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Return To ShopIP Protection Ratings
The protection of enclosures against ingress of particles or against ingress of water is defined in IEC529 (BVSEN60529:1991). Conversely, an enclosure which protects equipment against ingress of particles will also protect a person from potential hazards within that enclosure, and this degree of protection is also defined by the standard.
The degree of protection are most commonly expressed as IP followed by two numbers, e.g. IP65, where the numbers define the degree of protection. The first digit shows the extent to which equipment is protected against particles, or to which persons are protected from enclosed hazards. The second digit indicates the extent of protection against water. The wording in the table is not exactly as used in the standards document, but the dimensions are accurate.
The first digit in the rating is the protection against contact and foreign bodies. The second digit in the rating is the water protection factor.
| First Index | Protection against human contact | Protection against foreign bodies |
|---|---|---|
| No special protection | ||
| 1 | With an entire hand | Protected against large foreign bodies, diam. >50mm |
| 2 | With a finger | Protected against medium-sized foreign bodies, with a diameter >12.5mm |
| 3 | With tools and wires, etc. with a thickness >2.5mm | Protected against small foreign bodies, with a diameter >2.5mm |
| 4 | With tools and wires, etc. with a thickness >1mm | Protected against smaller foreign bodies, with a diameter >1mm |
| 5 | Complete protection | Dust-protected; dust deposits are permitted, but the dust must not affect the function of the unit |
| 6 | Complete protection | Dust-tight, no ingress of dust |
| Second Index | Water protection against |
|---|---|
| 0 | No protection against water |
| 1 | Protected against water dripping vertically, limited ingress permitted |
| 2 | Protected against water dripping at an angle (up to 15 degrees from vertical), limited ingress permitted |
| 3 | Protected against sprays of water (any direction up to 60 degrees from vertical), limited ingress permitted |
| 4 | Spray water from all directions, limited ingress permitted |
| 5 | Protected against jets of water, limited ingress permitted |
| 6 | Protected against powerful jets of water, limited ingress permitted |
| 7 | Watertight against immersion in water between 150mm and 1m for 30 minutes |
| 8 | Watertight against immersion in water under pressure for long periods |
Example: you would expect a coffee cup to be rated IP67. If, however, it was rated only to IP31, you would experience very moist trousers.
