Dear William,

Thank you for your question. Deciding on the material for an outdoor enclosure is crucial and depends on several conditions considerations but primary factor to consider is UV resistance, hence our recommendation is typically polycarbonate (PC), which best serves the majority of outdoor applications while offering a cost-effective solution.

The choice of material also correlates with your design considerations. For instance, if your enclosure needs to have specific entry points, choosing plastic over metal would be more beneficial.

Regarding the ingress protection (IP) level, it’s essential to clear up a common misunderstanding. While many believe that an IP68 rating is mandatory for outdoor use, this high level of protection is typically needed only if the enclosure is expected to be fully submerged or installed underground.

Depending on your enclosure’s precise location, an IP64 rating might suffice, with most applications requiring no more than IP66. To better understand IP ratings, you can refer to our “Ingress Protection Techniques” video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nektIAD2ROk].

When it comes to selecting a suitable solution for environmental protection, our GEOS range, with its excellent UV and weather resistance, may be your ideal choice. This range, enhanced with our “Drain Protect” sealing system, guarantees optimum protection against various environmental influences such as rain, cold, and heat. Explore these superior options at https://www.spelsberg.co.uk/outdoor-enclosure/.

If you need additional support in the specification of your outdoor enclosure, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me for more advice on material selection or help in designing your solution—I’m here to help!

Kind Regards,

Chris