The IP (International Protection) rating system was drafted by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission). The first number indicates the degree of protection of the lamp against dust and foreign objects (dust protection rating), and the second number indicates the degree of sealing of the lamp against moisture and waterproof gas intrusion (waterproof protection rating). The larger the number, the higher the protection level.
IP protection rating (Ingress Protection Rating), commonly known as the IP code, is an international standard used to indicate the ability of electrical equipment housings to resist the intrusion of solid foreign objects (including fingers, etc.) and waterproof. This standard was established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and the specific standard is IEC 60529.
The IP code usually consists of the letters IP followed by two numbers. The first number indicates the degree of protection of the equipment against the intrusion of solid foreign objects, and the second number indicates the degree of protection against the intrusion of liquids. Both numbers range from 0 to 6 (for solids) or from 0 to 8 (for liquids), and each represents a different level of protection.
IP protection level definition:
Solid protection level:
0: No special protection.
1: Prevent solid objects larger than 50mm from entering.
2: Prevent solid objects larger than 12mm from entering.
3: Prevent solid objects larger than 2.5mm from entering.
4: Prevent solid objects larger than 1.0mm from entering.
5: Dustproof, although it cannot completely prevent dust from entering, the amount of dust entering will not affect the normal operation of the equipment.
6: Completely dustproof, no dust enters.
Liquid IP protection level:
0: No special protection.
1: Vertical dripping water should have no harmful effects.
2: When the housing is tilted within 15°, vertical dripping water should have no harmful effects.
3: Rain on each vertical edge should have no harmful effects.
4: Splashing water in any direction should have no harmful effects.
5: Water spraying in any direction should have no harmful effects.
6: Strong water spraying in any direction should have no harmful effects.
7: After being immersed in water at a specified pressure for a certain period of time, no water inflow should affect the performance of the device.
8: Continuous immersion in water should have special instructions for the immersion depth and duration to be negotiated by the manufacturer and the user.
IP protection level test method:
For different protection levels, the test method will also be different. Usually includes the following tests:
Solid protection test: Use standard tools of different sizes (such as probes) to try to insert into the inside of the device to evaluate its protection level.
Waterproof test: Depending on the protection level, use different water pressures and angles for water spray or immersion tests.
These tests are generally completed by professional laboratories and need to comply with relevant standards and procedures. For manufacturers, it is necessary to consider how to achieve the required IP protection level during the design stage and verify the protection performance of the product through actual testing.
Meaning of the letters of the IP protection level
Definition of the first number/dustproof level:
IP00: No protection, no special protection is required for people or objects outside
IP10: Prevent the intrusion of solid objects larger than 50mm and prevent the human body (such as the palm) from accidentally contacting the parts inside the lamp. Prevent the intrusion of large-sized foreign objects (diameter greater than 50mm).
IP20: Prevent the intrusion of solid objects greater than 12mm, prevent human fingers from touching the internal parts of the lamp, and prevent the intrusion of medium-sized foreign objects (diameter greater than 12mm).
IP30: Prevent the intrusion of solid objects greater than 2.5mm, and prevent tools, wires or similar small foreign objects with a diameter or thickness greater than 2.5mm from intruding and touching the internal parts of the lamp.
IP40: Prevent the intrusion of solid objects greater than 1.0mm: Prevent tools, wires or similar small foreign objects with a diameter or thickness greater than 1.0mm from entering and touching the internal parts of the lamp.
IP50: Dustproof, completely prevent the intrusion of foreign objects. Although it cannot completely prevent dust from entering, the amount of dust entering will not affect the normal operation of the lamp.
IP60: Dustproof, completely prevent the intrusion of foreign objects, and completely prevent dust from entering.
Second digital marking/definition of waterproof level:
IPX0: No protection.
IPX1: Prevent dripping water intrusion, vertical dripping water drops (such as condensed water) will not cause harmful effects on the lamp.
IPX2: When tilted at 15 degrees, it can still prevent dripping water from intruding. When the lamp is tilted vertically at 15 degrees, dripping water will not cause harmful effects on the lamp.
IPX3: Prevent water intrusion, prevent rain, or prevent water from entering the lamp in a direction less than 60 degrees vertically to cause damage.
IPX4: Prevent splashing water from intruding, prevent splashing water from all directions from entering the lamp and causing damage.
IPX5: Prevent water intrusion, prevent water from all directions sprayed from the nozzle from entering the lamp and causing damage.
IPX6: Prevent large waves from intruding, installed on deck lamps, prevent damage caused by large waves from intruding.
IPX7: Prevent water intrusion when immersed in water, the lamp is immersed in water for a certain time or the water pressure is lower than a certain standard, ensuring that it is not damaged by water intrusion.
