Ingress Protection

What does IP stand for?

IP is an acronym for Ingress Protection

Why is Ingress Protection Important?
Liquid and/or solid particle ingress into electrical equipment may not only be harmful to
the equipment, it may also be dangerous to the operator. Therefore when buying
electrical equipment whether it be an electric motor, a light fiiting or an enclosure, it is
essential to now what degree of ingress protection the item offers.

!o how is Ingress Protection quoted?
"n #IP# number, or as it is commonly nown, an IP rating is used to specify the
en$ironmental protection offered. The IP rating is composed of two numbers, the first
referring to the protection against solid ob%ect ingress and the second against liquid
ingress. The higher the number the better the protection.

"re there standards co$ering these ratings?
The applicable &uropean standards for ingress protection are'
( )! &* +,-./ !pecification of 0egrees of Protection Pro$ided by &nclosures
( I&1 -./ !pecification of 0egrees of Protection Pro$ided by &nclosures

What are the numerical codes?
Ingress Protection 1lassification
2irst *umber !econd *umber
IP Protection Pro$ided IP Protection Pro$ided
, *o Protection , *o Protection
3
Protected against solid
ob%ects up to -,mm e.g.
accidental touch by hands
3
Protected against $ertically
falling drops of water e.g.
condensation
.
Protected against solid
ob%ects up to 3.mm e.g.
fingers
.
Protected against direct
sprays of water up to 3- deg
from the $ertical
4
Protected against solid
ob%ects o$er ..-mm e.g.
tools
4
Protected against direct
sprays of water up to +, deg
from the $ertical
5
Protected against solid
ob%ects o$er 3mm e.g. wires
5
Protected against water
sprayed from all directions (
limited ingress permitted
- Protected against dust ( - Protected against low
limited ingress 6no harmful
deposit7
pressure %ets of water from all
directions ( limited ingress
permitted
+
Totally protected against
dust
+
Protected against strong %ets
of water e.g. for use on
shipdecs ( limited ingress
permitted
8
Protected against the affects
of immersion between 3-cm
and 3m
9
Protected against long
periods of immersion under
pressure
What do they use outside &urope?
In *orth "merica, the *&:" classification is used. *&:" 6*ational &lectrical
:anufacturers "ssociation7 is a ;! trade association representing the interests of
electroindustry manufacturers of products used in the generation, transmission and
distribution, control, and end(use of electricity.

<ow does the IP and *&:" systems compare?
The I&1 and *&:" degrees of protection can not be fully compared as equi$alent
ratings. The *&:" !tandard includes tests for en$ironmental conditions such as
mechanical damage, corrosion, rusting, ice formation, etc. <owe$er the follwoing table
can be used as a guide'
*&:" &nclosure
Type *umber
I&1
1lassification
3 IP 3,
. IP 33
4 IP -5
4= IP 35
4! IP -5
5 and 5> IP -+
- IP -.
+ and +P IP +8
0oes *&:" produce standards?
*&:" !tandard Publication .-, and ;L 5, !tandard Publication both pro$ide further
information on ingress protection ratings used in the ;!.