IP Testing | Ingress Protection testing

EN 60529 outlines an international classification system for the sealing effectiveness of enclosures for electrical equipment against the intrusion into the equipment from foreign objects (i.e. hands, fingers, tools, dust) and water. This classification system utilizes the letters “IP” (“Ingress Protection”) followed by two or three digits.

• A third character is sometimes used to further specify the classification
• An "x" is used to replace one of the digits if there is only one class of protection; i.e. IPX4 which addresses water resistance only

The first digit of the IP code indicates the degree that people are protected against contact with electrical or moving parts (other than smooth rotating shafts, etc.) and the degree to which the equipment is protected against solid foreign bodies intruding into an enclosure.

0 No special protection

1 Protection from a large part of the body such as a hand (but no protection from deliberate access); from solid objects greater than 50mm in diameter

2 Protection against fingers and other objects not greater than 80mm in length or 12mm in diameter

3 Protection from entry by tools or solid foreign objects with a diameter or thickness of 2.5mm.

4 Protection from entry by wires or solid foreign objects with a diameter or thickness of 1.0mm

5 Protection from dust that would interfere with the operation of the equipment

6 Dust tight

The second digit indicates the degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against the harmful entry of water (e.g. dripping, spraying, submersion, etc.).

0 No special protection

1 Protection from vertically dripping water

2 Protection from vertically 15º dripping water

3 Protection from sprayed water vertically 120º

4 Protection from sprayed water 360º

5 Protection from sprayed water projected from hose with nozzle

6 Protection against heavy seas, or powerful jets of water

7 Protection against immersion

8 Protection against complete, continuous submersion in water*

* Submersion depth and time must be specified by the end-user. The requirement must be deeper than IP67

The standard defines additional letters that can be appended to classify only the level of protection against access to hazardous parts by persons:

A - Back of hand

B - Finger

C - Tool

D - Wire

Further letters can be appended to provide additional information related to the protection of the device:

H - High voltage device

M - Device moving during water test

S - Device standing still during water test

W - Weather conditions