For almost four decades, ITSENCLOSURES (Integration Technology Systems) has been designing and building the most rugged enclosures on the enclosure marketplace. ITSENCLOSURES is proud to feature the NEMA 04 IceStation TITAN, one of the most popular freestanding computer enclosures in the TITAN product line. The TITAN, with its NEMA 04 rating, will protect against dust, dirt, grease, and hose directed water in an industrial setting. The enclosure can be installed both indoors and outdoors.

The NEMA 04 TITAN is constructed out of 14-gauge welded steel with 12-gauge doors, and stands at 60” high by 28” wide by 27” deep. The enclosure finish is a polyester powder paint and is available in blue, gray, or any custom RAL color (additional charge). The viewing window (hinged at the bottom) folds down and accepts up to a 24-inch monitor (tempered safety glass or polycarbonate viewing windows are available). An adjustable monitor shelf is standard for quick monitor installation. The shelf can also be tilted up (at a 90-degree angle) to install a monitor with the included VESA mounting holes. The doors feature quarter turn, knob-style compression latches and dual durometer EPDM gasket for additional protection from harsh elements. All doors have lift-off hinges for effortless removal. The rear door measures 51” high and is ideal for accessing the back of electronics stored in the enclosure.

“The NEMA 04 TITAN is a strong selling product in our popular TITAN family, which continues to be our best-selling enclosure line. All of our IceStation TITANs will protect customers’ vital electronics and provide a comfortable and efficient workstation for factory and plant workers,” said JT Spangler, Owner of ITSENCLOSURES. “After almost 40 years, we are still designing and fabricating the most heavy-duty enclosures around.”

A work surface provides room for documents, folders, and writing utensils. A retractable keyboard drawer, below the work surface, is the perfect place to store and protect a keyboard, mouse, or hula point. When fully extended, the front of the drawer can easily fold down to provide an ergonomic wrist rest. The drawer measures 22.7” wide x 9” deep.

The bottom portion of the IceStation TITAN offers space to house a computer, printer, UPS, power supply, and additional vital electronics. The enclosure has adjustable shelf, attached to uni-strut, for easy placement of electronics, or sliding shelf brackets can be added to the shelf to slide out a printer or computer. Heavy-duty, swivel casters are a standard feature. When the enclosure is in its desired location, the 2 front casters lock into place. Bolt down legs or sanitary, stainless steel legs are also available as an add-on accessory.

The NEMA 04 TITAN can be customized with various accessories including rack mount rails, a sealed cable entry gland, 6 outlet power strip, industrial keyboards, industrial mouse, or various thermal management options, such as a heat exchanger, air conditioners, or an outdoor filtered fan system with thermostat and filters.

ITSENCLOSURES fabricates the most durable electronics enclosures on the market and ships every product completely assembled and ready to use upon delivery. For more information on ITSENCLOSURES and their wide array of state-of-the-art enclosures, please visit www.ITSENCLOSURES.com, send an email to info@itsenclosures.com, or call 1-800-423-9911 to talk to an ITSENCLOSURES representative.

For more information, visit the NEMA 4 TITAN product page!

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A computer enclosure for a hazardous environment must be selected based on more than its strength or ability to resist dust and water. The area’s hazard classification, equipment requirements, enclosure construction, and protection method all matter.

In some applications, a properly designed purged and pressurized enclosure system may allow certain standard electronics to be used in a classified hazardous location. However, the complete system must meet the requirements for that location.

Understanding Hazardous Location Computer Enclosures

A hazardous location computer enclosure is part of a system designed to protect electronic equipment in an area where flammable gases, vapors, combustible dust, or fibers may create a fire or explosion risk.

These areas are different from general harsh industrial environments.

A dusty manufacturing floor, for example, may require a ruggedized computer enclosure to protect against airborne contaminants. But if the dust is combustible and the area is classified as hazardous, additional safety requirements apply.

A NEMA 4 or NEMA 4X rating alone does not mean an enclosure is approved for a classified hazardous location.

The complete installation must be suitable for the specific hazards present.

Hazardous-Area Classifications

Before selecting an industrial enclosure, the facility’s documented hazardous-area classification must be reviewed.

Under the Class and Division system, hazardous locations are commonly grouped by the type of material present.

Class I: Flammable Gases and Vapors

Class I locations involve flammable gases or vapors that may be present in the air.

