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What are the different IP or Ingress Protection Ratings?
What are the different IP or Ingress Protection Ratings?
IP (Ingress Protection) ratings classify the degrees of protection provided by an electrical enclosure against the intrusion of solid objects and liquids. Defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC 60529), a standard rating consists of the letters “IP” followed by two numbers (e.g., IP67).
The Structure of an IP Rating
- First Digit (0–6): Measures protection against solid particles like dust, tools, and fingers.
- Second Digit (0–9): Measures protection against liquids like splashes, rain, and submersion.
- The Letter “X”: Indicates that the device has not been tested for that specific category (e.g., IPX7 means it has no official dust rating).
First Digit: Solid Particle Protection
This digit scales from large objects down to microscopic dust particles.
| DIGIT | protection level | Test Details / Application |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No protection | No barrier against any contact. |
| 1 | Objects > 50 mm | Large body surfaces like the back of a hand. |
| 2 | Objects > 12.5 mm | Fingers or similar small physical objects. |
| 3 | Objects > 2.5 mm | Tools, thick wires, and screwdrivers. |
| 4 | Objects > 1 mm | Most wires, slender screws, and large insects. |
| 5 | Dust-protected | Limited dust entry; does not interfere with operation. |
| 6 | Dust-tight | Complete protection; no dust can enter. |
Second Digit: Liquid Protection
This digit scales from light vertical condensation up to high-pressure submersion.
Note: Ratings 7, 8, and 9K focus on immersion and high pressure, but do not automatically guarantee compliance with lower-level water jet tests (like 5 or 6) unless explicitly dual-certified.
| DIGIT | protection level | Test Details / Application |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No protection | Zero resistance to moisture. |
| 1 | Vertically dripping water | Protects against light, falling rain drops. |
| 2 | Dripping water at 15° tilt | Protects against water drops when tilted. |
| 3 | Spraying water | Resistant to water spraying up to a 60° angle. |
| 4 | Splashing water | Protected against splashes from any direction. |
| 5 | Low-pressure water jets | Can withstand water projected from a nozzle. |
| 6 | High-pressure water jets | Protected against powerful jets or heavy seas. |
| 7 | Temporary immersion | Survives submersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. |
| 8 | Continuous immersion | Survives deep, long submersion (depth set by manufacturer). |
| 9K | High-pressure/temp jets | Withstands close-range, high-temperature washdowns. |
Common Real-World Ratings
- IP20: Common for indoor home electronics; safe from fingers but not water.
- IP54: Found on general outdoor fixtures; resists typical dust and light rain.
- IP65 / IP66: Standard for heavy-duty outdoor lighting and security cameras.
- IP67 / IP68: Found on modern smartphones and smartwatches to survive accidental drops into pools or sinks.
Did you know? You can find examples of various IP ratings across our Belimo products and Hidria axial fans. Contact us to know more.
