Ingress Protection
The international standard for equipment that rates the degree of protection against intrusion is called Ingress Protection or “IP”. It is an indication of how effective an electrical enclosure is sealed against any foreign bodies like dust, dirt or moisture that can damage or prevent the electrical device from working effectively…
First Digit ( Degree of intrusion protection)
| 0 | Zero protection |
| 1 | Protection from accidental access from solid objects like a human hand, but not from deliberate access, for objects with a larger diameter than 50mm. |
| 2 | Protection from objects like fingers with a larger diameter than 12mm. |
| 3 | Protection from objects like tools with a larger diameter than 2.5mm. |
| 4 | Protection from objects like fine tools with a larger diameter than 1mm. |
| 5 | Protection from dust that can potentially damage the device. |
| 6 | Complete protection from dust. |
SECOND Digit ( Degree of intrusion protection)
| 0 | Zero protection |
| 1 | Equipment has protection against condensation. |
| 2 | Equipment has protection against water droplets. |
| 3 | Equipment protected against spray from angles less than 60° from vertical. |
| 4 | Equipment protected against water spray from all angles. |
| 5 | Equipment protected against spray from low-pressure water jets. |
| 6 | Equipment protected against spray from water jets and waves. |
| 7 | Equipment protected against temporary immersion underwater. |
| 8 | Equipment protected against prolonged immersion under water. |
For quick reference, see specifications below:
| IP 65 Rated | Equipment is dust-tight and protected against water sprayed and projected from a nozzle. |
| IP 66 Rated | Equipment is dust-tight and protected against heavy sprays or jets of water. |
| IP 67 Rated | Equipment is dust-tight and protected against temporary immersion. |
| IP 68 Rated | Equipment is dust-tight and protected against complete immersion in water. |
