UNDERSTANDING THE INGRESS PROTECTION SYSTEM

The IEC IP classification system designates the degree of protection provided by an enclosure
against impact and/or water or dust penetration (ingress). It has two numbers; first—protection
against solid objects, second protection against water.
EXAMPLE: IP 54
1st Figure: 2nd Figure:
protection against solid bodies protection against liquids
IP TESTS IP TESTS
0 No protection 0 No protection

Protected against Protected against

solid bodies larger
1 than 50mm
(e.g. accidental
contact with the
hand)
Protected against
solid bodies larger
2 than 12.5mm
(e.g. finger of the
hand)
Protected against
solid bodies larger
3 than 2.5mm
(tools, wires)
Protection against
solid bodies larger
4 than 1mm (fine
tools, small wires)
vertically-falling
1 drops of water
(condensation)
Protected against
drops of water
2 falling at up to 15˚
from the vertical
Protected against
drops of rainwater
3 at up to 60˚ from
the vertical
Protected against
projections of
4 water from all
directions
Protected against
5 jets of water from
all directions

Protected against Completely protected

5 dust (no harmful against jets of
deposit) 6 water of similar
force to heavy seas
Completely protected
6 against dust Protected against
7 the effects of
15 cm
1m

mini

immersion

IP RATINGS DO NOT INDICATE ANY DEGREE OF CORROSION RESISTANCE.

Conversion of NEMA Enclosure Type numbers to IEC Classification Designations
(Cannot be used to convert IEC Classification Designations to NEMA Type numbers)
NEMA ENCLOSURE TYPE NUMBER IEC ENCLOSURE CLASSIFICATION DESIGNATION
1 IP10
2 IP11
3 IP54
3R IP54
3S IP54
4 AND 4X IP56
5 IP52
6 AND 6P IP67
12 AND 12K IP52
13 IP54