INGRESS PROTECTION / IP RATINGS

Ingress Protection ratings or IP ratings are defined by international standard IEC 60529, which classifies the degrees of protection provided against the intrusion of solid objects (which includes body parts like hands and fingers), dust, accidental contact, and water in electrical enclosures. The IP Rating provides a clearer meaning rather than vague marketing terms such as waterproof or water resistant.

IP Rating for solid objects.

The numbers indicate conformity with the conditions shown below with the first digit indicating the level of protection that the enclosure provides against access to hazardous parts (e.g., electrical conductors, moving parts) and the ingress of solid foreign objects.

Solid foreign objects can be anything from fingers (ouch!) to tools to dust and anything in between. Knowing what degree of protection the housing provides should be a key part of health and safety planning both for existing equipment and new purchases.

IP Rating for liquids.

The second digit relates to liquids and protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against harmful ingress of water.