Whats an IP Rating

IP ratings, or Ingress Protection ratings, are a standardized system used to classify and communicate the level of protection that an electrical device or enclosure provides against the intrusion of foreign objects (like dust and debris) and moisture (such as water) based on specific testing criteria. IP ratings are important to understand when selecting devices for use in various environments, especially in situations where protection against environmental factors is crucial, like outdoor or industrial settings. 

 

An IP rating consists of two digits, where each digit has a specific meaning: 

 

The first digit (0-6): Protection against solid objects and dust. 

 

0: No protection or not specified. 

1: Protection against solid objects greater than 50mm in diameter (e.g., a hand). 

2: Protection against solid objects greater than 12.5mm in diameter (e.g., fingers). 

3: Protection against solid objects greater than 2.5mm in diameter (e.g., tools). 

4: Protection against solid objects greater than 1mm in diameter (e.g., wires). 

5: Dust-protected; limited ingress allowed (some dust may enter, but it won't harm the device). 

6: Dust-tight; no ingress of dust. 

 

The second digit (0-9): Protection against liquids, particularly water. 

 

0: No protection or not specified. 

1: Protection against vertically falling drops of water (condensation). 

2: Protection against vertically falling drops of water when the enclosure is tilted up to 15 degrees. 

3: Protection against spraying water at an angle up to 60 degrees from vertical. 

4: Protection against splashing water from any direction. 

5: Protection against water jets from any direction (lower pressure than 6). 

6: Protection against powerful water jets or waves. 

7: Protection against temporary immersion in water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. 

8: Protection against continuous immersion in water under conditions specified by the manufacturer (usually beyond 1 meter depth). 

9: Protection against high-pressure, high-temperature water jets and steam-cleaning processes. 

 

So, for example, an IP67-rated device indicates that it is completely dust-tight (6) and can be immersed in water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes (7). IP ratings help consumers and professionals make informed decisions about the suitability of devices for specific applications, taking into consideration the environmental conditions they will be exposed to.