What Is An IP rating?

Modified on Fri, 21 Feb 2020 at 01:46 PM

A devices IP rating is a combination of two numbers, the first being Dust Protection and the second Water Protection.

For example, a device could have an IP rating of IP68. This would mean, referring to the table underneath that 6 is completely dust proof, while the 8 shows its waterproof for up to 2 meters for half an hour (30 minutes)

Dust protection

Level	Effective against	Description
0	-	No protection
1	>50 mm	Any 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 mm	Fingers or similar objects.
3	>2.5 mm	Tools, thick wires, etc.
4	>1 mm	Most wires, slender screws, large ants etc.
5	Dust protected	Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with the satisfactory operation of the equipment.
6	Dust tight	No 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.

Water Protection

Level	Protection against	Description
0	-	No protection
1	Dripping Water	Dripping water (vertically falling drops) shall have no harmful effect.
2	Dripping 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.
3	Spraying water	Water falling as a spray at any angle up to 60° from the vertical shall have no harmful effect.
4	Splashing of water	Water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect.
5	Water jets	Water projected by a nozzle (6.3 mm) against enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects.
6	Powerful water jets	Water projected in powerful jets (12.5 mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects.
7	Immersion, up to 1 m depth	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 1 m of submersion).
8	Immersion, 1 m or more depth	The 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.