IP Protection Water / Dust / Contact Tests

The IP Code consists of the letters IP followed by digits and an optional letter. As defined in international standard  IEC 60529, it classifies the degrees of protection againts the intrusion of solid objects (including body parts like hands and fingers), dust, accidnetal contact and water in electrical enclosures. The standard aims to provide users more detailed information vague marketing terms such as waterproof. 

The digits (characteristic numerals) indicate conformity with the conditions summarized in the table below. For example, an electrical socket rated IP22 is protected againts insertion of fingers and will not be damaged or become unsafe during a speciefied test in which it is exposed to vertically or nearly vertically dripping water. IP22 of 2x are typical minium requirements for design of electrical acceessories for indoor use. 

For more information about the water test, see: https://sebert.nl/lab-testen/regen-tester-ipx1-ipx2-ipx3-ipx4-ipx5-ipx6-and-ipx7 (only in Dutch available). And for Dust tests, see https://sebert.nl/lab-testen/stof-test-ip5x-en-ip6x (only in Dutch available)

Sample IP Rating

IP

6

8
 

First digit: solids

Second Digit: Liquids


First Digit: Solids

The first digit inducates the level of protection that the enclosure provides againts acces tot hazardous parts and the ingress of solid foreign objects, for more info about Dust test, see https://sebert.nl/soorten-testen/stof-test-ip5x-en-ip6x

 

Level Object size protected against Effective againts
0 not protected No protection againts contact and ingress of objects
1 > 50mm Any large surface of the body, sush as the back of the hand, but no protection againts deliberate contact with a body part
2 > 12,5 mm Fingers of similar objects
3  
> 2,5mm		 Tools, think wires, etc.
4  
>1 mm		 Most wires, screws, etc. 
5  
Dust Protected		 Ingress of dust is not enterely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with the statsfactory operation of the equipment; complete protection against contact
6 Dust Tight No ingress of dust: complete protection againts contact

Second Digit: Liquids

Protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against harmful ingress of water, for more info about Rain tests see: https://sebert.nl/soorten-testen/regen-tester-ipx1-ipx2-ipx3-ipx4-ipx5-ipx6-and-ipx7

Level Object size protected against Effective againts
0 Not protected  No protection againts Liquids
1 Dripping water  Drippingwater (vertically falling drops) shall have no harmfull effect 
2 Dripping water when tilled up to 15° Vertically dripping water shall have no harmfully effect when the enclosure is tilled at an angle up to 15° from its normaly position
3 Spraying water water failling as a spray at any angle up to 60° from the vertical, shall hav no harmful effect
4 Splashing water Water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect
5 Water jets Water projected in powerful jets (6,3mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects
6 Powerful water jets Water projected in powerful jets (12,5mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects
7 Immersion up to 1m Ingress of water in harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time (up to 1m of submersion)
8 Immersion beyond 1m The equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water under conditions which shall be specified by the manufacture. Normally, with certain types of equipment, it can mean that water can enter but only in such a manner that it produce no harmful effects