IP Code

IP Code or Ingress Protection Code is defined in IEC 60529 which classifies and provides a guideline to
the degree of protection provided by mechanical casings and electrical enclosures against intrusion, dust,
accidental contact, and water. It is published in the European Union by CENELEC as 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 IP67 is "dust resistant" and can be "immersed in 1
meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes". Similarly, an electrical socket rated IP22 is protected against
insertion of fingers and will not 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. The device can become less capable, however it cannot become
unsafe.

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

Contents
Code breakdown
First digit: Solid particle protection
Second digit: Liquid ingress protection
Additional letter (optional)
Supplementary letter (optional)
IP69K and IPx9
Test setup
United States (NEMA rating)
Waterproofness without IP rating
See also
References
External links

Code breakdown
This table shows what each digit or part of the IP code represents.[2]
 IP codes

Third digit:
First characteristic Second digit: Additional Supplementary
Code Mechanical
numeral: Solid Liquid ingress letter: Other letter: Other
letters impact
particle protection protection protections protections
resistance
IP
Single numeral: 0–6 or Single numeral: Single numeral:
(Ingress Single letter Single letter
letter X 0–8 or letter X 0–9
Protection)
Mandatory Mandatory Mandatory No longer used Optional Optional

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.[3]

Level Effective
Description
sized against
X means there is no data available to specify a protection rating with regard to this
X —
criterion.
0 — No protection against contact and ingress of objects
> 50 mm Any large surface of the body, such as the back of a hand, but no protection against
1
2.0 in deliberate contact with a body part
> 12.5 mm
2 Fingers or similar objects
0.49 in
> 2.5 mm
3 Tools, thick wires, etc.
0.098 in
> 1 mm
4 Most wires, slender screws, large ants etc.
0.039 in
Dust Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to
5
protected interfere with the safe 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 airflow.

Second digit: Liquid ingress protection

The second digit indicates the level of protection that the enclosure provides against harmful ingress of
water.[1] The ratings for water ingress are not cumulative beyond IPX6. A device that is compliant with
IPX7 (covering immersion in water) is not necessarily compliant with IPX5 or IPX6 (covering exposure to
water jets). A device that meets both tests is indicated by listing both tests separated by a slash, e.g.
IPX5/IPX7.
 Protection
Level Effective against Details
against
X means there is no data available to
X50 —13 —21 specify a protection rating with regard
to these criteria.
0 None — No protection against ingress of water
Test duration: 10 minutes
Dripping water (vertically falling drops) shall
have no unsafe effect on the specimen
1 Dripping water
when mounted in an upright position onto a
Water equivalent to 1 mm
turntable and rotated at 1 RPM. (0.039 in) rainfall per minute

Test duration: 2.5 minutes for every

Vertically dripping water shall have no direction of tilt (10 minutes total)
Dripping water harmful effect when the enclosure is tilted
2 when tilted at at an angle of 15° from its normal position.
15° A total of four positions are tested within
Water equivalent to 3 mm
two axes. (0.12 in) rainfall per minute

For a spray nozzle:

Water falling as a spray at any angle up to
60° from the vertical shall have no harmful
effect, utilizing either: a) an oscillating
fixture, or b) A spray nozzle with a
counterbalanced shield.
Test a) is conducted for 5 minutes,
3 Spraying water
then repeated with the specimen
rotated horizontally by 90° for the
second 5-minute test. Test b) is
conducted (with shield in place) for
5 minutes minimum.
Test duration: 1 minute per
square meter for at least
5 minutes[4] Water volume: 10
liters per minute
(0.037 impgal/s) Pressure: 50–
150 kPa (7.3–21.8 psi)
For an oscillating tube: Test
duration: 10 minutes Water
volume: 0.07 liters per minute
(0.00026 impgal/s) per hole

Water splashing against the enclosure from

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

Test duration: 1 minute per square

meter for at least 3 minutes

Water projected by a nozzle (6.3 mm Water volume: 12.5 litres per

5 Water jets (0.25 in)) against enclosure from any minute Pressure: 30 kPa
direction shall have no harmful effects.
(4.4 psi) at distance of 3 meters
(9.8 ft)

6 Powerful water Water projected in powerful jets (12.5 mm Test duration: 1 minute per square
jets (0.49 in)) against the enclosure from any meter for at least 3 minutes
direction shall have no harmful effects.
 Water volume: 100 liters per
minute (0.37 impgal/s)
Pressure: 100 kPa (15 psi) at
distance of 3 meters (9.8 ft)

Test duration: at least 3 minutes

Water projected in powerful jets (6.3 mm
Powerful water
(0.25 in) nozzle) against the enclosure from Water volume: 75 liters per
jets with minute (0.27 impgal/s)
6K any direction, under elevated pressure,
increased
shall have no harmful effects. Found in Pressure: 1,000 kPa (150 psi)
pressure
DIN 40050, and not IEC 60529.
at distance of 3 meters (9.8 ft)

Test duration: 30 minutes.[3]

Ingress of water in harmful quantity shall

Tested with the lowest point of
Immersion, up not be possible when the enclosure is the enclosure 1,000 mm (39 in)
7 to 1 meter (3 ft immersed in water under defined conditions below the surface of the water,
3 in) depth of pressure and time (up to 1 meter (3 ft or the highest point 150 mm
3 in) of submersion).
(5.9 in) below the surface,
whichever is deeper.

