What is Ingress Protection? IP Ratings Explained

An International Protection Rating, or IP code, is also sometimes also known as Ingress Protection Rating.

Consisting of the letters ‘IP’ followed by two digits and an optional letter, these ratings are used to define levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies such as dust, dirt and moisture. An X in place of either digit means that either the enclosure has not been tested or that the test is not applicable.

The IP rating scale aims to provide users with more detailed information around protection levels provided by a protective case or structure than general terms such as ‘waterproof’ or ‘shockproof’, which are often not sufficient.

What do the numbers in an IP rating mean?

The numbers that follow IP rating each have a specific meaning:

  • The first digit indicates the level of human protection from moving or hazardous parts, as well as the protection of enclosed equipment from foreign bodies
  • The second digit defines the protection level that the enclosure has from the harmful ingress of water or moisture from submersion, sprays or drips

 

IP Rating – First Digit: Solids

Level Object size protected against Effective against
0 Not protected No protection against contact with or ingress of objects
1 >50mm Any surface of the body, such as the back of the hand. No protection against deliberate contact with a body part
2 >12.5mm Fingers or similar objects
3 >2.5mm Tools and thick wires
4 >1mm The majority of wires and screws
5 Dust protected The ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with the operation of the equipment. Offers complete protection against contact

 

 

6 Dust-tight No ingress of dust, with complete protection against contact

 

IP Rating – Second Digit: Liquids

Level Object size protected against Effective against
0 Not protected N/A
1 Dripping water Vertically dripping water will have no harmful effects

 

 

2 Dripping water when tilted up to 15°
Vertically dripping water will have no harmful effects when the enclosure is tilted at an angle of up to 15° from its standard position
3 Spraying water
Water falling as a spray at any angle up to 60° from the vertical will have no harmful effect
4 Splashing water Water splashed against the enclosure from any direction will have no harmful effect
5 Water jets Water projected by a nozzle against the enclosure from any direction will have no harmful effect

 

 

6 Powerful water jets
Water projected in powerful jets against the enclosure from any direction will have no harmful effect
7 Immersion up to 1m Ingress of water in a harmful quantity is not possible when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time (up to 1m of submersion).
8 Immersion over 1m Suitable for continuous immersion in water, in line with the manufacturer’s conditions. Normally, this will mean that the equipment is hermetically sealed, however, with some equipment, it can mean that water can enter but only to the extent that it produces no harmful effects

A sample IP rating of IP68 can therefore be interpreted to provide:

  1. IP – ‘Ingress Protection’
  2. First Digit – offering solids protection of 6
  3. Second Digit – offering liquids protection of 8

An electrical socket rated IP22 is protected against insertion of the fingers and will not be damaged or become unsafe during a specified test in which it is exposed to vertically or nearly vertically dripping water.

A rating of IP22 or 2X is the typical minimum requirement for the design of electrical accessories or equipment for indoor use.

If you have any questions about IP ratings or want to know more about our protective cases, contact CP Cases on 0208 568 1881 or by email at [email protected].

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