IP Ratings table explained, (ingress protection) for solids and liquids
A & R Engineering manufacture IP rated metal cabinets and enclosures to suit various conditions (as shown on the IP Rating list below).
In addition to our standard ranges of products we manufacture IP rated metal cabinets and enclosures for industrial and electrical use.
The IP (or “Ingress Protection”) is a rating international standard, EN 60529 (British BS EN 60529:1992, European IEC 60509:1989) are used to define levels of sealing effectiveness of enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies (solids, dust, dirt etc) and moisture.
This system is simple to understand and don’t let others tell you otherwise! The IP protection rating system refers to specific tests which are made up from two components.
The easiest way to explain this, is to take an example of say, IP56. The IP which as discussed above stands for ingress protection. The first digit concerns solid objects while the second digit is for liquids. The basic rule that applies is, the higher the number, then the better the protection.
| IP Ratings explained for Industrial Enclosures and Electrical Boxes. |
||
|---|---|---|
| Degree of Protection | 1st Digit(Solid Objects) | 2nd Digit(Liquids) |
| 0 | No Protection | No Protection |
| 1 | Protected against objects larger than 50mm |
Drip Proof |
| 2 | Protected against objects larger than 12mm |
Protected against direct sprays of water up to 15° from vertical |
| 3 | Protected against objects larger than 2.5mm |
Protected against direct sprays of water up to 60° from vertical -light rain proof |
| 4 | Protected against objects larger than 1mm |
Protected against water sprayed from all directions-light splash proof |
| 5 | Protected against dust limited ingress |
Protected against low pressure jets of water from all directions -limited ingress permitted |
| 6 | Totally protected against dust | Protected against low pressure jets of water (use on ship deck) -limited ingress permitted |
| 7 | Not Defined | Protected against the effect of immersion between 150mm & 1 metre |
| 8 | Not Defined | Protected against long periods of immersion under pressure |
An important point to note is EN 60529 does not specify the sealing effectiveness against the following:
1. Mechanical damage of equipment.
2. The risk of explosions.
3. Certain types of moisture conditions, an example say, those produced by condensation, corrosive vapours, vermin or fungus.
The above points for the IP rating system may, seem self explanatory, but still worth noting.
