IP Code

The IP Code, International Protection Marking, IEC standard 60529, sometimes interpreted as Ingress Protection Marking,
classifies and rates the degree of protection provided by mechanical casings and electrical enclosures against intrusion, dust,
accidental contact, and water. It is published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The equivalent European
standard is EN 60529.

The standard aims to provide users more detailed information than vague marketing terms such as waterproof. For example, a
cellular phone rated at IP68 is "dust resistant" and can be "immersed in 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes". Similarly,
an electrical socket rated IP22 is protected against insertion of fingers and will not be damaged or become unsafe during a
specified test in which it is exposed to vertically or nearly vertically dripping water. IP22 or IP2X are typical minimum
requirements for the design of electrical accessories for indoor use.

The digits indicate conformity with the conditions summarized in the tables below. The digit 0 is used where no protection is
provided. The digit is replaced with the letter X when insufficient data has been gathered to assign a protection level.

There are no hyphens in a genuine IP code. IPX-8 (for example) is thus an invalid IP code.[1]

This page contains a combination of IEC 60529 (also EN 60529) and other standards, such as ISO 20653. The original documents
are available for purchase, and have important and specific requirements that cannot be fully reprinted due to copyright
restrictions. This often includes drawings specifying the required test equipment, such as the shape of water nozzles used for
water jet testing. Additional standards are often referenced that may contain important information. One must refer to the latest
revision of the required standard when conducting tests for agency certification.

Contents
Code breakdown
First digit: Solid particle protection
Second digit: Liquid ingress protection
Additional letters
IP69K and IPx9
Test setup
North America (NEMA rating)
Ingress Protection for consumer electronics
See also
References
External links

Code breakdown
This table shows what each digit or part of the IP code represents.
 Second
First digit: Third digit: Additional
digit:
IP Solid Mechanical letter:
Liquid
indication particle impact Other
ingress
protection resistance protections
protection
Single Single Single
IP numeral: numeral: numeral: 0– Single letter IPX Codes Explanation Chart
0–6 0–9 9
No longer
Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory Optional
used

First digit: Solid particle protection

The first digit indicates 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.[2]

Level Effective
Description
sized against
X means there is no data available to specify a protection rating with regard to this
X —
criteria.
0 — No protection against contact and ingress of objects
Any large surface of the body, such as the back of a hand, but no protection against
1 >50 mm
deliberate contact with a body part
2 >12.5 mm Fingers or similar objects
3 >2.5 mm Tools, thick wires, etc.
4 >1 mm Most wires, slender screws, large ants etc.
Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to
5 Dust protected
interfere with the satisfactory operation of the equipment.
No ingress of dust; complete protection against contact (dust tight). A vacuum must be
6 Dust tight
applied. Test duration of up to 8 hours based on air flow.

Second digit: Liquid ingress protection

The second digit indicates the level of protection that the enclosure provides against harmful ingress of water.[3] The ratings for
water ingress are not cumulative beyond IPX6. A device which is compliant with IPX7, covering immersion in water, need not be
compliant with IPX5 or IPX6, covering exposure to water jets. A device which meets both tests is indicated by listing both tests
separated by a slash, e.g. IPX5/IPX7.
Level Protection against Effective against Details
X means there is no data available to
X — — specify a protection rating with regard to
this criteria.
0 None — —
Dripping water (vertically falling Test duration: 10 minutes
drops) shall have no harmful effect
Water equivalent to 1 mm rainfall per
1 Dripping water on the specimen when mounted in
an upright position onto a turntable minute
and rotated at 1 RPM.
Vertically dripping water shall have Test duration: 2.5 minutes for every
no harmful effect when the direction of tilt (10 minutes total)
Dripping water when enclosure is tilted at an angle of
2 Water equivalent to 3 mm rainfall per
tilted at 15° 15° from its normal position. A total
of four positions are tested within minute
two axes.
Water falling as a spray at any
For a spray nozzle:
angle up to 60° from the vertical
shall have no harmful effect, Test duration: 1 minute per square meter
utilizing either: a) an oscillating for at least 5 minutes[4]
fixture, or b) A spray nozzle with a
counterbalanced shield. Water volume: 10 litres per minute
Test a) is conducted for 5 minutes, Pressure: 50–150 kPa
3 Spraying water
then repeated with the specimen
For an oscillating tube:
rotated horizontally by 90° for the
second 5-minute test. Test b) is Test duration: 10 minutes
conducted (with shield in place) for
Water volume: 0.07 l/min per hole
5 minutes minimum.