IPX8: Prevent water intrusion when sinking, the lamp sinks indefinitely under the specified water pressure, ensuring that it is not damaged by water intrusion.
IEC standard is the abbreviation of IEC International Electrotechnical Commission standard:
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) was established in 1906. It is the world’s earliest non-governmental international electrotechnical standardization organization and a Class A advisory body to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). After ISO was established in 1947, IEC was incorporated into ISO as an electrotechnical department, but it still maintained technical and financial independence. According to the new agreement reached between ISO and IEC in 1976, the two organizations are legally independent organizations. IEC is responsible for international standardization in the field of electrical and electronic engineering, and ISO is responsible for international standardization in other fields. At present, IEC member countries include the vast majority of industrially developed countries and some developing countries. These countries have 80% of the world’s population, produce and consume 95% of the world’s electricity, and manufacture and use 90% of the world’s electrical and electronic products. The purpose of IEC is to promote international coordination of electrical standards, standardization in the field of electrical and electronic engineering, and international cooperation in related fields, and enhance mutual understanding among countries. To this end, IEC publishes various publications, including international standards, and encourages national committees of various countries to adopt these standards according to their national conditions. The scope of IEC’s work includes electrical, electronic, telecommunications and atomic energy. The highest authority of IEC is the Council. IEC currently has 53 member states, called IEC National Committees, and each country can only have one organization as its member. Each member state is a member of the Council, and the Council holds a meeting every year, called the IEC Annual Meeting, which is held in turn by each member state. The Executive Committee is responsible for handling matters assigned by the Council. The technical work of IEC is the responsibility of the Executive Committee (CA). In order to improve work efficiency, the Executive Committee is divided into three groups, A, B, and C, and handles the coordination of standard setting in different fields at the same time. IEC currently has 104 technical committees and 143 sub-technical committees. IEC has three certification committees, one is the Electronic Components Quality Assessment Committee (IECQ), one is the Electronic Safety Certification Committee (IECEE), and one is the Explosion-proof Electrical Appliance Certification Committee (IECEX). In order to coordinate the formulation of relevant certification criteria, IEC also established the Conformity Assessment Committee (CAB) in 1996, which is responsible for formulating a series of certification and accreditation criteria, including system certification work.
IP protection level test method:
IP23 protection level test method: IP2X represents dustproof test, the spherical object test tool with a diameter of 12.5mm shall not completely enter the shell, a rigid ball with a diameter of 12.5mm without handle and protective plate is used, and the test force is 30N; IPX3 represents water spray test, the product is sprayed with water on each vertical plane within 60 degrees, there is no harmful effect, use a swing pipe or a sprinkler head to spray water, the swing pipe test is 10 minutes, the sprinkler head sprays water 1min/m2, at least 5 minutes.
Test method: IP3X represents dustproof test, the object test tool with a diameter of 2.5mm shall not completely enter the shell, a rigid steel rod with a diameter of 2.5mm and no burrs on the edge is used, and the test force is 3N; IPX3 represents water spray test, the product is sprayed with water on each vertical plane within 60 degrees, there is no harmful effect, use a swing pipe or a sprinkler head to spray water, the swing pipe test is 10 minutes, and the sprinkler head sprays water 1min/m2, at least 5 minutes.
Grade test method: IP4X represents dustproof test, object specimens with a diameter of 1mm shall not enter the shell, rigid steel wire with a diameter of 1mm and no burrs on the edge is used, and the test force is 1N; IPX2 represents anti-tilt rain drop test, the product drips water on each vertical plane within a range of 15 degrees, and there is no harmful effect. A drip groove is used, and the shell is tilted 15 degrees at four fixed positions. The water flow rate is 3mm/min, and each tilt position is 2.5 minutes.
IP54 protection grade test method: IP5X represents dustproof test, which cannot completely prevent dust from entering, but the amount of dust entering shall not affect the normal operation of the equipment and shall not affect safety. It is placed in a dustproof box and the test time is 8 hours; IPX4 oblique rain drop splash test, water is splashed on each surface of the product, and water is splashed with a swing pipe or sprinkler. The swing pipe test lasts for 10 minutes, and the sprinkler sprays 1min/m2 for at least 5 minutes.
Protection level test method: IP5X represents dustproof test, which cannot completely prevent dust from entering, but the amount of dust entering must not affect the normal operation of the equipment and safety. It is placed in a dustproof box and the test time is 8 hours; IPX5 waterproof spray test, spray water on each surface of the product, no water droplets enter the product, use a nozzle with a diameter of 6.3mm at a distance of 2.5-3 meters from the sample, and spray water on each surface for at least 3 minutes.
