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IP rated housings are available in a variety of sizes, styles and materials, making it easy to find a solution to fit your needs. Looking for more information on IP rated enclosures? Read more below and learn the basics.
What Are IP Ratings?
The ingress protection rating scale is the most widely used system worldwide for rating the protective qualities of electrical enclosures. As its name suggests, it measures the degree of protection an enclosure provides to electrical equipment against both the ingress of water and the ingress of solid particles such as dust.
Ingress protection ratings are based on the International Electrical Code standard IEC 60529. For this reason, you’ll find the IP enclosure code used both in North America and in global markets such as the European Union and East Asia. It provides a unified standard that applies across many different enclosure types and helps device designers ensure that they’re using enclosures with the right level of protection.
IP ratings can be converted into the NEMA ratings more common in North America, but since NEMA ratings include various factors that IP ratings don’t, the reverse is not always possible. (For example, a NEMA 4X rating can’t be properly converted into an IP rating since it includes corrosion resistance.) See our IP to NEMA conversion guide for more information.
Reading an IP Rating
Interpreting IP ratings is simple once you understand the two-digit system that they use. The first digit measures solid ingress protection on an ascending scale of 1 to 6, while the second digit measures water ingress protection on an ascending scale of 1 to 8.
Let’s use an IP66 enclosure as an example. The first digit, 6, denotes a completely dust-tight enclosure that’s completely sealed against solid foreign objects such as dust, lint and shavings, as well as against accidental contact. The second digit, 6, denotes a watertight enclosure that’s resistant to rain, splashing, pressurized water jets and most other types of water ingress. (However, it’s not rated for complete submersion. You’ll need to step up to an IP67 or IP68 enclosure for that.)
Choosing an IP Rated Enclosure from Polycase
The first step in selecting an IP enclosure is always to consider the needs of the electrical components and devices that the enclosure will protect. See our IP ratings guide and our enclosure materials guide to compare choices and discover which is right for your application.
Ready to start looking for your enclosure? With our selection of enclosure designs from across the IP rating scale, Polycase makes it easy to find a high-quality box with the functionality you’re looking for. Our numerous material options — from stainless steel to polycarbonate — offer a full spectrum of protective properties. Browse all of our IP rated enclosure solutions on this page, or jump straight to our IP66 or IP68 rated enclosures.
Add to Compare Add to Wish ListEX-50As low as $11.50 per unit1.93 x 2.70 x 1.39 in.49 x 69 x 35 mm.Material: Aluminum
Add to Compare Add to Wish ListAN-11FAs low as $13.63 per unit1.97 x 1.77 x 1.12 in.50 x 45 x 28 mm.Material: Aluminum
Add to Compare Add to Wish ListAN-11PAs low as $5.91 per unit1.97 x 1.77 x 1.12 in.50 x 45 x 28 mm.Material: Aluminum
Add to Compare Add to Wish ListAN-18FAs low as $13.72 per unit2.19 x 1.61 x 1.22 in.56 x 41 x 31 mm.Material: Aluminum
Add to Compare Add to Wish ListAN-18PAs low as $6.17 per unit2.19 x 1.61 x 1.22 in.56 x 41 x 31 mm.Material: Aluminum
Add to Compare Add to Wish ListWA-20As low as $4.66 per unit2.28 x 2.52 x 1.38 in.58 x 64 x 35 mm.Material: ABS
Add to Compare Add to Wish ListWA-20FAs low as $4.66 per unit2.28 x 2.52 x 1.38 in.58 x 64 x 35 mm.Material: ABS
Add to Compare Add to Wish ListWC-20As low as $5.74 per unit2.28 x 2.52 x 1.38 in.58 x 64 x 35 mm.Material: Polycarbonate
Add to Compare Add to Wish ListWC-20FAs low as $5.48 per unit2.28 x 2.52 x 1.38 in.58 x 64 x 35 mm.Material: Polycarbonate
Add to Compare Add to Wish ListWP-20As low as $5.59 per unit2.28 x 2.52 x 1.38 in.58 x 64 x 35 mm.Material: Polycarbonate
Add to Compare Add to Wish ListWP-20FAs low as $5.21 per unit2.28 x 2.52 x 1.38 in.58 x 64 x 35 mm.Material: Polycarbonate
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Add to Compare Add to Wish ListAN-01FAs low as $6.25 per unit2.52 x 2.28 x 1.38 in.64 x 58 x 35 mm.Material: Aluminum
Add to Compare Add to Wish ListAN-01PAs low as $5.91 per unit2.52 x 2.28 x 1.38 in.64 x 58 x 35 mm.Material: Aluminum
Add to Compare Add to Wish ListSK-11As low as $8.51 per unit2.56 x 2.56 x 2.24 in.65 x 65 x 57 mm.Material: Polycarbonate
Add to Compare Add to Wish ListHD-22FAs low as $3.88 per unit2.63 x 2.63 x 1.63 in.67 x 67 x 41 mm.Material: Polycarbonate
Add to Compare Add to Wish ListML-22FAs low as $5.80 per unit2.63 x 2.63 x 1.63 in.67 x 67 x 41 mm.Material: Polycarbonate
Add to Compare Add to Wish ListEX-53As low as $17.71 per unit2.72 x 4.48 x 1.39 in.69 x 114 x 35 mm.Material: Aluminum
Add to Compare Add to Wish ListEX-56As low as $19.85 per unit2.72 x 4.53 x 2.03 in.69 x 115 x 52 mm.Material: Aluminum
Add to Compare Add to Wish ListAN-19FAs low as $18.49 per unit3.13 x 2.93 x 2.05 in.80 x 74 x 52 mm.Material: Aluminum
Add to Compare Add to Wish ListAN-19PAs low as $10.49 per unit3.13 x 2.93 x 2.05 in.80 x 74 x 52 mm.Material: Aluminum
Add to Compare Add to Wish ListWA-31As low as $6.32 per unit3.23 x 3.15 x 2.17 in.82 x 80 x 55 mm.Material: ABS
Add to Compare Add to Wish ListWA-31FAs low as $6.92 per unit3.23 x 3.15 x 2.17 in.82 x 80 x 55 mm.Material: ABS- SHOP ALUMINUM ENCLOSURES
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Fitting for a variety of applications and industries
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