These conditions may occur in certain chemical processing, oil and gas, or other industrial operations.

Class II: Combustible Dust

Class II locations involve combustible dust that may create an ignition hazard.

These conditions may occur in some grain handling, food processing, material handling, and manufacturing applications.

Class III: Ignitable Fibers and Flyings

Class III locations involve easily ignitable fibers or flyings.

Certain textile, wood-processing, and similar industrial operations may present these conditions.

Hazardous locations are also divided according to how likely hazardous conditions are to be present. Depending on the classification system, the facility may use Division or Zone designations.

The equipment and protection method must match the applicable classification, material group, temperature requirements, and other installation conditions.

How Does a Purged Computer Enclosure Work?

A purged computer enclosure uses a purge-and-pressurization system to help prevent hazardous materials from entering the protected space.

The system uses a suitable protective gas, often clean instrument air, to purge the enclosure and maintain the required internal pressure.

In an approved system, this protection method may allow certain electronics that are not individually rated for the surrounding hazardous location to be installed inside the enclosure.

However, the enclosure alone does not provide this protection. The complete system may include:

• A suitable enclosure
• A properly selected purge-and-pressurization control system
• A reliable supply of protective gas
• Pressure monitoring and required safety controls
• Suitable electrical connections and accessories
• Equipment and installation methods approved for the application

The correct system depends on the area’s classification and applicable safety requirements.

Intrinsically Safe Computers vs. Purged Enclosures

An intrinsically safe computer is designed and approved so that its electrical and thermal energy cannot cause ignition under the conditions covered by its approval.

A purged and pressurized enclosure uses a different protection method. It relies on an approved system that maintains protective conditions inside the enclosure.

Both approaches may be used in certain hazardous locations, but they are not interchangeable.

The right choice depends on the area’s classification, the equipment being installed, and the requirements of the complete installation.

Can a Ruggedized Computer Enclosure Be Used in a Hazardous Location?

A ruggedized enclosure is designed to protect electronics from demanding physical or environmental conditions, such as dust, dirt, water, and impacts.

That does not automatically make it suitable for a classified hazardous location.

For example, an industrial PC enclosure designed for a dusty environment may help protect equipment from ordinary airborne particles. But an area containing combustible dust may require a specific hazardous-location protection method.

Before selecting an enclosure, confirm whether the area is classified as hazardous and what requirements apply.

4 Considerations When Selecting a Purged Computer Enclosure

1. Enclosure Construction and Materials

The enclosure must support the requirements of the purge system and the surrounding environment.

Depending on the application, steel or stainless steel construction may be considered.

NEMA 4 enclosures can provide protection against dust and hose-directed water, while NEMA 4X enclosures add corrosion resistance.

Stainless steel may be a practical choice where moisture, washdowns, or corrosive conditions are present.

The enclosure’s seals, doors, latches, cable entries, and other features must also be suitable for the complete purge-and-pressurization system.

A NEMA rating should not be used as a substitute for hazardous-location approval.

2. Keyboards, Touchscreens, and Input Devices

Operators may need to use keyboards, pointing devices, monitors, or touchscreens in the hazardous area.

These devices require careful selection because the equipment used outside the protected enclosure may need its own hazardous-location approval.

Depending on the application, intrinsically safe or other suitably rated input devices may be required.

Connections, barriers, wiring, and installation methods must also be evaluated as part of the complete system.

3. Temperature Control and Thermal Management

Computers and other electronics generate heat while operating.

A purged enclosure may also require thermal management to keep equipment within its recommended operating temperature range.

In some applications, a vortex cooling system may be considered. Other solutions may be appropriate depending on the equipment, surrounding conditions, and system requirements.

Cooling and purge functions are not interchangeable. A cooling device should not be assumed to provide the pressure control or safety functions required by a purge-and-pressurization system.

4. Maintenance and Equipment Access

Maintenance is an important part of operating a purged computer enclosure.

Opening the enclosure can affect the protective conditions inside it. Personnel must follow the approved system’s operating and maintenance procedures before opening the enclosure, servicing equipment, or restoring power.

Depending on the system and location, these procedures may include verifying area conditions, isolating power, checking protective pressure, and completing the required purge cycle before restarting equipment.

The specific steps must come from the approved system documentation and the facility’s safety procedures.

Information to Gather Before Selecting an Enclosure

Before discussing enclosure options, gather the information needed to evaluate the application.

