IEC 61587-4:2012

IEC 61587-4 ®
Edition 1.0 2012-08
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Mechanical structures for electronic equipment – Tests for IEC 60917 and
IEC 60297 series –
Part 4: Combination of performance levels for modular cabinets

Structures mécaniques pour équipement électronique – Essais pour les séries
CEI 60917 et CEI 60297 –
Partie 4: Combinaison des niveaux de performance pour les baies modulaires

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IEC 61587-4 ®
Edition 1.0 2012-08
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Mechanical structures for electronic equipment – Tests for IEC 60917 and

IEC 60297 series –
Part 4: Combination of performance levels for modular cabinets

Structures mécaniques pour équipement électronique – Essais pour les séries

CEI 60917 et CEI 60297 –
Partie 4: Combinaison des niveaux de performance pour les baies modulaires

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
CODE PRIX M
ICS 31.240 ISBN 978-2-83220-199-2

– 2 – 61587-4 © IEC:2012
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
INTRODUCTION . 5
1 Scope . 7
2 Normative references . 7
Bibliography . 12

Figure 1 – Arrangement overview of a modular cabinet system . 5
Figure 2 – Basic modular cabinet . 6

Table 1 – List of requirements used to specify a cabinet . 8
Table 2 – Protection against dust and water . 8
Table 3 – Climatic conditions . 8
Table 4 – Industrial atmosphere . 9
Table 5 – Static load test . 9
Table 6 – Dynamic load test . 9
Table 7 – Impact load test . 9
Table 8 – Seismic load test . 9
Table 9 – Electromagnetic shielding . 10
Table 10 – Examples of performance level combinations . 10
Table 11 – Typical application examples . 11

61587-4 © IEC:2012 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES FOR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT –
TESTS FOR IEC 60917 AND IEC 60297 SERIES –

Part 4: Combination of performance levels for modular cabinets

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
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8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 61587-4 has been prepared by subcommittee 48D: Mechanical
structures for electronic equipment, of IEC technical committee 48: Electromechanical
components and mechanical structures for electronic equipment.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
48D/514/FDIS 48D/518/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

– 4 – 61587-4 © IEC:2012
A list of all parts of IEC 61587 series, under the general title Mechanical structures for
electronic equipment – Tests for IEC 60917 and IEC 60297 series. can be found on the IEC
website.
Future standards in this series will carry the new general title as cited above. Titles of existing
standards in this series will be updated at the time of the next edition.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the stability date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data
related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
61587-4 © IEC:2012 – 5 –
INTRODUCTION
Requirements for application specific cabinet systems vary considerably. Typically,
applications such as industrial, power distribution, IT, communications, data centres,
multimedia, traffic control, etc., require differing features.
These differing features are hardly common and many range from static load to dynamic load,
including seismic test, protection (IP), electromagnetic shielding (EMC) provision, and many
other detailed requirements. It is unrealistic and uneconomical to expect from an economical
system to offer an all compliant cabinet from multiple sources.

Roof
Rear-panel
Framework
Side-panel
Door
Bottom cover
IEC  1184/12
Figure 1 – Arrangement overview of a modular cabinet system
This design guide describes an economically optimal solution for a cabinet system consisting
of a modular frame type structure design enhanced by basic cabinet components, such as a
door(s), a bottom cover, a roof and side and rear panels. See Figure 1. To fulfil the specific
application requirements the user can choose external and/or internal upgrade kits. See
Figure 2.
Based on this optimal economical solution for a cabinet system, this guide helps the user to
select a cabinet matching the performance level of the application.
Based on this economical optimal solution for a cabinet system, this guide helps to provide for
a modular cabinet economical system supported by multiple vendors.

