Installation environment
Where will the switchboard be installed?
Indoor
Conditioned or unconditioned space, fully protected from weather
Outdoor sheltered
Under verandah, awning, external wall with overhang
Outdoor exposed
Direct weather, no shelter, full rain and UV exposure
Specialised environment
Hazardous areas and unusual exposures require a specific assessment; IP alone is insufficient
Dust and particulate exposure
What level of dust or particulate is typical in the installation area?
Clean environment
Office, data centre, hospital, clean room, controlled atmosphere
Normal industrial
General factory, workshop, warehouse, typical commercial
Dusty
Grain, flour, cement, timber processing, quarry adjacent
Severe dust
Mining, heavy aggregate, fine particulate, cement plant
Water and moisture exposure
What level of water exposure will the switchboard experience?
None
Dry indoor, no wet processes, no condensation risk
Occasional
Condensation, occasional dripping, humid indoor
Splashing
Outdoor sheltered, rain exposure, indoor near wet process
Direct water jets
Outdoor exposed, hose-down cleaning, heavy rain
Wash-down
Assessment required: specify jet pressure, temperature, distance, cleaning chemicals and cycle
Submersion possible
Assessment required: specify depth, duration, flood conditions and safe equipment location
Environmental factors
Select any that apply to your installation
Multiple selections allowed. Skip if none apply.
Coastal / marine
Salt-laden atmosphere or marine exposure; assess local conditions
Chemical exposure
Acids, alkalis, solvents, corrosive atmosphere
Geothermal (H2S)
Rotorua, Taupō, Wairakei, Kawerau, geothermal plant
Enclosure material
Do you have a preferred enclosure material?
Recommend based on environment
Suggest a starting material for review against the project conditions
Mild steel, powder coated
An option for suitable indoor or sheltered conditions; confirm coating and exposure
304 stainless steel
Consider for suitable environments; confirm corrosion and cleaning compatibility
316 stainless steel
Consider for marine or more corrosive conditions; confirm chemical and temperature compatibility
Project sector (optional)
What sector is this switchboard for?
Dairy and food processing
Processing plants, cold stores, beverage
Water and wastewater
Treatment plants, pump stations, reservoirs
Data centre / IT infrastructure
Data halls, telecom, UPS rooms
Heavy industry
Smelters, metals processing, timber mills
Commercial / retail
Office, retail, hospitality, mixed-use
Solar / BESS / EV
Generation, storage, EV charging infrastructure
Healthcare / pharma
Hospital, aged care, pharmaceutical
Other / prefer not to say
Skip this step
Indicative enclosure guidance
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There is no universal IP rating for every CWS assembly. This tool uses indicative exposure rules, not a blanket company minimum. IP41, IP42 or higher ratings must be agreed and verified for the complete assembly and installation. Existing project ratings remain as documented.
Ask CWS to assess the installation conditions
First digit (solids)
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Dust ingress protection level
Second digit (liquids)
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Water ingress protection level
IP rating reference and test standards
On smaller screens, scroll across the table to see every column.
| IP rating | Solids | Liquids | Typical NZ switchboard application |
|---|
| IP31 | Solid objects ≥2.5 mm | Vertically dripping water | Legacy indoor switchroom (rarely specified on new LV switchboards) |
| IP41 | Solid objects ≥1 mm | Vertically dripping water | Indicative clean, dry indoor starting point where suitable for the project |
| IP42 | Solid objects ≥1 mm | Dripping water with enclosure tilted up to 15° | Indoor locations where the project requires protection against dripping water at up to 15° tilt |
| IP54 | Dust protected | Splashing water | Indoor industrial switchboards, light outdoor sheltered |
| IP55 | Dust protected | Water jets | Indicative option for industrial environments with water-jet exposure; confirm project requirements |
| IP56 | Dust protected | Powerful water jets | Outdoor exposed switchboards, coastal adjacent |
| IP65 | Dust-tight | Water jets | Dusty outdoor switchboards, food production perimeter |
| IP66 | Dust-tight | Powerful water jets | Outdoor exposed, severe weather, coastal switchboards |
| IP69 (IEC 60529) | Dust-tight | High-pressure, high-temperature water jets under the IPX9 test conditions | Requires verification to the applicable test conditions; IP66 alone does not establish IP69 |
| IP69K designation | Check the certificate | Check the cited standard, edition and test conditions | Do not treat a K-suffixed designation as interchangeable with IEC 60529 IP69. Request the complete test evidence. |
Switchboard enclosure material guide
On smaller screens, scroll across the table to see every column.
| Material | Cost guidance | Typical NZ switchboard applications |
|---|
| Mild steel, powder coated | Baseline | An option for suitable indoor or sheltered conditions. Confirm the coating system, exposure and maintenance requirements; outdoor suitability needs a project assessment. |
| 304 stainless steel | Typically higher; project quotation required | May suit some non-chlorinated environments; confirm corrosion exposure and maintenance requirements |
| 316 stainless steel | Typically higher again; project quotation required | Consider for marine or corrosive exposure; confirm the grade, chemical compatibility, cleaning conditions and maintenance requirements |
Engineering guidance note: This selector provides a starting-point IP rating and enclosure material recommendation for NZ low voltage switchboards, based on typical applications and AS/NZS 60529. Final switchboard IP rating and material selection must consider the full installation context, project-specific requirements, any applicable sector standards (dairy, pharmaceutical, hazardous area), and AS/NZS 3000 compliance, and be verified by a qualified electrical engineer. Clive Wilson Switchboards is happy to review specific applications.
Confirm the applicable assembly verification evidence and declared IP rating with CWS for your project.
