IP Rating

What Is the Ingress Protection (IP) Rating and What Does It Mean?

The Ingress Protection Standards (IP standards) systematize levels of device protection against exposure to dust, intrusion, and water ingress. Established by the Internal Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), this globally recognized rating is defined by IEC/EN standard 60529.

Ingress Protection ratings use a two-digit grading system. The rating gives consumers a clear indication of a casing’s resistance to particulate intrusion regarding its intended environment and applications. In general, consumers most desire devices with high IP ratings. IP codes aim to provide detailed information instead of nebulous marketing terms like “waterproof.”

IP ratings also allow manufacturers to make legitimized product claims verified with certified companies and independent product testing.

The first digit of an IP rating signifies the resistance a device has towards the entrance of solid particles. The second digit represents liquid protection. Knowing the significance of these numbers can help you find the right rating for your device. For example, you can immerse a device rated IP68 in a meter of freshwater for up to a half-hour and know that it is dust resistant.

Ingress Protection (IP) Ratings Checklist & Chart

First Digit

The first digit of an Ingress Protection rating refers to an item’s intrusion protection against foreign bodies like dust. This value ranges from 1 to 6, with higher numerals indicating a greater ability to withstand particle infiltration:

• 0: Offers no protection or is not rated for protection.
• 1: Offers protection from large body parts or objects greater than 50 mm.
• 2: Endures finger contact and objects up to 80 mm in length and 12 mm in diameter.
• 3: Withstands tool and wire entry with a diameter of 2.5 mm or more.
• 4: Protects against solids larger than 1 mm, such as nails, screws and insects.
• 5: Partially protects against harmful dust particles.
• 6: Fully sealed for complete protection against dust and other foreign bodies.

Second Digit

An IP rating’s second number refers to its protection ranking against moisture. This value ranges from 1 to 9. Higher ratings indicating greater liquid endurance:

• 0: No protection against moisture.
• 1: Defends against vertically falling droplets like condensation.
• 2: Protects against vertically deflected water droplets at 15-degree angles.
• 3: Withstands vertical sprays at up to a 60-degree angle.
• 4: Shields from water splashes from any direction for a minimum of 10 minutes.
• 5: Protects against low-pressure water jets of 63 mm from all angles.
• 6: Offers high-pressure jet protection.
• 7: Withstands full liquid immersion of depths of 15 cm to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.
• 8: Endures high-pressure immersion for extended times.

Extra Letters

Some IP ratings have an additional letter at the end of the code. These numbers denote further information regarding the device’s protection standards. These extra ratings are defined as follows:

• D: Wire.
• F: Oil-resistant.
• H: High-voltage apparatus.
• M: The device was in motion during water testing.
• S: The device was standing still during testing.
• W: Certain weather conditions.

How much protection does your device need? Download our IP Rating Checklist to find out more.

Invest in Coating Solutions With High Ingress Protection at HZO

You can ensure that all your electrical and mechanical casings are IP-rated to your specifications at HZO. As a global leader in protective coatings and technologies, we deliver top-of-the-line nanocoating solutions with unmatched dependability that customers across all markets trust.

Contact us to learn more about our IP-related coatings today.