IP RATINGS (INGRESS PROTECTION)

WHAT IS IP RATINGS?

The IP ratings’ system was developed to provide general references for the design, materials, usage and safety considerations of electrical enclosures for manufacturing companies in the USA and other countries worldwide.

IP ratings stand for Ingress Protection or International Protection ratings which are from the international standard of EN 60529 (British BS EN 60529:1992, European IEC 60509:1989). As defined in those standards these number defines degrees of protection against the solid and liquid objects.

Solid Objects can be dust, body parts ( hands and fingers), rocks and etc.
Liquid Objects mostly from water but it can be some other type of liquid, it classified by level of intrusion such as

  • Dripping water
  • Spraying
  • Splashing
  • Water jets
  • Powerful water jets
  • Submerge

If you already familiar with IP ratings, you can see our IP rating compatible enclosure products here. However if you are not please read more information below.

DEFINITIONS AND RATINGS

The IP Code (“international protection rating” or aka “ingress protection rating“) consists of a combination of letters “IP” followed by two numerical digits (for example “65”) and sometimes an optional alphabetical letter. Per the international standard IEC 60529, the standard defines degrees of “ingress protection” against the intrusion or damage from solid objects, dust, and water for the purpose of protecting electrical enclosures as well as equipment inside the enclosures (for example, electronics or electrical wiring). The IP rating standard was designed to provide detailed levels of “ingress protection” against objects, dust resistance, dripping water resistance to submersion waterproof. Refer to the IP ratings and descriptions for more information.

IPX PROTECTION CODES

IP     6     5

IP: International Protection or Ingress Protection
6: First Digit: Solid particle protection
5: Second Digit: Liquid particle protection

FIRST DIGIT: SOLID PARTICLE PROTECTION

The first digit of the combination

               IP66

defines the level of protection that the enclosure provides against access to hazardous parts (e.g., electrical conductors, moving parts) and the ingress of solid foreign objects.

NEMACO™ NEMA 6P Enclosures with Roxtec seal Banner small

NEMACO™ NEMA 6P Enclosures with Roxtec seal Banner small

LEVEL
(FIRST DIGIT)		ENCLOSURE SIZE EFFECTIVE AGAINSTDESCRIPTION
0–No protection against contact and ingress of objects
1> 50 mmAny large surface of the body, such as the back of a hand, but no protection against deliberate contact with a body part
2> 12.5 mmFingers or similar objects
3> 2.5 mmTools, thick wires, etc.
4> 1 mmMost wires, slender screws, large ants etc.
5Dust protectedIngress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with the satisfactory operation of the equipment.
6Dust tightNo ingress of dust; complete protection against contact (dust tight). A vacuum must be applied. Test duration of up to 8 hours based on air flow.

SECOND DIGIT: LIQUID INGRESS PROTECTION

The second digit of the combination

 

               IP66

 

defines the level of protection that the enclosure provides against harmful ingress of water. The ratings for water ingress are not cumulative beyond IPX6. A device which is compliant with IPX7 has characteristic to submerge in water, need not be compliant with IPX5 or IPX6, covering exposure to water jets. A device which meets both tests is indicated by listing both tests separated by a slash, e.g. IPX5/IPX7.

LEVEL
(SECOND DIGIT)		PROTECTION AGAINSTEFFECTIVE AGAINST
0None-
1Dripping waterDripping water (vertically falling drops) shall have no harmful effect on the specimen when mounted in an upright position onto a turntable and rotated at 1 RPM.
2Dripping water when tilted at 15°Vertically dripping water shall have no harmful effect when the enclosure is tilted at an angle of 15° from its normal position. A total of four positions are tested within two axes.
3Spraying waterWater falling as a spray at any angle up to 60° from the vertical shall have no harmful effect, utilizing either: a) an oscillating fixture, or b) A spray nozzle with a counterbalanced shield.
Test a) is conducted for 5 minutes, then repeated with the specimen rotated horizontally by 90° for the second 5-minute test. Test b) is conducted (with shield in place) for 5 minutes minimum.
4Splashing of waterWater splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect, utilizing either: a) an oscillating fixture, or b) A spray nozzle with no shield.
Test a) is conducted for 10 minutes. Test b) is conducted (without shield) for 5 minutes minimum.
5Water jetsWater projected by a nozzle (6.3 mm) against enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects.
6Powerful water jets Water projected in powerful jets (12.5 mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects.
6KPowerful water jets with increased pressure Water projected in powerful jets (6.3 mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any direction, under elevated pressure, shall have no harmful effects. Found in DIN 40050, and not IEC 60529.
7Immersion, up to 1 m depthIngress 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 1 m of submersion).
8Immersion, 1 m or more depthThe equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water under conditions which shall be specified by the manufacturer. However, with certain types of equipment, it can mean that water can enter but only in such a manner that it produces no harmful effects. The test depth and duration is expected to be greater than the requirements for IPx7, and other environmental effects may be added, such as temperature cycling before immersion.
9KPowerful high temperature water jets Protected against close-range high pressure, high temperature spray downs.
Smaller specimens rotate slowly on a turntable, from 4 specific angles. Larger specimens are mounted upright, no turntable required, and are tested freehand for at least 3 minutes at distance of 0.15–0.2 m.

There are specific requirements for the nozzle used for the testing.

This test is identified as IPx9 in IEC 60529.
Nemaco Stainless steel NEMA 6P4X IP 67-68 enclosure

NEMA 6P Sumbersible enclosure equivalent to IP 67, 68 interm of protection

ADDITIONAL LETTERS

Furthermore, extra special letters can be appended behind 2 digits talking above to provide additional information related to the protection of the device.

LETTERMEANING
fOil resistant
HHigh voltage device
MDevice moving during water test
SDevice standing still during water test
WWeather conditions

After we understanding the definition of IP rating standard, you can check out our IP ratings compatible products.
NEMACO™ offers IP24 Enclosures, IP 54 Enclosures, IP66 Enclosures, IP67 Enclosures and IP68 Enclosures, which adherence IP standard above.