What is IP67 rating?

The IP67 waterproof rating is defined as temporary submersion for a specific water depth (1 meter) and duration (30 minutes).

The "IP" stands for Ingress Protection, an international standard that rates the level of sealing effectiveness of an electrical enclosure against intrusion from foreign objects.

• First digit (6): Indicates a "dust-tight", meaning no ingress of dust. Complete protection against solid particles.

• Second digit (7): Indicates temporary immersion in water up to 1 meter (about 3 feet) for up to 30 minutes without harm.

For example, an IP67 enclosure would be “dust-tight” and it could be submersed in 1 meter deep in water for 30 minutes maximum without damage according to the IP system.

The Origin of the Ingress Protection (IP) System

The Ingress Protection (IP) rating system was established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in 1976 to provide a standardized way to classify equipment and products resistance to intrusion from solids and liquids, with its details found in the IEC 60529 standard. This standardized system has replaced subjective terms such as "water-resistant" and "dustproof" with specific measurable systems & ratings, thereby allowing designers and engineers to easily to select appropriate equipment or enclosures for industrial and consumer applications.

The Purpose of the Ingress Protection System

Protection System • Standardization:

The primary goal was to eliminate subjective descriptions a product's protection levels against the elements.

• IEC:
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), that is a global organization for electrotechnical
standardization, developed the measurable system to promote safety and inter-operability in electrical & electronic devices.

• 1976:
The first edition of the IEC 60529 standard, which details the IP rating system, was published in 1976.

Here’s the Ingress Protection System

• The IP Code System: The system uses a two-digit code after the letters IP (e.g., IP65 or IP67).
• First Digit: Indicates protection against solid objects, with ratings from 0 (no protection) to 6 (dust-tight).
• Second Digit: Indicates protection against liquids, with ratings from 0 (no protection) to 9 (protection against heavy water jets). For example, IP67, then the 7 is for temporary submersion.
The IEC revises the Ingress Protection (IP) standard to accommodate for the modern industrial requirements. The IP rating system has been widely adopted worldwide for commercial and industrial standards.

What are the Advantages of IP67 Rated Product?

The key advantage of IP67 rated products is the reduced risk of product damage due to temporary water submersion. Therefore, valuable electronics and power systems won’t be damaged by a short temporary submersion from heavy storm or environmental events.
IP67-rated products offer full protection against dust and can withstand temporary water immersion, which results in significant advantages in durability, reliability, and cost savings since the product not likely to be damaged. Therefore, IP67 products are ideal for use in harsh environments and for example: indoor or outdoor industrial environments, near water pipes, outdoor surveillance equipment and consumer electronics that might be water splashed or temporarily water submersed.

Key advantages of IP67 products

Enhanced durability and reliability
• Protection from Contaminants: The dust-tight seal prevents internal components from corrosion and deterioration caused by dust, dirt, and moisture. This is especially crucial in all industrial factories, storage areas, commercial building and chemical process facilities.
• Indoor & Outdoor environments: IP67-rated devices can function reliably in extreme temperature fluctuations, heavy machinery vibrations, and outdoor weather, leading to enhanced reliability and uptime.
• Increased product lifespan: Since IP67 are designed to have a quality sealed design, the equipment and electronics should last longer and that extends the lifespan of the equipment for valuable cost savings.
Reduced costs – Save some money
• Lower maintenance & repair costs: IP67 devices are resilient to environmental factors that means less frequent repair and maintenance. This saves companies money and avoids costly downtime and repair expenses.
Safe and consistent operation
• Operational consistency: Top levels of IP67 protection ensures that devices continue to perform consistently without interruptions, even when exposed to harsh elements.
• Overall Improved safety: In moist or hazardous environments, IP67-rated equipment and enclosures reduces downtime and provides additional personnel safety.

Typical IP67 Product Applications

There are many advantages of an IP67 dust and water resistant rating that for many industries and products:
• Industrial: All electronic devices including laptop computers, network server racks, electrical sensors, security cameras and communication systems factories, telecom and many businesses.
• Outdoor use: Outdoor network enclosures for telecom electronics, security, etc.
• Offshore Marine & Rugged Environments: IP67 protection for communication equipment for constructions job sites, controls for conveyor or other equipment.
For example, just because something is said to be "water-resistant" does not mean that it completely resists water or can stay immersed for an extended time.

What are the Common Materials used for IP67 Products?

In industry there are basically three materials used for manufacturing IP67 waterproof housings:
Metal Enclosures or Housings
• Aluminum Alloys: Lightweight aluminum offers easy flexibility to cut parts, weld, mold in casting, easy to machine parts and paint. Aluminum does not rust.
• Carbon Steel: Heavier than aluminum but strong, offers easy flexibility to cut parts, weld, mold in casting, machine parts and paint. Must be painted to reduce corrosion.
• Stainless Steel: Strong, durable and heavy as carbon steel, offers easy flexibility to cut parts, weld, mold in casting, machine parts and no coatings required.
• Plastic Molded Parts: Easy to mold and easy to break.
• FRP (fiberglass reinforced plastic): Heavy Duty FRP are non-conductive and good alternative material.
For IP67 products (including enclosures), metal is always much better than than plastic that might break.