Thinking Inside the Box: Enclosures

ENCLOSURES are like offensive lineman in football—you don’t talk much about them unless something goes wrong. They are designed to protect your important assets. In football, it’s your quarterback; in manufacturing, it’s your sensitive electronic equipment and data systems. Yet these enclosures should be seen not just as a box wrapping your assets, but an asset in itself. The materials it is made of and the function it performs will vary based on what’s inside and where it is located. Indoor enclosures have a specific set of needs based on issues including safety and power management; outdoor enclosures must manage all of this and withstand environmental impact. It’s important to look past the initial cost of any asset, but it might be easy to overlook the nuances of an enclosure. This eBook is designed to give you an in-depth look at enclosures from every angle. The science around enclosures looks at many factors, from inside the box itself to its relationship with the environment and people around it.