IP Enclosure Ratings & Standards

IP Ratings For Enclosures

The Ingress Protection (IP) rating indicates how resistant a gadget is to solids and water. The international standard EN 60529 is used to calculate IP ratings.

The term "intrusion" in the context of an IP rating has three definitions: IP codes indicate the amount of protection provided to users (hands, fingers, etc.) by mechanical or electrical elements; the degree of protection provided by an enclosure to those critical components against dust, filth, and other destructive foreign bodies; and the overall resistance to moisture.

NEMA Ratings For Enclosures

Why have an IP rating system?

The purpose of a global IP rating system is to provide purchasers and users with confidence in the safety of using particular electrical or mechanical items in specified environments and applications.

Unlike more ambiguous marketing words like 'waterproof', which may not always provide a clear explanation of exactly where and to what degree an object can withstand moisture infiltration, an IP rating is intended to provide a far more particular account.

As we'll learn later in this tutorial, each digit in an IP rating gives specific information about the amount of protection/resistance that the item in question may be anticipated to provide.

Types of IP rated Enclosure Products

There are various IP-rated goods available on the market. The standardization of these codes allows buyers and users to acquire a clear knowledge of each product's capabilities and limits in various circumstances.

In this part, we'll take a closer look at some of the most common IP ratings seen on the vast majority of ordinary items.

IP Enclosure Ratings Chart

بروتوكول الإنترنتDescription
IP44Protection for the enclosed equipment from the entry of solid particles with a diameter greater than 1mm into the enclosure.
IP54Commonly used as traffic control cabinets because of their ability to protect electrical equipment from splashing water or rain conditions.
IP55Weather-resistant enclosures that include a degree of protection from windblown dust and ingress of water.
IP56Designed very similar to NEMA 3 enclosures, however, 3R enclosures can be ventilated.
IP57Often called rain tight enclosures due to their excellent weather resistance.
IP65Generally manufactured using 304 & 316 stainless steel due to its protection from corrosive materials.
IP66Dust tight enclosures that are constructed without punch-outs.
IP67Protecting against water damage during a temporary 30-minute immersion at a depth of between 15cm and 1m.
IP68When submerged in up to 1.5m of water for 30 minutes, it protects against water damage.

IP Enclosure Ratings Guide

The IP ratings table below explains what each digit in a conventional IP code indicates. This ingress protection chart will help you understand the precise threats and scenarios that a certain item's mechanical or electrical components should be protected against, as well as how much protection is required in what types of environments.

  • First digit - protection against foreign bodies and particle ingress:
  • Second digit - protection against moisture ingress:
ip r
First digitIntrusion protectionSecond digitMoisture protection
0No protection.0No protection.
1Protected against solid objects over 50mm, e.g. accidental touch by hands.1Protected against vertically falling drops of water, e.g. condensation.
2Protected against solid objects over 12mm, e.g. fingers.2Protected against direct sprays of water up to 15 degrees from the vertical.
3Protected against solid objects over 2.5mm, e.g. tools & wires.3Protected against direct sprays of water up to 60 degrees from the vertical.
4Protected against solid objects over 1mm, e.g. wires & nails.4Protected against water splashed from all directions, limited ingress permitted.
5Protected against dust limited ingress, no harmful deposits.5Protected against low pressure jets of water from all directions, limited ingress permitted.
6Totally protected against dust.6Protected against strong jets of water, e.g. on ships deck, limited ingress permitted.
n/an/a7Protected against the effects of temporary immersion between 15cm and 1m. Duration of test 30 minutes
n/an/a8Protected against long periods of immersion under pressure
IEC IP ratings full