IP Rating Guide

An IP (Ingress Protection) number is used to specify the enviromental protection of enclosures around electrical equipment. The IP number is composed of two numbers, the first being protection against solid objects and the second against liquids. The higher the number the better the protection.

 

IP Description - Protection against solid objects
0 No protection
1 Protected against solid objects up to 50mm2
2 Protected against solid objects up to 12mm2
3 Protected against solid objects up to 2.5mm2
4 Protected against solid objects up to 1mm2
5 Protected against dust, limited ingression
6 Totally protected against dust

 

IP Description - Protection against water
0 No protection
1 Protected against vertically falling drops of water
2 Protected against direct sprays of water up to 15 degrees from vertical
3 Protected against direct sprays of water up to 60 degrees from vertical
4 Protected against water sprayed from all directions, limited ingress
5 Protected against low pressure jets of water sprayed from all directions, limited ingress
6 Protected against strong jets of water
7 Protected against the effects of immersion between 15cm and 1m
8 Protected against longer periods of immersion under pressure