Understanding IP Ratings
The IP ratings are defined in International Standard EN 60 529 and are used to set the levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures and devices against intrusion from foreign bodies such as dirt and water.
An IP rating or in other words, Ingress Protection ratings, is a standard system of showing a device’s resistance to dust and liquids. IP ratings help clients get an idea of how well a device can sustain under various environmental conditions. In easy words, a device with a higher IP rating will be able to withstand much harsher conditions than a device with a low IP rating.
Getting a grasp of IP ratings can help buyers choose products and devices such as smartphones, cameras, appliances, etc that are not only durable but also match their specific needs.
Structure of IP Rating
The structure of IP ratings is very simple to understand. The system of IP rating uses two digits followed by the prefix “IP”.
First Digit – Solids
The first digit of an IP rating ranges from the scale 0 to 6. This measures a device’s resistance to solid particles such as dust and dirt, etc. A higher number offers better solid protection meaning as the number on the scale increases, the device’s resistance increases too.
Rating of 0 states that the device or panel has no special protection against solids.
Rating of 1 protects from a large part of the body such as a hand, from solid objects greater than 50mm in diameter.
Rating of 2 protects against fingers or other objects not greater than 80mm in length and 12mm in diameter.
Rating of of 3 protects from entry by tools, wires, and similar devices with a diameter of 2.5mm or more
Rating of of 4 protects against solid bodies larger than 1mm.
Rating of 5 protects against dust that may harm equipment.
Rating of 6 mean that the device or panel is completely dust-tight.
Second Digit – Liquid
The second digit of the rating ranges from 0 to 8 and provides protection against water. As the second digit on the scale progresses, the resistance increases as well.
Protection level 0 states that the device or panel has no special protection against liquids.
Rating of of 1 protects against condensation in dripping water.
Rating of 2 protects against water droplets deflected up to 15 degrees from vertical.
Rating of of 3 protects your device or panel from spray up to 60 degrees from vertical.
Rating of of 4 protects against water spray from all directions.
Rating of 5 protects against low-pressure water jets from all directions.
Rating of of 6 means that the device or panel is protected against strong water jets and waves.
Rating of of 7 protects against temporary immersion of your device or panel.
Rating of of 8 protects against the prolonged effects of immersion under pressure.
Third Digit-Supplementary Information
The third digit in the IP rating is not a standard part of the IP code ( IEC 60529). However, it is sometimes used to provide additional information. These are letters and not numbers most of the time. Following are some of the letters used in IP ratings.
What IP rating do I need for my equipment?
To determine what IP rating best suits your device, follow the following steps.
Assess your Environment
Your primary focus should be to get a clear understanding of your surroundings, whether it is indoors or outdoors. Assessing how your device is going to be used and whether or not there is dust or water exposure.
Identify Potential Hazards
Calculate all the potential difficulties or environmental hazards your device can face such as dirt/dust or water exposure in other forms such as drip, splash, immersion, or water jets.
Know the Basics of IP ratings
You must know what IP ratings are. The first digit of the rating indicates resistance to solid particles such as dust and the second digit refers to protection against liquids such as water or sweat.
Match IP ratings according to your needs
Determine the IP rating according to your needs. To determine, match the first and second digits of the rating according to your personal requirements. For example, IP 65 is suitable for outdoor exposure as it can stand dust and water jets in any direction.
How does IP Ratings are Achieved?
Gasket Seal
It is worth mentioning that a silicone rubber gasket is rather common in numerous IP-rated enclosures to seal the water. This gasket is placed in a channel within the enclosure meaning nothing can flow through the seams or panels to make the enclosure waterproof.
Mated Parts
Waterproof products are normally manufactured with an IP rating, which means that their parts are generally tightly interlocked. The precise fit means it is much harder for water to get into the enclosure, and it may even improve the security of the enclosure by giving it a tight seal.
Adhesives
Applying water-resistant adhesives for joining the parts of an enclosure together can increase water resistance. It allows every component to be firmly attached with a water-tight seal that can resist water pressure and any other conditions.
IP Rated Accessories
When an enclosure is primarily meant to be installed outside or contains outdoor junction boxes, IP-rated cable glands, ports, vents, etc., become very important. These accessories also need to have a high IP rating so that the enclosure remains waterproof.
PCB Potting and Conformal Coating
In PCB potting, the whole enclosure is potted with water-proof material. In Conformal coating, a water-proof material is coated on the internal components. These techniques are used to prevent water from affecting the internal electronics.
