Ingress Protection (IP) Explained

The IP Rating (International Protection Rating) consists of the letters IP followed by two numbers and sometimes an optional letter. Products that have an IP rating will be able to operate in hazardous environments and will be protected against, depending on the IP rating, the intrusion of solid objects such as hands, fingers, accidental contact, dust and water in enclosed electrical enclosures.

The first digit in the IP rating indicates the level of ingress protection against SOLIDS, while the second number indicates the level of ingress protection against LIQUIDS. The IP rating helps users to classify the different degrees of protection.

Use the chart below to easily find which IP rating you have or require:

IP NumberSolid Ingressliquid Ingress
IP54 Limited protection Water spray from any direction, Limited protection
IP55 Limited protection Low pressure water jets from any direction, Limited protection
IP56 Limited protection Low pressure water jets from any direction, Limited protection
IP57 Limited protection Protected against immersion up to 1metre in depth, Limited protection
IP58 Limited protection Protected against long term immersion up to a specific pressure, Limited protection
IP60 Total protection No protection
IP61 Total protection Protected from condensation
IP62 Total protection Protected from water spray less than 15 degrees from vertical
IP63 Total protection Protected from water spray less than 60 degrees from vertical
IP64 Total protection protection from water spay in any direction
IP65 Total protection Protected from low pressure water jets in any direction
IP66 Total protection Protected from high pressure water jets in any direction
IP67 Total protection Protected against immersion up to 1metre in depth
IP68 Total protection Protected against long term immersion up to a specific pressure
IP69K Total protection Protected from steam-jet streaming