What is an IP Rating?
IP Rating (Ingress Protection Rating) is a standard that defines the level of protection that electrical or electronic devices have against dust and liquids. It follows the IEC 60529 standard issued by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
Structure of an IP Rating
An IP Rating consists of the letters "IP" followed by two digits, such as IP67:
- The first digit (protection against solid objects like dust)
- The second digit (protection against liquids like water)
Understanding IP Rating Numbers
First Digit (Dust/Solid Object Protection)
|
Value |
Protection Level |
|
0 |
No protection |
|
1 |
Protection against objects larger than 50 mm (e.g., a hand) |
|
2 |
Protection against objects larger than 12.5 mm (e.g., fingers) |
|
3 |
Protection against objects larger than 2.5 mm (e.g., wires, tools) |
|
4 |
Protection against objects larger than 1 mm (e.g., small wires) |
|
5 |
Partial dust protection (dust may enter but won't affect operation) |
|
6 |
Fully dust-tight |
Second Digit (Water Protection)
|
Value |
Protection Level |
|
0 |
No water protection |
|
1 |
Protection against vertically dripping water |
|
2 |
Protection against dripping water when tilted up to 15 degrees |
|
3 |
Protection against sprayed water at angles up to 60 degrees |
|
4 |
Protection against splashing water from all directions |
|
5 |
Protection against low-pressure water jets |
|
6 |
Protection against high-pressure water jets |
|
7 |
Protection against immersion in water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes |
|
8 |
Protection against immersion beyond 1 meter (as specified by the manufacturer) |
|
9K |
Protection against high-pressure, high-temperature water jets (e.g., car washes, industrial environments) |
Examples of IP Ratings in Use
- IP67 = Fully dust-tight + Water-resistant up to 1 meter for 30 minutes (e.g., flagship smartphones)
- IP68 = Fully dust-tight + Water-resistant beyond 1 meter (e.g., waterproof smartwatches)
- IP54 = Partial dust protection + Splash-resistant (e.g., standard wireless earbuds)
- IPX7 = No dust protection rating + Water-resistant up to 1 meter
If "X" appears in an IP Rating, such as IPX4, it means no testing data is available for that level (e.g., no dust protection testing).
Conclusion
An IP Rating helps determine how well a device is protected against dust and water. Higher numbers indicate better protection, making it easier to choose the right device based on its intended use.