IP Rating Reference Chart
IP Rating Detailed Chart
| IP Rating | First Digit – SOLIDS | Second Digit – LIQUIDS |
|---|---|---|
| IP00 Rating | Not protected | Not protected from liquids |
| IP01 Rating | Not protected | Protected from condensation |
| IP02 Rating | Not protected | Protected from water spray less than 15 degrees from vertical |
| IP03 Rating | Not protected | Protected from water spray less than 60 degrees from vertical |
| IP04 Rating | Not protected | Protected from water spray from any direction |
| IP05 Rating | Not protected | Protected from low-pressure water jets from any direction |
| IP06 Rating | Not protected | Protected from high-pressure water jets from any direction |
| IP07 Rating | Not protected | Protected from immersion between 15 centimetres and 1 metre in depth |
| IP08 Rating | Not protected | Protected from long-term immersion up to a specified pressure |
| IP10 Rating | Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 millimetres | Not protected |
| IP11 Rating | Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 millimetres | Protected from condensation |
| IP12 Rating | Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 millimetres | Protected from water spray less than 15 degrees from vertical |
| IP13 Rating | Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 millimetres | Protected from water spray less than 60 degrees from vertical |
| IP14 Rating | Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 millimetres | Protected from water spray from any direction |
| IP15 Rating | Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 millimetres | Protected from low-pressure water jets from any direction |
| IP16 Rating | Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 millimetres | Protected from high-pressure water jets from any direction |
| IP17 Rating | Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 millimetres | Protected from immersion between 15 centimetres and 1 metre in depth |
| IP18 Rating | Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 millimetres | Protected from long-term immersion up to a specified pressure |
| IP20 Rating | Protected from touch by fingers and objects greater than 12 millimetres | Not protected |
| IP21 Rating | Protected from touch by fingers and objects greater than 12 millimetres | Protected from condensation |
| IP22 Rating | Protected from touch by fingers and objects greater than 12 millimetres | Protected from water spray less than 15 degrees from vertical |
| IP23 Rating | Protected from touch by fingers and objects greater than 12 millimetres | Protected from water spray less than 60 degrees from vertical |
| IP24 Rating | Protected from touch by fingers and objects greater than 12 millimetres | Protected from water spray from any direction |
| IP25 Rating | Protected from touch by fingers and objects greater than 12 millimetres | Protected from low-pressure water jets from any direction |
| IP26 Rating | Protected from touch by fingers and objects greater than 12 millimetres | Protected from high-pressure water jets from any direction |
| IP27 Rating | Protected from touch by fingers and objects greater than 12 millimetres | Protected from immersion between 15 centimetres and 1 metre in depth |
| IP28 Rating | Protected from touch by fingers and objects greater than 12 millimetres | Protected from long-term immersion up to a specified pressure |
| IP30 Rating | Protected from tools and wires greater than 2.5 millimetres | Not Protected |
| IP31 Rating | Protected from tools and wires greater than 2.5 millimetres | Protected from condensation |
| IP32 Rating | Protected from tools and wires greater than 2.5 millimetres | Protected from water spray less than 15 degrees from the vertical |
| IP33 Rating | Protected from tools and wires greater than 2.5 millimetres | Protected from water spray less than 60 degrees from vertical |
| IP34 Rating | Protected from tools and wires greater than 2.5 millimetres | Protected from water spray from any direction |
| IP35 Rating | Protected from tools and wires greater than 2.5 millimetres | Protected from low-pressure water jets from any direction |
| IP36 Rating | Protected from tools and wires greater than 2.5 millimetres | Protected from high-pressure water jets from any direction |
| IP37 Rating | Protected from tools and wires greater than 2.5 millimetres | Protected from immersion between 15 centimetres and 1 metre in depth |
| IP38 Rating | Protected from tools and wires greater than 2.5 millimetres | Protected from long-term immersion up to a specified pressure |
| IP40 Rating | Protected from tools and small wires greater than 1 millimetre | Not Protected |
| IP41 Rating | Protected from tools and small wires greater than 1 millimetre | Protected from condensation |
| IP42 Rating | Protected from tools and small wires greater than 1 millimetre | Protected from water spray less than 15 degrees from vertical |
| IP43 Rating | Protected from tools and small wires greater than 1 millimetre | Protected from water spray less than 60 degrees from vertical |
| IP44 Rating | Protected from tools and small wires greater than 1 millimetre | Protected from water spray from any direction |
| IP45 Rating | Protected from tools and small wires greater than 1 millimetre | Protected from low-pressure water jets in any direction |
| IP46 Rating | Protected from tools and small wires greater than 1 millimetre | Protected from high-pressure water jets from any direction |
| IP47 Rating | Protected from tools and small wires greater than 1 millimetre | Protected from immersion between 15 centimetres and 1 metre in depth |
| IP48 Rating | Protected from tools and small wires greater than 1 millimetre | Protected from long-term immersion up to a specified pressure |
| IP50 Rating | Protected from limited dust ingress | Not Protected |
| IP51 Rating | Protected from limited dust ingress | Protected from condensation |
| IP52 Rating | Protected from limited dust ingress | Protected from water spray less than 15 degrees from vertical |
| IP53 Rating | Protected from limited dust ingress | Protected from water spray less than 60 degrees from vertical |
| IP54 Rating | Protected from limited dust ingress | Protected from water spray from any direction |
| IP55 Rating | Protected from limited dust ingress | Protected from low-pressure water jets from any direction |
| IP56 Rating | Protected from limited dust ingress | Protected from high-pressure water jets from any direction |
| IP57 Rating | Protected from limited dust ingress | Protected from immersion between 15 centimetres and 1 meter in depth |
| IP58 Rating | Protected from limited dust ingress | Protected from long-term immersion up to a specified pressure |
| IP60 Rating | Protected from total dust ingress | Not Protected |
| IP61 Rating | Protected from total dust ingress | Protected from condensation |
| IP62 Rating | Protected from total dust ingress | Protected from water spray less than 15 degrees from vertical |
| IP63 Rating | Protected from total dust ingress | Protected from water spray less than 60 degrees from vertical |
| IP64 Rating | Protected from total dust ingress | Protected from water spray from any direction |
| IP65 Rating | Protected from total dust ingress | Protected from low-pressure water jets from any direction |
| IP66 Rating | Protected from total dust ingress | Protected from high-pressure water jets from any direction |
| IP67 Rating | Protected from total dust ingress | Protected from immersion between 15 centimeters and 1 meter in depth |
| IP68 Rating | Protected from total dust ingress | Protected from long-term immersion up to a specified pressure |
| IP69K Rating | Protected from total dust ingress | Protected from steam-jet cleaning |
