This part of IEC 60670 applies to enclosures and parts of them for housing protective devices and other power dissipating electrical equipment intended to be used with a rated voltage not exceeding 400 V and a total incoming load current not exceeding 125 A for household and similar fixed electrical installations.

These enclosures are intended to be installed in locations where unskilled persons have access. They are intended to be equipped with electrical equipment by skilled persons (installers).

These enclosures are intended to be installed where the prospective short circuit current does not exceed 10 kA unless they are protected by current limiting protective devices with a cut-off current not exceeding 17 kA.

Enclosures complying with this document are suitable for use at ambient temperature not normally exceeding 40 °C, but their average temperature over a period of 24 h does not exceed 35 °C, with a lower limit of the ambient air temperature of −5 °C.

An enclosure which is an integral part of an electrical accessory and provides protection against external influences (e.g. mechanical impacts, ingress of solid objects or of water), is covered by the relevant standard for such an accessory.

This document does not apply to a low-voltage switchgear and controlgear assembly as defined in the IEC 60439 series or IEC 61439 series nor to a main entrance panel which can be part of the distribution board.

This document does not apply to surface type boxes, flush and semi-flush type boxes suitable for the housing of accessories for household and similar use such as switches, electronic switches, socket-outlets, which are covered by IEC 60670-1 only.

NOTE 1 Enclosures according to this document are mainly used for distribution board for housing protective devices and other power dissipating electrical equipment and are installed at the beginning of the electrical circuit whereas boxes according to IEC 60670-1 are installed at the end of it.

NOTE 2 A main entrance panel is a set composed of a panel or an enclosure equipped with a meter and/or the main incoming device. Main entrance panels comply with their appropriate standards or the requirements of the local supplier, if any.

NOTE 3 In the following country this document cannot be used in installations with a 230 V single phase supply rated up to 100 A that is under the control of ordinary persons. Integration of mechanical and electrical devices into an enclosure must be verified by compliance with IEC 61439-3 [British standard EN 61439-3]: UK.

NOTE 4 In the following country this document can only be used for GP enclosures with the instructions according to Annex A. For the other types of enclosures the integration of mechanical and electrical devices into an enclosure is verified by compliance with DS EN 61439-3: DK.