IP Value

The Ingress Protection (IP) Code outlines a system of classification for the protection of electrical enclosures against the intrusion of foreign bodies ( i.e. tools, fingers, dust, etc. ) and moisture. The system of classification was specified by the International Electrotechnical Commission and is officially designated as IEC 60529. The rating is specified by the letters IP followed by two digits i.e. IP25, IP68, etc.

First Number – Degree of Ingress Protection

The first number of the IP code indicates the degree of protection against contact with moving parts and the degree that the equipment is protected against solid bodies intruding into an enclosure

0 – No protection provided.

1 – Protection against entry of objects larger than 50 square mm.

2 – Protection against entry of objects larger than 12 square mm.

3 – Protection against entry of objects larger than 2.5 square mm.

4 – Protection against entry of objects larger than 1.0 square mm.

5 – Protection against entry of dust in sufficient quantity to prevent satisfactory operation.

6 – Complete protection against entry dust.

Second Number – Degree of Moisture Protection

The second number indicates the degree of protection for the equipment inside the enclosure against the harmful entry of various forms of moisture (example: dripping, straying, submersion and similar)

0 – No protection provided.

1 – Protection against drops of water falling vertically.

2 – Protection against drops of water falling vertically when the light assembly is tilted up to 15 degrees from its normal position.

3 – Protection from entry of water spray from angle of up to 60 degrees from vertical.

4 – Protection from entry of water splashes or spray from any direction.

5 – Protection from a low pressure jet of water in any direction.

6 – Protection against heavy seas or a strong jet of water in any direction.

7 – Protection against immersion up to 1 meter.

8 – Protection against submersion over 1 meter.

Example: IP65 means complete protection against entry of dust & protection from a low pressure jet of water in nay direction(normally understood as raining water)

IP69K: A Higher Standard

German standard DIN 40050-9 extends the IEC 60529 rating system described above with an IP69K rating for high-pressure, high-temperature wash-down applications. Such enclosures must not only be dust tight (IP6_), but also able to withstand high-pressure and steam cleaning. The test specifies a spray nozzle that is fed with 80°C water at 8–10MPa (80–100bar) and a flow rate of 14–16L/min. The nozzle is held 10–15 cm from the tested device at angles of 0°, 30°, 60° and 90° for 30 seconds each. The test device sits on a turntable that rotates once every 12 seconds (5rpm).