Waterproof 'IP' Ratings at a Glance
Below is an example rating:
| Ingress Protection | Solids Protection Level | Liquids Level Protection |
|---|---|---|
| IP | 6 | 8 |
This is what the first digit after 'IP' stands for:
| Level | Object Size / Effective Against | Detailed Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | >No Protection | No Protection Against Contact and Ingress Of Objects |
| 1 | >50mm | Any large surface of the body, such as the back of the hand, but no protection against deliberate contact with a body part |
| 2 | >12.5mm | Fingers or similar objects |
| 3 | >2.5mm | Tools, thick wires, etc |
| 4 | >1mm | Most wires, slender screws, insects etc |
| 5 | Dust Protected | Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with the satisfactory operation of the equipment. |
| 6 | Dust Tight | No ingress of dust, complete protection against contact (dust tight). A vacuum must be applied. Test duration of up to 8 hours based on air flow |
This is what the Second digit after 'IP' stands for:
| Level | Effective Against | Detailed Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | >No Protection | No Protection Against Water |
| 1 | Dripping Water | Dripping water (vertically falling drops) shall have no harmful effect on the specimen when mounted in an upright position. |
| 2 | Dripping water when tilted at 15° | Vertically dripping water shall have no harmful effect when the enclosure is tilted at an angle of 15° from its normal position. |
| 3 | Spraying Water | Water falling as a spray at any angle up to 60° from the vertical shall have no harmful effect. |
| 4 | Splashing of Water | Water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect, |
| 5 | Water Jets | Water projected by a nozzle (6.3 mm) against enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects. |
| 6 | Powerful Water Jets | Water projected in powerful jets (12.5 mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects. |
| 7 | Immersion, up to 1 m depth | Ingress of water in harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time (up to 1 m of submersion). |
| 8 | Immersion, 1 m or more depth | The equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water under conditions which shall be specified by the manufacturer. However, with certain types of equipment, it can mean that water can enter but only in such a manner that it produces no harmful effects. |