IP Ingress Protection Rating
Complete Guide to IP (Ingress Protection) Standard Based on IEC 60529
Ingress Protection or IP is a term in the IEC 60529 standard, based on which electrical equipment enclosures are classified according to their protection against external factors using standard codes consisting of the two letters IP followed by two digits. The first digit (0 to 6) indicates the level of protection against solid foreign objects as well as people. The second digit (0 to 8) indicates the level of protection against water ingress (and not any other liquid). The higher these digits, the greater the protection.
First Digit — Protection Against Solid Objects
0
No protection
No testing required
1
≥ 50 mm
Back of hand — 50 N
2
≥ 12.5 mm
One finger — 10 N
3
≥ 2.5 mm
A tool — 3 N
4
≥ 1 mm
A wire — 1 N
5
Protection against dust
Limited dust ingress
6
Dust-tight
Completely sealed
Higher digit = More protection
Second Digit — Protection Against Water Ingress
IPx0
No protection
–
IPx1
Vertical dripping water
10 minutes — 1 mm/min
IPx2
Dripping at 15° tilt
10 minutes — 3 mm/min
IPx3
Spraying water
5 minutes — 0.7 L/min
IPx4
Splashing water
5 minutes — 10 L/min
IPx5
Water jets
3 minutes — 12.5 L/min
IPx6
Powerful water jets
3 minutes — 100 L/min
IPx7
Immersion up to 1 m
30 minutes
IPx8
Immersion beyond 1 m
Continuous — specified by manufacturer
Complete IP Protection Rating Table
| IP | Protection Against Solid Objects | Protection Against Water |
|---|---|---|
| IP54 | Protection against dust (limited) | Resistant to splashing water |
| IP65 | Fully dust-tight | Resistant to water jets |
| IP66 | Fully dust-tight | Resistant to powerful water jets |
| IP67 | Fully dust-tight | Immersion up to 1 m (30 minutes) |
| IP68 | Fully dust-tight | Immersion beyond 1 m |
| IP69K | Fully dust-tight | Resistant to high-pressure washing and steam |
🔒 IP Protection Ratings — Visual Comparison
🖐️
IP54
Limited dust + water splashes
🚫🧹
IP65
Dust-tight + water jets
💪💧
IP66
Dust-tight + powerful water jets
🌊
IP67
Immersion up to 1 m
🏊
IP68
Immersion beyond 1 m
🧼💨
IP69K
High-pressure washing and steam
📍 Common Applications of IP Protection Ratings
IP54 — Dry environments with limited dust
IP65 — Wet environments with water jets
IP67 — Equipment exposed to flooding and heavy rain
IP68 — Submersible equipment such as industrial load cells
🔗 For help selecting equipment with the right IP rating, contact Kian Industry experts
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