible testing methods, view How Submersible Electrical Enclosures Are Tested.
NEMACO™ Submersible Enclosure Testing: How We Compare
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Standards Define the Minimum Ratings. NEMACO™ Exceeds Them.
NEMA 6P, IP68, and UL Type 6P define minimum ratings for submersible performance. These ratings establish baseline thresholds for depth, duration, and pressure retention. They do not define inspection requirements, acceptable performance variation, environmental tracking, or long-term testing conditions. Meeting a rating confirms compliance. NEMACO™ testing confirms performance.
Industry standards do not define:
The inspection requirements before testing begins
Acceptable variation in performance throughout the test
Environmental tracking during submersion
Long-term or extended duration testing conditions
How Submersible Testing Actually Works
Submersible enclosure testing is based on one core principle: maintaining internal pressure while submerged under external pressure over time.
Each enclosure is sealed, pressurized, and submerged. As external water pressure increases, the enclosure must maintain internal pressure without loss. Any drop in pressure indicates a failure point in sealing, material integrity, or assembly.
Standards define minimum conditions for this test, but do not define how tightly performance must be controlled or how much variation is acceptable. At NEMACO™, performance is measured continuously throughout the testing process, not just at the end.
We Test Every Unit Before the 24-Hour Clock Starts
Before any submersion testing begins, every NEMACO™ enclosure undergoes sample inspection, pre-test inspection, and data logging and test preparation documentation. Industry standards require none of these steps. NEMACO™ includes all three on every submersible we manufacture.
Where the Standard Ends and Performance Begins
The most significant differences between standard testing and NEMACO™ testing appear in measurable performance thresholds for NEMA 6P, IP68, and UL Type 6P:
Parameter | Industry Standard | NEMACO™ Testing |
Submersion Depth | 1 meter | 3 to 150 feet (configurable) |
Test Duration | 24 hours | 24 hours to 7 days |
Air Pressure (Start) | 6 PSI | 6 PSI minimum |
Air Pressure (Final) | 4 PSI | 5.7 PSI (steady state) |
Pressure Delta Loss | Up to 33.3% allowable drop | Maximum 5.0% loss |
Standards allow pressure loss within a defined tolerance. NEMACO™ controls pressure stability within a narrow range and verifies steady-state performance over time. A 33.3% allowable pressure drop leaves significant room for undetected seal degradation. NEMACO™'s 5% threshold means a failure is caught before it becomes a problem in the field.
Environmental Tracking
Temperature is not required to be recorded during submersion testing. Those standards focus on pass/fail outcomes, not how environmental variables behave throughout the test.
NEMACO™ records air temperature from start to finish and water temperature is recorded when required, creating a complete environmental record during testing. Temperature directly affects pressure stability and sealing performance. Without tracking it, pressure changes cannot be fully understood or validated. We track what drives the results, not just the results themselves.
Calibrated to a Finer Degree
Industry standards require calibrated instrumentation under ISO 17025, but do not define measurement precision or require a safety factor.
NEMACO™ instruments are calibrated to:
Pressure gauges: digital accuracy to 0.01 PSI
Vacuum gauges: digital accuracy to 0.01 INHG
Torque wrenches: ISO calibrated
Safety factor: 1.5 applied as standard
Standards establish that equipment must be calibrated. They do not define this level of measurement precision or require a built-in safety factor. At NEMACO™, precision is something we measure and document, not something we assume.
Testing Options No Standard Requires
NEMA and IP ratings do not require advanced validation testing. NEMACO™ performs it on every unit we produce. Our validation methods include:
Micro leak validation
Detects failures too small to register under standard pressure testingHydrostatic testing
Confirms structural integrity under sustained conditionsVacuum in water testing (15 to 29.7 INHG)
Identifies seal failures under negative pressure conditionsNitrogen seal testing
Uses and inert gas to detect leaks without moisture interference
These methods exist to prove performance beyond minimum compliance, not to satisfy a checklist.
To learn more about submersible testing methods, view How Submersible Electrical Enclosures Are Tested.
Full Traceability from Testing to Deployment
Every submersible enclosure is assigned a unique serial number and tied to a complete testing record. Test data is logged and retained. Results are traceable to each individual unit, and that record follows the enclosure from testing through deployment.
Standards confirm that a design meets requirements. NEMACO™ provides traceability that confirms how each unit performed. This level of documentation gives engineers something concrete to point to when specifying or troubleshooting long-term performance.
The NEMACO™ Difference: Built Beyond the Testing
NEMACO™ testing protocols exceed industry standards across every major category:
Test procedures
Submersion parameters
Environmental tracking
Calibration precision
Advanced validation
Traceability
Testing is not a series of boxes to check. Testing verifies each unit performs at its best in the field.
NEMACO™ enclosures are engineered to perform under combined environmental stress, not isolated test conditions. They are backed by a 5 to 15-year warranty depending on configuration, providing added confidence in long-term durability and performance for demanding environments.
What This Means for Your Application
Testing beyond the standard matters most where conditions are unpredictable and failure carries risk:
Flood-prone installations
Coastal environments
Underground systems
Extended submersion conditions
When failure is not an option, minimum compliance is not enough.
