Standing firm – whatever the threat

Outdoor cabinets have specific requirements to stand up to the elements and the threat of vandalism or theft. “This goes for whatever cabinet you’re designing, whether an industrial cabinet, outdoor electrical enclosure, telecom cabinet or cable junction box,” points out Essentra Components.

“To help make your job easier, we’ve put together this guide to help you design your cabinet. We’ve made free CADS of our solutions available for download. You can also try before you buy on most products by requesting free samples!", says the company.

Keep in mind that just as outdoor enclosures vary, so too can the location of components within the enclosure. This is a general guide for the components outdoor cabinets typically require. For example, an outdoor telecom cabinet will often have a rear door, so you might need to mount solutions on the roof or side panels to allow the door to open with ease.

Protecting your outdoor cabinets

"Outdoor cabinets can be vulnerable to tampering and vandalism, so it’s good to know that we offer solutions that meet DIN V 1630:1999-04," adds Essentra Components. "Some of our access hardware components are also certified to WK2 standard. This means they’re tested for protection against physical force and the use of small tools, such as screwdrivers."

Environmental factors are another concern. "We’ve addressed these issues with our own internal testing facilities, ensuring that components are robust and durable enough to resist the corrosive effects of salt spray."

NEMA and IP ratings

The first issue you need to be aware of is NEMA or IP ratings. Both of these are standards that tell you the level of protection against dust, dirt, moisture, water and other foreign objects, such as tools or fingers. If you want an outdoor NEMA cabinet, or one that is IP rated, then some of your components need to carry this rating as well. This will maintain your cabinet’s rating.

Fibre-optic cabinets

If your application is a fibre street cabinet, suitable components include outdoor cabinet hinges, electrical enclosure locks and latches. “However, you’ll also need fibre-optic cable management, designed specifically for optimising network performance and enabling easy access for maintenance,” adds Essentra Components.

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