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What are IP ratings?
IP or Ingress Protection ratings are defined by an international standard EN 60529. The rating is used to describe levels of sealing protection on electrical enclosures against solid objects and moisture.
What do the numbers mean?
There is a double digit nomenclature associated with IP ratings. The first number represents a level of protection from solid objects. The second number represents the protection level from moisture (drips, sprays, submersion etc). The tables below should help make sense of it:
IP First X (Protection level against solid objects and dust)
0 | No protection specified |
1 | Protection against large objects (objects larger than 50 mm) |
2 | Protection against medium objects (objects larger than 12 mm) |
3 | Protection against small objects (larger than 2.5 mm ) |
4 | Protection against objects (larger than 1 mm) |
5 | Protection against limited amounts of dust / Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented |
6 | Total protection from dust / No ingress of dust |
IP Second X (Protection level against water)
0 | No protection specified |
1 | Protection against vertical dripping water |
2 | Protection against dripping water up to 15° from vertical |
3 | Protection against direct sprays of water up to 60° from vertical |
4 | Protection against splashing water from all directions |
5 | Protection against low pressure jets of water from all directions |
6 | Protection against temporary flooding of water |
7 | Protection against immersion (less than 1 m) |
8 | Protection against immersion (greater than 1 m) |
Polycase offer several enclosure series with the top IP65. IP66, IP67 and IP68 protection ratings. Check out all our enclosures and filter by a specific IP rating to find a box for your project. Or, for a more in-depth guide on IP ratings check out our ultimate guide on IP ratings.