– 6 – 61587-4 © IEC:2012
Requirements for cabinets of
a frame type structure
Basic cabinet
components
 Side panel(s)
 Rear panel(s)
 Door(s)
 Roof
 Bottom cover
Upgrade kits internal
Cabinet frame type
 Framework
structure
 Chassis, subrack or
 Environmental condition front panel mounting
 Structural stiffness rails
 Static/dynamic load  Swing frames
 Shock/Vibration  Mounting panels
Upgrade kits external
 Seismic  Mounting rails
 Transport  Air filters
 Cable management
 Cable management
 EMC
*)
boxes
 Power management
 IP Code
*)
 Cable entry/exit
 Cooling management
 Earthing
*)
 Power entry
 Earthing
 Side by side mounting
 Cooling management
 …
devices*
*)
 Lifting eyes
*)
 Castors
*)
 Base/Plinth
*)
 Floor anchoring
*)
 Side by side mounting
*)
 Earthing
*)
 Security locks
*) No further reference in this
standard
IEC  1185/12
Figure 2 – Basic modular cabinet

61587-4 © IEC:2012 – 7 –
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES FOR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT –
TESTS FOR IEC 60917 AND IEC 60297 SERIES –

Part 4: Combination of performance levels for modular cabinets

1 Scope
This part of IEC 61587 provides the combinations of different degrees of protection for cabinet
systems regarding IP code, climate levels, static and dynamics load tests, electromagnetic
shielding and seismic requirements. Optimal economical solution can be ensured by ordering
a cabinet with specific properties for which this design guide provides the easy selection of
defined performance levels.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and
are indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
IEC 60529, Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code)
IEC 61587-1, Mechanical structures for electronic equipment – Tests for IEC 60917 and
IEC 60297 series – Part 1: Environmental requirements, test set-up and safety aspects for
cabinets, racks, subracks and chassis under indoor conditions
IEC 61587-2, Mechanical structures for electronic equipment – Tests for IEC 60917 and
IEC 60297 – Part 2: Seismic tests for cabinets and racks
IEC 61587-3, Mechanical structures for electronic equipment – Tests for IEC 60917 and
IEC 60297 – Part 3: Electromagnetic shielding performance tests for cabinets, racks and
subracks
3 Selection of performance levels
The environmental and test requirements for cabinets are defined in existing standards.
According to IEC 60529 enclosure systems can be classified by their IP code. The IP code is
a 2 digit number where the first digit (0 – 6) indicates the level of protection that the enclosure
provides against access to hazardous parts and the entry of solid foreign objects. The second
digit (0-8) indicates the protection against harmful entry of water.
As in IEC 61587-1 a cabinet system can meet the standards of climatic levels C1, C2, C3, the
levels of industrial atmosphere A1(E), A2(E), A3(E), levels of static loading SL5, SL6, SL7,
levels of dynamic loading DL4, DL5, DL6 and levels of impact loading K1, K2 and K3.
A cabinet system can also meet the seismic requirements as defined in IEC 61587-2 and/or
the EMC (Electro Magnetic Compatibility) performance tests as defined in IEC 61587-3 and
shown in Table 1.
– 8 – 61587-4 © IEC:2012
Table 1 – List of requirements used to specify a cabinet
Performance levels Standard
IP code IP [0-6][0-8] IEC 60529
Climatic levels C1, C2, C3 IEC 61587-1
Industrial atmosphere A1(E), A2(E), A3(E) IEC 61587-1
Static load test SL4, SL5, SL6 IEC 61587-1
Dynamic load test DL4, DL5, DL6 IEC 61587-1
Impact load test K1, K2, K3 IEC 61587-1
Seismic load test Waveform A, Waveform B IEC 61587-2
Electromagnetic shielding Frequency range (E0,E1,E2,E3, see Table 9) IEC 61587-3
30 MHz to 230 MHz, 230 MHz to 1 000 MHz, 1 GHz to 3
GHz
NOTE It is obvious that there are requirements and definitions that are closely related and that there are
requirements that are independent of each other. For individual configurations of a cabinet the different
performance levels shall be chosen as shown in Tables 2 to 9. Table 10 shows the selection of some combined
performance levels as the most common examples.
Table 2 – Protection against dust and water
Levels PX: Protection against dust (ingress of solid
foreign objects)and water ingress of water with harmful Typical field of application
effects)
Level P0 IP00 No protection by enclosure
Level P1 IP20 – IP22 Office environment
Level P2 IP23 – IP33 Office environment, enhanced protection
Level P3 IP34 – IP44 Industrial environment
Level P4 IP54 – IP55 Industrial environment, enhanced protection

