What Is IP Rating?

The universal IP or Ingress Protection Rating has been brought into effect so buyers and users are confident in the safety of the electrical and mechanical devices they are using, depending on their applications and environments.

The IP rating is a combination of the letters IP, then two numbers and then (sometimes) a letter. It is defined by the international standard IEC 60529 as classifying the degree of protection needed with regards to the intrusion of a solid object. This includes accidental contact, hands, fingers, dust, and water in electrical enclosures. Its aim is to provide the user with the most detailed information available rather than the previously used vague terms such as ‘waterproof’.

Breakdown of IP

What does it actually mean?  

Each part of the code gives you the information you need to help you decide if the fitting you’re thinking of buying is right for the area you plan to put it.

IP

The IP or Ingress Protection signifies how well protected a fitting is.

1st Digit - Solid

Digit 1 tells you how well protected a fitting is against a solid mass, e.g. dust. The more protected the fitting is the higher the number is. Sometimes you might see the digit represented by an X, which means the value hasn’t been determined, generally because the product has not been tested yet for protection against solid objects.

2nd Digit  - Liquid

Digit 2 tells you about the liquid protection level: 0 means it’s not protected, whereas the highest value of 9 suggests that it’s completely safe to immerse in more than 1M of water.

What does an IP rating measure?

In brief, IP ratings consider three key metrics:
  •  Resistance to ingress by the user, accidental or otherwise
  •  Resistance to ingress from moisture
  •  Resistance to ingress from foreign objects (dirt, dust, etc)

  

IP Indication	IP	Compulsory
1st Digit: Solid Particle Protection	Single number: 0–6	Compulsory
2nd Digit: Liquid Ingress Protection	Single number: 0–6	Compulsory
3rd Digit: Mechanical Impact Resistance	Single number: 0–9	No longer in use
Additional Letter: Other Protections	One letter	Optional

Products that require IP Ratings:

 

For more information why not talk to our team of trained staff who are always ready to help.