Understanding IP Ratings for Electronic enclosures.
The IP rating or IP code defined in international standard IEC 60529 classifies the level of protection that electrical appliances provide against the intrusion of solid objects or dust, accidental contact, and water. The resulting Ingress Protection (IP) rating (explanation of the letters IP is given in IEC 60529(ed2.1), clause 4.1), is identified by a code that consists of the letters IP followed by two digits and an optional letter. The digits ('characteristic numerals') indicate conformity with the conditions summarized in the tables below. Where there is no protection rating with regard to one of the criteria, the digit is replaced with the letter X.
The First digit indicates 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.
Level Object size protected
against Effective against:
0 - no protection against contact and ingress of objects.
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, screws, 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;
complete protection against contact .
6
- dust tight
no ingress of dust; complete protection against contact.
Second digit indicates the level of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against harmful ingress of water.
Level Protected against Details.
0 - not
protected.
1 - dripping water Dripping water (vertically falling drops)
shall have no harmful effect.
2 - dripping water when tilted up to 15° Vertically dripping
water shall have no harmful effect when the enclosure is tilted
at an angle up to 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 water Water splashing against the enclosure
from any direction shall have no harmful effect.
5 - water jets Water
projected by a nozzle against enclosure from any direction shall
have no harmful effects.
6 - powerful water jets Water projected in powerful jets
against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful
effects.
7 - immersion up to 1 m 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 beyond 1 m The equipment is suitable for
continuous immersion in water under conditions which shall be
specified by the manufacturer.
NOTE: Normally, this will mean that the equipment is hermetically sealed. However, with certain types of equipment, it can mean that water can enter but only in such a manner that produces no harmful effects.
For American NEMA specifications, go to NEMA 4X.