The equipment is suitable for continuous

immersion in water under conditions which
Test duration: agreement with
shall be specified by the manufacturer.
manufacturer
However, with certain types of equipment,
Immersion, 1 it can mean that water can enter but only in
8 meter (3 ft 3 in) such a manner that it produces no harmful Depth specified by the
or more depth effects. The test depth and duration is manufacturer, generally up to 3
expected to be greater than the meters (9.8 ft)
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
the intended position when being
used, no turntable required, and
Powerful high- are tested freehand for at least 3
9K temperature minutes at a distance of 0.15–0.2
water jets meters (5.9 in – 7.9 in).
The specific requirements for the
test nozzle are shown in figures 7,
8, & 9 of IEC (or EN) 60529.
Test duration: Fixture: 30 sec. in each
of 4 angles (2 min. total), Freehand: 1
min/m2, 3 min. minimum
Water volume: 14–16 liters per
minute (0.051–0.059 impgal/s)
Pressure: 8–10 MPa (80–
100 bar) at distance of 0.10–
0.15 meters (3.9 in – 5.9 in)
Water temperature: 80 °C
(176 °F)

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 letter (optional)

For the protection of personnel against access to hazardous parts with:

Letter Meaning
A Back of hand
B Finger
C Tool
D Wire

Supplementary letter (optional)

For the protection of equipment specific to:

Letter Meaning
F Oil resistant
H High voltage apparatus
M Motion during water test
S Stationary 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 newer IEC 60529 rating system with an IP69K rating for high-pressure, high-
temperature wash-down applications.[5] 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),[6] 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 of the
standard, 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).
United States (NEMA rating)
In the U.S., 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
guideline 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 enclosure[7] IP Code

1 IP20
2 IP22
3, 3X, 3S, 3SX IP55
3R, 3RX IP24
4, 4X IP44, IP66, IP65
5 IP53
6 IP67
6P IP68
12, 12K, 13 IP54

Waterproofness without IP rating

There is a common misconception that smartphones that have no IP rating are equal to having no water
resistance at all. Due to the high cost of getting IP certified, many companies make products waterproof
without certifying them to reduce overhead costs.[8]

See also
Appliance classes
EN 62262 – IK code on resistance to mechanical impacts
MIL-STD-810
U.S. Military connector specifications for military equivalents
Water Resistant mark on wrist watches

References
1. Ingress Protection: The System of Tests and Meaning of Codes (https://www.webcitation.org/
6DGYoRMwp?url=http://www.ce-mag.com/archive/06/ARG/bisenius.htm), archived from the
original (http://www.ce-mag.com/archive/06/ARG/bisenius.htm) on 29 December 2012.
2. Source IEx. "Degrees of Protection" (http://www.sourceiex.com/Catalogs/IP%20Degress%2
0Testing%20Details.pdf) (PDF).
3. International Electrotechnical Commission (2013). IEC 60529 - Degrees of protection
provided by enclosures (IP Code). International standard (2.2 ed.). p. 21.
ISBN 9782832210864. OCLC 864643678 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/864643678).
4. IEC 60529 2013, p. 27.
 5. 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.
6. ISO 20653:2013 Road Vehicles-Degrees of protection (IP code) Protection of electrical
equipment against foreign objects, water and access
7. "NEMA Enclosure Types" (https://www.nema.org/Products/Documents/nema-enclosure-type
s.pdf) (PDF). National Electrical Manufacturers Association. November 2005. pp. 7–9.
Retrieved 10 January 2017.
8. Jhaveri, Aakash (22 March 2019). "Explained: Smartphone Waterproofing and IP Ratings" (h
ttps://in.mashable.com/tech/2637/explained-smartphone-waterproofing-and-ip-ratings).
Mashable India. Retrieved 9 April 2022.

External links
2004 version of the standard (https://www.nema.org/Standards/ComplimentaryDocuments/A
NSI-IEC-60529.pdf)

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=IP_Code&oldid=1088210042"

This page was last edited on 16 May 2022, at 19:14 (UTC).

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may apply. By
using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.