Shielding enclosure marking

A dashed rectangle around part of a circuit.

Also known as: Screen enclosure symbol, Dashed outline grouping, Module boundary

Engineering & technicalStandard profile

Meanings

A dashed box around part of a schematic marks a shielded or grouped assembly rather than a component. It says these parts are enclosed together, and where the enclosure is a screen the box carries an earth connection.

Officially standardisedVerified fact
Marks a group of components enclosed together, whether within a screen, a module or a subassembly.
Contexts: Technical drawing, Electrical equipment
Officially standardisedVerified fact
Carries an earth or chassis connection where the enclosure is an electrical screen rather than merely a grouping.
Contexts: Technical drawing, Electrical equipment

Visual description

A rectangle drawn in short broken lines surrounding several other symbols on the drawing.

Symmetry: none
Orientation: upright

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references, but multiple independent sources agree.
Historical originModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but multiple independent sources agree, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but multiple independent sources agree.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but multiple independent sources agree.

Sources

ISO 14617, Graphical symbols for diagrams
International Organization for Standardization · retrieved 2026-08-01
Paywalled and NOT READ. Registered so records can state which standard governs a symbol — a checkable fact a reader can act on — and for nothing else. It governs the symbol sets used on fluid power and process diagrams. No meaning in any record is typed `official` on the strength of this entry. See docs/paywalled-standards.md.
Electronic symbol
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-31
Tertiary reference. Used for what the component is, how its symbol is conventionally drawn, and where the ANSI and IEC conventions differ. Not used for any claim about the text of IEC 60617, which is paywalled and was not consulted.
IEC 60617, Graphical symbols for diagrams
International Electrotechnical Commission · retrieved 2026-08-22
Maintained as an online database and NOT READ in full. Registered so a circuit-diagram record can say which body defines its symbol, and so the divergence between the IEC form and the older American form can be recorded as a real standards difference rather than a drawing preference. See docs/paywalled-standards.md.
Circuit diagram
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-31
Tertiary reference. Used for what the component is, how its symbol is conventionally drawn, and where the ANSI and IEC conventions differ. Not used for any claim about the text of IEC 60617, which is paywalled and was not consulted.

Last reviewed 2026-08-23

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Circuit and electronic symbols

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Meanings

Officially standardisedVerified fact

Marks a group of components enclosed together, whether within a screen, a module or a subassembly.

Contexts: Technical drawing, Electrical equipment

Officially standardisedVerified fact

Carries an earth or chassis connection where the enclosure is an electrical screen rather than merely a grouping.

Contexts: Technical drawing, Electrical equipment

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references, but multiple independent sources agree.
Historical originModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but multiple independent sources agree, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but multiple independent sources agree.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but multiple independent sources agree.

Sources

ISO 14617, Graphical symbols for diagrams
International Organization for Standardization · retrieved 2026-08-01
Paywalled and NOT READ. Registered so records can state which standard governs a symbol — a checkable fact a reader can act on — and for nothing else. It governs the symbol sets used on fluid power and process diagrams. No meaning in any record is typed `official` on the strength of this entry. See docs/paywalled-standards.md.
Electronic symbol
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-31
Tertiary reference. Used for what the component is, how its symbol is conventionally drawn, and where the ANSI and IEC conventions differ. Not used for any claim about the text of IEC 60617, which is paywalled and was not consulted.
IEC 60617, Graphical symbols for diagrams
International Electrotechnical Commission · retrieved 2026-08-22
Maintained as an online database and NOT READ in full. Registered so a circuit-diagram record can say which body defines its symbol, and so the divergence between the IEC form and the older American form can be recorded as a real standards difference rather than a drawing preference. See docs/paywalled-standards.md.
Circuit diagram
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-07-31
Tertiary reference. Used for what the component is, how its symbol is conventionally drawn, and where the ANSI and IEC conventions differ. Not used for any claim about the text of IEC 60617, which is paywalled and was not consulted.

Last reviewed 2026-08-23