An IP rating indicates how well the enclosure of an electrical product is protected against contact, dust and water. The first digit relates to protection against solid objects and dust, the second digit to protection against water. For example, IP20 is only suitable for dry, sheltered environments, whereas a product with IP65 is dust-tight and resistant to water jets.
What is an IP rating?
With inverters, batteries, charging stations and other electrical components, you often come across terms like IP20, IP44 or IP65. But what do these numbers actually mean?
IP stands for Ingress Protection. The IP code is defined in the international standard IEC 60529 and indicates the degree to which an enclosure provides protection against access to hazardous parts and the ingress of solid objects and water.
An IP classification usually consists of two digits:
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| First digit | Protection against contact, solid objects and dust |
| Second digit | Protection against water |
In IP65, the 6 means something different from the 5.
Source: IEC 60529 – Degrees of protection provided by enclosures.
What does the first digit mean?
The higher the first digit, the better the enclosure protects against the ingress of solid objects.
| Digit | Protection |
| 0 | No protection |
| 1 | Protection against objects larger than 50 mm |
| 2 | Protection against objects larger than 12.5 mm |
| 3 | Protection against objects larger than 2.5 mm |
| 4 | Protection against objects larger than 1 mm |
| 5 | Protected against dust; limited ingress is possible |
| 6 | Dust-tight |
And the second digit?
The second digit relates to water.
| Digit | Protection |
| 0 | No protection against water |
| 1 | Vertically falling water droplets |
| 2 | Falling water droplets when the enclosure is tilted up to 15° |
| 3 | Spraying water |
| 4 | Splashing water |
| 5 | Water jets |
| 6 | Powerful water jets |
| 7 | Temporary immersion |
| 8 | Continuous immersion under conditions specified by the manufacturer |
This classification also follows from IEC 60529. The exact test conditions vary per protection level and should always be considered alongside the manufacturer's product specifications.
Common IP ratings at a glance
In practice, you will mostly encounter these combinations:
| IP rating | What does it mean? |
| IP20 | Protected against contact, for example with fingers, but not against water |
| IP21 | Like IP20, plus protection against vertically falling water droplets |
| IP44 | Protected against small solid objects and splashing water |
| IP54 | Protected against dust and splashing water |
| IP55 | Protected against dust and water jets |
| IP65 | Dust-tight and protected against water jets |
| IP66 | Dust-tight and protected against powerful water jets |
| IP67 | Dust-tight and protected against temporary immersion |
| IP68 | Dust-tight and suitable for continuous immersion according to the manufacturer's conditions |
Does a higher IP rating automatically mean a better product?
Not necessarily. The correct IP rating mainly depends on where and how you install the product.
A device permanently installed in a dry technical room, for example, does not require the same protection as equipment exposed to rain and dust outdoors.
Moreover, the IP code only indicates protection tested within the standard. Factors such as UV resistance, corrosion, temperature range and suitability for a specific installation location must be checked separately in the manufacturer's documentation.
What does an X in the IP code mean?
Sometimes you might see, for example, IPX4. The X means that no protection level is specified for that part of the classification.
So in IPX4, protection against water is specified, but the code does not provide a classification for protection against solid objects.
Which IP rating do you need?
That varies per installation. Therefore, do not only look at the number on the datasheet, but especially at the conditions on site and the manufacturer's installation instructions.
This way, you avoid a product having high protection on paper but being installed in a location for which it is not intended.
Want to know more about a specific product? Check the technical specifications and datasheets in the 4blue webshop or contact us. We will help you find the solution that suits your installation.
(024) 204 20 90
sales@4blue.nl
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