IP65 protection level test method: IP6X represents dustproof and closed test, completely prevent dust from entering, placed in a sand and dust box, negative pressure needs to be drawn, and the test time is 8 hours; IPX5 waterproof spray test, spray water on each surface of the product, no water droplets enter the product, use a nozzle with a diameter of 6.3mm at a distance of 2.5-3 meters from the sample, and spray water on each surface for at least 3 minutes.
Protection level test method: IP6X represents dustproof sealing test, completely preventing dust from entering, placed in a sand and dust box, and requires negative pressure, and the test time is 8 hours; IPX6 strong water spray test, strong water spray test on each surface of the product, no water droplets enter the product, use a nozzle with a diameter of 12.5mm at a distance of 2.5-3 meters from the sample, and spray water on each surface for at least 3 minutes.
IP67 protection level test method: IP6X represents dustproof sealing test, completely preventing dust from entering, placed in a sand and dust box, and requires negative pressure, and the test time is 8 hours; IPX7 short-term immersion test, using a diving tank, the water surface is at least 0.15 meters above the shell, and the bottom of the shell is at least 1 meter under water, and the test time is 30 minutes.
Protection level test method: IP6X represents dustproof sealing test, completely preventing dust from entering, placed in a sand and dust box, and requires negative pressure, and the test time is 8 hours; IPX8 immersion test, using a diving tank, the water surface height and test time are determined by negotiation between the user and the manufacturer, and it is an open level.
A Complete Guide to IP Ratings – IP44, IP54, IP55, IP65, IP66, IPX4, IPX5, IPX7, IPX8
IP ratings, also known as ingress protection ratings, define the level of protection an electrical device or equipment has against the ingress of solid particles (such as dust) and liquids (such as water). Understanding IP ratings is essential for selecting products for specific applications, as they indicate the suitability of a device for use in different environments and conditions. In this complete guide, we’ll take an in-depth look at the different IP ratings, including When it comes to appliances, tools, and outdoor equipment, you may have noticed a series of numbers and letters followed by the letters “IP.” These alphanumeric codes actually represent the level of protection the device’s enclosure has against solid objects and liquids. In this complete guide, we’ll break down the meaning and importance of the various IP ratings, such as IP44, IP54, IP55, IP65, IP66, IPX4, IPX5, and IPX7, to help you better understand the level of protection different devices offer.
- IP44: Devices with an IP44 rating are protected against solid objects larger than 1 mm in diameter and splashing water from any direction. This rating is commonly used for outdoor lamps, garden lights, and bathroom fixtures.
- IP54: An IP54 rating indicates protection against dust intrusion and water splashing from any direction. Electrical enclosures with an IP54 rating are suitable for use outdoors or in dusty environments.
- IP55: Devices with an IP55 rating are protected against dust and low-pressure water jets from any direction. These devices are commonly used for outdoor security cameras, lamps, and garden electrical equipment.
- IP65: An IP65 rating indicates protection against dust and low-pressure water jets from any direction. This rating is suitable for outdoor lighting, garden sockets, and electrical enclosures exposed to the elements.
- IP66: IP66-rated devices are fully protected against dust and high-pressure water jets from any direction. This protection rating is ideal for outdoor equipment, power tools, and industrial applications that need to protect against harsh weather conditions.
- IPX4: The “X” in the IPX4 rating means that the device has not been tested for protection against solid objects. However, it is protected against splashing water from any direction, making it suitable for use in outdoor lamps and garden appliances.
- IPX5: Similarly, the “X” in the IPX5 rating means that solid object testing is not required, but the device is protected against low-pressure water jets from any direction. IPX5-rated devices are often used in outdoor speakers, irrigation systems, and camping equipment.
- IPX7: IPX7-rated devices are not tested for protection against solid objects, but can withstand being immersed in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. Waterproof speakers, underwater lights, and marine electronics often have this rating.
- IPX8: IPX8-rated devices are protected against dust intrusion and water intrusion, can prevent water intrusion when submerged, lamps can be submerged indefinitely at a specified water pressure, and can be ensured not to be damaged by water ingress.
By understanding the importance of different IP ratings, you can choose the right electrical equipment and devices to meet your specific needs and provide adequate protection against solids and liquids in a variety of environments. Whether you are looking for outdoor lighting, garden tools or industrial tools, understanding IP ratings can help ensure the durability and longevity of your equipment. When choosing equipment with a specific IP rating, be sure to communicate with the manufacturer for professional advice so that you can make an informed decision.
If you need a custom cable that meets IP44, IP54, IP55, IP65, IP66, IPX4, IPX5, IPX7, IPX8 protection levels, or are unsure of what protection level your industrial equipment needs to meet, you are welcome to email TST CABLES technical engineers (email: lixiangchao@testeck.com).
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