IP & IK Rating of Electrical

Enclosures

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IP Rating

The International Electrotechnical Commission or IEC provides Ingress Protection (IP)

ratings that are used to determine the degree of protection provided by an electrical
enclosure.

The IP code, Ingress Protection Rating, sometimes also interpreted as International

Protection Rating, classifies and rates the degree of protection provided against the intrusion
of solid objects (including body parts like hands and fingers), dust, accidental contact and
water in mechanical casings and with electrical enclosures.

IEC 60529 is the standard for IP Rating.

What do the numbers represent?

IP6X
The first number designates protection against solid objects.

IPX8
The second number designates protection against water.

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IK Rating

IK rating is an international numeric classification for the degrees of protection provided by

enclosures for electrical equipments against external mechanical impact. It provides a
means of specifying the capacity of an enclosure to protect its contents from external
impacts.

IK rating has two digits which specify the mechanical impact that an enclosure can
withstand. This mechanical impact is identified by the energy needed to qualify a specified
resistance level, which is measured in joule (J).

EN/IEC 62262 is the standard for IK Rating.

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Why are IP & IK Ratings Used?

It is important to know how surrounding environment affects the performance of electrical
equipments. When an electrical enclosure is installed, it is important to know how the
intrusion of dirt, water & mechanical impact of solid objects affect the device.

Terms such as ‘Completely Dust Protected’ or ‘Waterproof’ do not give a clear idea of the
degree of protection that the enclosure provides to its equipments. Thus, IP rating gives a
clear picture of the degree of protection.

During the operation of the enclosure (especially those installed in outdoor units), it may be
subjected to various types of mechanical impacts. An impact is a large force acting on a
body for a small interval of time. If the enclosure does not withstand the mechanical impact,
the electrical equipments which it contains might get damaged leading malfunction/reduced
efficiency of the system , accidents/ hazardous situations. In this context, it is very important
to know the IK rating of the enclosure.

Thus, IP and IK rating indicate to what extent the electrical equipments contained in the
enclosure are safe and necessary operating procedures have to be adopted so as to adhere
to the standards and assure quality and safety.

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IP Rating – Solid Ingress Protection

IP 00 No protection against contact and ingress of objects

IP 1X Protected against solid bodies larger than 50mm (ex.
Accidental contact with the hand)
IP 2X Protected against solid bodies larger than 12.5mm (ex.
contact with finger of the hand)
IP 3X Protected against solid bodies larger than 2.5mm (ex.
tools and wires)
IP 4X Protected against solid bodies larger than 1mm (eg. fine
tools and small wires)
IP 5X Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not
enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with the
satisfactory operation of the equipment; complete
protection against contact
IP6X No ingress of dust; complete protection against contact

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IP 4X Testing in PowerBus Project

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IP 5X Testing in PowerBus Project

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 IP Rating – Liquid Ingress Protection
IP 00 No protection

IP X1 Dripping water (vertically falling drops) shall have no harmful

effect.
IP X2 Vertically dripping water shall have no harmful effect when the
enclosure is tilted at an angle up to 15°from its n ormal position.
IP X3 Water falling as a spray at any angle up to 60°from the vertical
shall have no harmful effect.
IP X4 Water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall
have no harmful effect.
IP X5 Water projected by a nozzle (6.3 mm) against enclosure from
any direction shall have no harmful effects.
IP X6 Water projected in powerful jets (12.5 mm nozzle) against the
enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects.
IP X7 Protected against immersion up to 1m.
IP X8 Protected against immersion beyond 1m.

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IP X4 Testing in PowerBus Project

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IP X7 Testing For Sony Xperia Z Mobile

Sony Xperia Z Mobile is designed for IP 57.

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 IP Rating - Illustrations
Steel Floor - Standing Enclosure

IP Rating: IP 55

Explanation: 5 - Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented,

but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with
the satisfactory operation of the equipment; complete
protection against contact.
5 - Water projected by a nozzle (6.3 mm) against enclosure
from any direction shall have no harmful effects.

IK Rating: IK 10 (IK 08 for transparent doors)

Explanation: IK 10 – Protection against drop of 5 kg object from 40 cm height

Impact Energy - 20J
IK 08 – Protection against drop of 1.7 kg object from 30 cm height
Impact Energy – 5J

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IP Rating – Illustrations Contd…
Steel Wall - Mounting Enclosure

IP Rating: IP 66 (Single Door) & IP 55 (Double Door)

Explanation: 6 - No ingress of dust; complete protection

against contact from solid objects.
6 - Water projected in powerful jets (12.5 mm nozzle)
against the enclosure from any direction shall have no
harmful effects.

IK Rating: IK 10 (Plain Door) & IK 08 (Glazed Door)

Explanation: IK 10 – Protection against drop of 5 kg object from 40 cm height

Impact Energy - 20J
IK 08 – Protection against drop of 1.7 kg object from 30 cm height
Impact Energy – 5J

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 IK Rating
Impact Test Characteristics

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IK Rating
IK00 Not protected

IK01 Protected against 0.14 joules impact.

Equivalent to impact of 0.25 kg mass dropped from 56 mm above impacted surface.

IK02 Protected against 0.2 joules impact.

Equivalent to impact of 0.25 kg mass dropped from 80 mm above impacted surface.

IK03 Protected against 0.35 joules impact.

Equivalent to impact of 0.25 kg mass dropped from 140 mm above impacted surface.

IK04 Protected against 0.5 joules impact.

Equivalent to impact of 0.25 kg mass dropped from 200 mm above impacted surface.

IK05 Protected against 0.7 joules impact.

Equivalent to impact of 0.25 kg mass dropped from 280 mm above impacted surface.

IK06 Protected against 1 joules impact.

Equivalent to impact of 0.25 kg mass dropped from 400 mm above impacted surface.

IK07 Protected against 2 joules impact.

Equivalent to impact of 0.5 kg mass dropped from 400 mm above impacted surface.

IK08 Protected against 5 joules impact.

Equivalent to impact of 1.7 kg mass dropped from 300 mm above impacted surface.

IK09 Protected against 10 joules impact.

Equivalent to impact of 5 kg mass dropped from 200 mm above impacted surface.

IK10 Protected against 20 joules impact.

Equivalent to impact of 5 kg mass dropped from 400 mm above impacted surface.

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 Thank You

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