Key details include:

• The documented hazardous-area classification
• The gases, vapors, dusts, or fibers present
• The equipment being installed
• Equipment dimensions and heat output
• Required keyboards, monitors, and other input devices
• Ambient temperature and environmental conditions
• Moisture, washdown, and corrosion exposure
• Power, wiring, and cable-entry requirements
• Applicable approvals and facility safety requirements

These details help determine whether a purge-and-pressurization system or another approved protection method may be suitable.

Find the Right Protection for Your Application

Installing electronics in a hazardous location requires careful planning. The enclosure, equipment, protection method, and installation must all be suited to the conditions present.

ITSENCLOSURES can help review your equipment, environmental needs, and available enclosure configurations. For classified hazardous locations, the complete solution must also be reviewed and approved by qualified personnel responsible for the installation.

Explore our industrial computer enclosures or contact ITSENCLOSURES to discuss your equipment and application.

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Mt. Pleasant, PA (May 26, 2020) – For over 35 years, ITSENCLOSURES has been designing and constructing the toughest rack enclosures in the enclosure marketplace. IceStation by ITSENCLOSURES is happy to announce a new heavy-duty enclosure solution for rack mountable electronics (switches, routers, and network equipment): the NEMA 4 desktop IR282626-04 rack enclosure. The NEMA 4 enclosure will guard against dust, dirt, grease, hose directed water, corrosives, and weather conditions like rain, sleet, and snow.

Designed with 19” square punched rack channel (supports square cage-nuts for either #10-32 or M6 threaded mounting screws), the IR28-04 rack enclosure is fabricated out of 14-gauge cold rolled steel with the outside dimensions measuring 28” high by 26” wide by 26” deep. Internally, the desktop rack enclosure offers 12U of available rack space.

The IR28-04 front and rear doors feature two-point latching with locks and long-lasting dual durometer EPDM gasket. A tempered safety glass or polycarbonate window (17.2” Wide x 13.6” High with a 21.9” diagonal) can be installed on the 12-gauge steel front door. In addition, the doors can be easily removed by lifting the pins on the hinges.

“At ITSENCLOSURES, we strive to be the market leader for unique enclosure products and have been building durable enclosures since 1985. Our new, NEMA rated desktop rack enclosure will benefit manufacturing and industrial companies in need of protecting rack mountable equipment in rough, wet environments,” said JT Spangler, CEO of ITSENCLOSURES. “Time and time again, the inspiration for new products can be traced back to the immediate needs of our loyal customers. It is exciting to see how a simple idea can turn into a robust product, which will be used in factories and harsh environments across the country.”

The unit can be positioned on a desk, table, or under a workspace – the small footprint makes it perfect for limited space areas. Other mounting options include a vertically adjustable, bolt-down pedestal to create a proper height for users or an adjustable mobile pedestal to move the enclosure around a factory floor.

ITSENCLOSURES offers various beneficial rack enclosure accessories for its NEMA 4 enclosures. To easily route cables and wires, a watertight Roxtec cable entry gland can be installed on the rear or sides of the unit. Additional accessories include a 6-outlet surge protector, rack mountable shelving, USB connectors, and a solid front door. Thermal management options include a filtered fan system, vortex cooling unit, NEMA 4 heat exchanger, and various sizes of enclosure heaters.

“All of our IceStation products and accessories are heavily tested at our facility and are always assembled and ready to use upon delivery. Just plug and play,” Mr. Spangler added.

IceStation rack enclosure products are coated with a polyester powder paint finish and the IR28-04 desktop rack enclosure is available in blue, gray, or any custom color found on the RAL color chart.

Proudly ‘Made in the USA,’ ITSENCLOSURES’ products are designed and assembled at the ITSENCLOSURES warehouse in Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania – located 36 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

For more information, visit the IR28-04 product page: Click Here

About ITSENCLOSURES

ITSENCLOSURES’ products allow companies to use computers, printers, keyboards, or monitors in the harshest of environments. IceStation enclosures will protect a company’s investment and maximize the lifetime of the electronics protected.

Four great reasons to choose ITSENCLOSURES: quality, delivery, service, and price.

For more information on ITSENCLOSURES and the large selection of innovative enclosures, visit www.ITSENCLOSURES.com, email info@itsenclosures.com, or call 1-800-423-9911 to talk to an ITSENCLOSURES sales representative.

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