Washdown enclosures for food and beverage
Washdown enclosures in food and beverage plants need two things: a rating that keeps hose water and cleaning chemicals out, and a surface that can be kept clean. NEMA 4X, with IP66, is the usual minimum for washdown with cleaners and sanitizers; hot, high-pressure cleaning at close range is a different test (IPX9 / IP69K) that our enclosures are not rated for. Ours are rated NEMA 4X / IP66 by the manufacturer, not UL listed: 304 for routine washdown, 316L for brine and chlorine-based sanitizers.
- Door
- Continuous gasket; continuous stainless hinge, full door height
- Surface
- #4 brushed stainless, 304 or 316L
- Mounting
- Four wall-mount feet outside the sealed box: no fixing holes through the back
- Rating
- NEMA 4X / IP66 by the manufacturer; not UL listed; no IPX9 or IP69K rating
- HMI enclosures
- IP65-type front seal with the display installed: keep jets off the display face. HMI enclosures
- Hygienic options
- Standoffs, gland positions and other plant requirements: describe them in a quote request and we confirm them on the drawing
- Delivery
- Made to order, delivered in 10 business days; custom work from your approval of the drawing
The grade
Choose by what you clean with
| Cleaning regime | Grade |
|---|---|
| Water and mild detergents, routine washdown | 304 |
| Chlorinated cleaners or chlorine-based sanitizers | 316L |
| Brine, salty or acidic product | 316L |
| Hot, high-pressure cleaning at close range | Neither alone: needs an IPX9 / IP69K rated product or a shield |
Hygienic design
What to ask any maker for
None of the food regulations rates an electrical enclosure against water; that is the job of NEMA types and IP codes. What they set is cleanability: FDA 21 CFR 117.40 wants equipment in food areas built so it can be kept clean and sanitary, and the FDA Food Code (4-202.16) wants surfaces free of unnecessary ledges, projections and crevices.
Which rules apply depends on your plant and its regulator.
- A sloped or pitched top where your plant standard calls for one
- Continuous seam welds, no tack or spot welds
- No exposed threads on the outside
- Hinges and latches you can clean around
- Labels kept to a minimum
- Standoffs from the wall, or a sealed joint to it
On the line
Washdown practice that keeps the rating
- Keep the door closed and latched during washdown; check it before the hose comes out.
- Keep a high-pressure lance at a distance and never aim it straight at door gaskets, glands or a display seal.
- Rinse chemical residue off with clean water.
- Inspect gaskets on a schedule; replace damaged or hardened ones, never scrape or pry them.
A spread of control-box sizes in both grades; every wall-mount size carries the same rating.
304 stainless wall-mount enclosure
8 × 8 × 4 in
8 DIN84 mm usable5 W
316L stainless wall-mount enclosure
8 × 8 × 4 in
8 DIN84 mm usable5 W
304 stainless wall-mount enclosure
12 × 12 × 6 in
14 DIN135 mm usable10 W
316L stainless wall-mount enclosure
12 × 12 × 6 in
14 DIN135 mm usable10 W
304 stainless wall-mount enclosure
16 × 14 × 6 in
30 DIN134 mm usable14 W
316L stainless wall-mount enclosure
16 × 14 × 6 in
30 DIN134 mm usable14 W
304 stainless wall-mount enclosure
20 × 20 × 8 in
38 DIN185 mm usable26 W
316L stainless wall-mount enclosure
20 × 20 × 8 in
38 DIN185 mm usable26 W
304 stainless wall-mount enclosure
24 × 24 × 10 in
72 DIN236 mm usable38 W
316L stainless wall-mount enclosure
24 × 24 × 10 in
72 DIN236 mm usable38 W
304 stainless wall-mount enclosure
30 × 30 × 12 in
132 DIN286 mm usable58 W
316L stainless wall-mount enclosure
30 × 30 × 12 in
132 DIN286 mm usable58 W
Guide
Washdown enclosures
What FDA, USDA, 3-A and EHEDG say, NEMA 4X vs IP69, hygienic design, mounting, 304 vs 316L against sanitizers, and cleaning practice.
Read the guideGuide
NEMA 4 vs 4X vs IP66
The hose and dust tests side by side, the salt-spray test behind the X and what it does not cover, IP69, and a quick way to choose.
Read the guideGuide
304 vs 316L stainless
Alloy limits, chloride limits in ppm, coastal distance and road salt, a cleaner and chemical table, and how to keep either grade rust-free.
Read the guideGuide
Condensation
Dew point table, why sealed boxes breathe, heater sizing with a worked example, rated vent drains, desiccant and air conditioner condensate.
Read the guideNot a standard size?
Your size, material and cutouts, delivered in 10 business days.
Set width, height and depth, the material and the NEMA type in the enclosure builder, or send your drawing. From one piece, anywhere in the world. Counted from your order; for custom work, from your approval of the drawing.
Asked and answered
Washdown enclosures: questions
Is NEMA 4X enough for washdown?
For washdown with hoses, cleaners and sanitizers, NEMA 4X with IP66 is the usual minimum: it covers hose-directed water and adds a corrosion test. Hot, high-pressure cleaning at close range is a different test, IPX9 / IP69K.
Can I use a pressure washer on these enclosures?
They carry no IPX9 or IP69K rating. If your sanitation crew uses hot, high-pressure water close to the equipment, shield the enclosure, keep the lance away from gaskets, glands and display seals, or ask for a product rated for that test.
Which stainless grade for chlorinated sanitizers?
316L. Its 2–3% molybdenum resists the pitting chlorides cause. 304 suits routine washdown with water and mild detergents.
Do food regulations require a particular enclosure rating?
No. FDA and USDA rules set cleanability, not water protection: equipment must be kept clean and sanitary, with no unnecessary ledges, projections or crevices. The NEMA type or IP code is how you specify the water protection.
Can you build a sloped-top or standoff-mounted washdown enclosure?
Describe your plant's sanitation requirements (sloped top, standoffs, gland positions) in a quote request; we confirm what we can build on the quoted drawing and deliver in 10 business days from your approval.