Water splashing against the

enclosure from any direction shall
have no harmful effect, utilizing
either: a) an oscillating fixture, or b)
A spray nozzle with no shield. Oscillating tube: Test duration: 10 minutes,
4 Splashing of water Test a) is conducted for 10 or spray nozzle (same as IPX3 spray
nozzle with the shield removed)
minutes. Test b) is conducted
(without shield) for 5 minutes
minimum.

Test duration: 1 minute per square meter

Water projected by a nozzle
(6.3 mm) against enclosure from
5 Water jets
any direction shall have no harmful
effects.
for at least 15 minutes
Water volume: 12.5 litres per minute
Pressure: 30 kPa at distance of 3 m

Test duration: 1 minute per square meter

Water projected in powerful jets
(12.5 mm nozzle) against the
6 Powerful water jets
enclosure from any direction shall
have no harmful effects.
for at least 3 minutes
Water volume: 100 litres per minute
Pressure: 100 kPa at distance of 3 m

6K Powerful water jets Water projected in powerful jets Test duration: at least 3 minutes
with increased (6.3 mm nozzle) against the
pressure enclosure from any direction, under
elevated pressure, shall have no
 harmful effects. Found in DIN Water volume: 75 litres per minute
40050, and not IEC 60529.
Pressure: 1000 kPa (10 bar) at distance of
3m

Test duration: 30 minutes.[5]

Ingress of water in harmful quantity
shall not be possible when the Tested with the lowest point of the
Immersion, up to enclosure is immersed in water enclosure 1000 mm below the surface of
7
1 m depth under defined conditions of
the water, or the highest point 150 mm
pressure and time (up to 1 m of
submersion). below the surface, whichever is deeper.

The equipment is suitable for

continuous immersion in water
under conditions which shall be
specified by the manufacturer.
However, with certain types of Test duration: agreement with
equipment, it can mean that water manufacturer
Immersion, 1 m or can enter but only in such a
8 Depth specified by manufacturer, generally
more depth manner that it produces no harmful
effects. The test depth and up to 3 m
duration is expected to be greater
than the requirements for IPx7, and
other environmental effects may be
added, such as temperature
cycling before immersion.
Protected against close-range high
pressure, high temperature spray
downs.
Smaller specimens rotate slowly on
a turntable, from 4 specific angles.
Larger specimens are mounted in Test duration: Fixture: 30 sec. in each of 4
the intended position when being angles (2 min. total), Freehand: 1 min/m2,
3 min. minimum
used, no turntable required, and
Powerful high Water volume: 14–16 litres per minute
9K temperature water are tested freehand for at least 3
jets Pressure: 8–10 MPa (80–100 bar) at
minutes at distance of 0.15–0.2 m.
distance of 0.10–0.15 m
The specific requirements for the Water temperature: 80 °C
test nozzle is shown in figures 7, 8,
& 9 of IEC (or EN) 60529.

This test is identified as IPx9 in IEC

60529.

(All tests with the letter "K" are defined by ISO 20653 (replacing DIN 40050-9) and are not found in IEC 60529, except for IPx9
which is the same as the IP69K water test.)

Additional letters
Further letters can be appended to provide additional information related to the protection of the device:
 Letter Meaning
C Protection against access with a tool
D Wire
f Oil resistant
H High voltage device
M Device moving during water test
S Device standing still during water test
W Weather conditions

The letter K is specified in DIN 40050-9, and not in IEC 60529.

IP69K and IPx9

DIN 40050-9 extended the older IEC 60529 rating system with an IP69K rating for high-pressure, high-temperature wash-down
applications.[6] Enclosures conforming with ISO 20653:2013 must not only be dust-tight (IP6X), but also able to withstand high-
pressure and steam cleaning.