Table 3 – Climatic conditions
Level CX: Climatic properties Typical field of application
Level C0 - No protection against climatic impacts
Level C1 C1 Office, laboratory environment
Level C2 C2 Industrial environment, production halls
Level C3 C3 Industrial, open air, tropical climate

61587-4 © IEC:2012 – 9 –
Table 4 – Industrial atmosphere
Level AX: Industrial atmosphere (shock and vibration) Typical field of application
Level A0 - No protection against industrial atmosphere
Moderate concentration of harmful substances (for
Level A1 A1(E)
example enclosed spaces)
Heavy concentration of harmful substances (for
Level A2 A2(E)
example chemical industry)
Heavy concentration of harmful substances
Level A3 A3(E)
combined with maritime climate

Table 5 – Static load test
Level SLX: Static load test (IEC 61587-1) Nominal load per cabinet
Level SL0 - No load definition on basic structure
Level SL4 SL4 Up to 200 kg
Level SL5 SL5 Up to 400 kg
Level SL6 SL6 Up to 800 kg
Table 6 – Dynamic load test
Level DLX: Dynamic load test Typical field of application
Level DL0 - No definition on basic cabinet structure
Level DL4 DL4 Mainly stationary use, normal handling
Moderate level of shock and vibration, stationary
Level DL5 DL5
and mobile use
High level of shock and vibration, as on commercial
Level DL6 DL6
ships, low level military requirements

Table 7 – Impact load test
Level KX: Impact test Typical application
Level K0 - No definition on basic cabinet structure
Level K1 K1 Equipment, used in laboratories
Level K2 K2 Equipment, used in laboratories and offices
Equipment for general industrial electronics, factory,
Level K3 K3
outdoor
Table 8 – Seismic load test
Level SX: Seismic test Seismic requirements
Level S0 - -
Level S1 Waveform A or waveform B Severe

– 10 – 61587-4 © IEC:2012
Table 9 – Electromagnetic shielding
Level EX: Electromagnetic shielding Attenuation requirements
Level E0 – No shielding
Level E1 Frequency 30 – 230 MHz, 230 MHz to 1 000 MHz, 1 GHz to 20 dB, 10 dB, 0 dB
3 GHz
Level E2 Frequency 30 – 230 MHz, 230 MHz to 1 000 MHz, 1 GHz to  40 dB, 30 dB, 20 dB
3 GHz
Level E3 Frequency 30 – 230 MHz, 230 MHz to 1 000 MHz, 1 GHz to 60 dB, 50 dB, 40 dB
3 GHz
Table 10 – Examples of performance level combinations
Cabinet P0 C0 A0 SL0 DL0 K0 S0 E0
example 1
2 P1 C1 A1 SL4 DL4 K1 S0 E0
3 P3 C2 A2 SL5 DL5 K2 S1 E1
4 P4 C3 A3 SL6 DL6 K3 S1 E2
5 P3 C2 A2 SL5 DL5 K2 S0 E3
NOTE Table 10 contains some examples of possible performance level combinations.

61587-4 © IEC:2012 – 11 –
Table 11 – Typical application examples
Description Level Case Case Case Case Case Case Case Case
No protection by enclosure 1 P0 C0 A0 SL0 DL0 K0 S0 E0
Office environment 2 P1
Laboratory environment  C1
Office environment, enhanced
P2
protec
...