IP Ratings Explained
IP Code
The IP Code (or International Protection Rating, sometimes also interpreted as Ingress Protection Rating) consists of letters IP followed by two digits and an optional letter.
First Digit: Solids
The first digit indicates the degree that persons are protected against contact with live parts and the degree that equipment is protected against the ingress of solid foreign objects.
| First Digit | Protection | Description |
| 0 | Not protected | No protection against contact and ingress of objects |
| 1 | Objects greater than 50mm | Any large surface of the body, such as the back of the hand but no protection against deliberate access |
| 2 | Objects greater than 12.5mm | Fingers or similar objects |
| 3 | Objects greater than 2.5mm | Tools, thick wires etc |
| 4 | Objects greater than 1.0mm | Most wires, screws etc |
| 5 | Dust protected | Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with satisfactory operation of the equipment |
| 6 | Dust tight | No ingress of dust |
Second Digit: Liquids
The second digit indicates the degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against the harmful ingress of water.
| Second Digit | Protection | Description |
| 0 | Not protected | Not protection against ingress of water |
| 1 | Vertically dripping water | Dripping water (vertically falling drops) shall have no harmful effect |
| 2 | Dripping water tilted to 15° | Vertically dripping water shall have no harmful effect when the enclosure is tilted at an angle up to 15° from its normal position |
| 3 | Spraying water | Water falling as a spray at any angle up to 60° from the vertical shall have no harmful effect |
| 4 | Splashing water | Water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect |
| 5 | Water jets | Water projected by a nozzle (6.3mm) against enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects |
| 6 | Powerful water jets | Water projected in powerful jets (12.5mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects |
| 7 | Immersion up to 1m | Ingress of water in harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time (up to 1m of submersion) |
| 8 | Immersion beyond 1m | The equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water under conditions which shall be specified by the manufacture. Normally this will mean that the equipment is hermetically sealed. However with certain types of equipment it can mean that water can enter but only in such a manner that it produces no harmful effects. |