The IP69K standard was originally developed for road vehicles—especially those that need regular intensive cleaning (dump
trucks, concrete mixers, etc.)—but it also finds use in other areas, such as food processing machinery and car wash systems. It
was superseded by ISO 20653:2013 Road Vehicles-Degrees of protection (IP code),[7] and complemented by the addition of a
level 9 water ingress testing to IEC 60529, which includes essentially the same spray test as IP69K, but also includes, in Figure
10, a drawing for a test fixture designed to verify the correct water pressure.

Test setup
The test specifies a spray nozzle that is fed with 80 °C water at 8–10 MPa (80–100 bar) and a flow rate of 14–16 L/min. The
nozzle is held 10–15 cm from the tested device at angles of 0°, 30°, 60° and 90° for 30 seconds each. The test device sits on a
turntable that completes a rotation once every 12 seconds (5 rpm). The IPx9 specification details a freehand method for testing
larger specimens that will not fit on a turntable (see table above). The free hand method also requires (at least) one additional
minute of spray time (1 min/m2, 3 min. minimum). The test distance also increases to .175 m (0.15–0.2 m per section 14.2.9).

North America (NEMA rating)

In the USA, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association defines NEMA enclosure types in NEMA standard number 250.
The following table outlines which IEC 60529 IP code each respective NEMA rating meets. Ratings between the two standards
are not directly equivalent: NEMA ratings also require additional product features and tests (such as functionality under icing
conditions, enclosures for hazardous areas, knock-outs for cable connections and others) not addressed by IP ratings.
 NEMA
IP Code
enclosure[8]
1 IP20
2 IP22
3, 3X, 3S,
IP55
3SX
3R, 3RX IP24
IP66 (https://www.nemaenclosures.com/enclosure-ratings/ip-enclosures/ip66-enclosures.ht
4, 4X ml), IP65 (https://www.nemaenclosures.com/enclosure-ratings/ip-enclosures/ip65-enclosure
s.html)
5 IP53
6 IP67
6P IP68
12, 12K, 13 IP54

Ingress Protection for consumer electronics

The inclusion of an Ingress Protection rating has become increasingly common for use in the consumer electronics market with
devices such as mobile phones, tablet computers and cameras now being sold as water resistant, waterproof and dustproof.

Some manufacturers have produced IP rated smartphones, aimed at consumers who are concerned about their handsets getting
submerged in liquids or getting covered in dust.

With the availability of portable devices, and the desire to get outside with active lifestyles, portable speakers have become
popular with the rugged consumer market for those who enjoy outdoor recreation, extreme sports as well.

See also
EN 62262 – IK code on resistance to mechanical impacts (Revoked 2002)
MIL-STD-810
U.S. Military connector specifications for military equivalents
Reference Chart (http://www.dsmt.com/resources/ip-rating-chart/) - Downloadable PDF reference chart for offline
use.
IP Rating Explained (https://www.audioreputation.com/ipx-ratings-explained/)
Water Resistant mark on wrist watches

References
1. IEC 60529, Edition 2.2, 2013, page 19
2. IEC 60529, Edition 2.2, 2013, page 21
3. Ingress Protection: The System of Tests and Meaning of Codes (https://www.webcitation.org/6DGYoRMwp?url=h
ttp://www.ce-mag.com/archive/06/ARG/bisenius.htm), archived from the original (http://www.ce-mag.com/archive/
06/ARG/bisenius.htm) on 2012-12-29 .
4. Table 8, IEC 60529, Edition 2.2, 2013
5. IEC 60529, table 8
6. DIN 40050-9: Straßenfahrzeuge; IP-Schutzarten; Schutz gegen Fremdkörper, Wasser und Berühren; Elektrische
Ausrüstung [Road vehicles; degrees of protection (IP-code); protection against foreign objects, water and impact;
electrical equipment], May 1993. An English translation of the German original is available from DIN.
 7. ISO 20653:2013 Road Vehicles-Degrees of protection (IP code) Protection of electrical equipment against foreign
objects, water and access
8. "NEMA Enclosure Types" (https://www.nema.org/Products/Documents/nema-enclosure-types.pdf) (pdf). National
Electrical Manufacturers Association. November 2005. pp. 7–9. Retrieved 10 January 2017.

External links
2001 edition of the standard (https://archive.org/details/gov.in.is.iec.60529.2001/)

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This page was last edited on 10 September 2019, at 09:04 (UTC).

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