IP Rating
IP rating is an international standard used to define the level of ingress protection (IP) for electrical enclosures. The first number defines the level of protection against foreign objects (i.e. fingers, dust), and the second number defines the level of protection against moisture. So, an IP 54 enclosure would be dust tight and resistant to water spray.
| First Number | Definition | Second Number | Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | No Protection | 0 | No Protection |
| 1 | Protected against solid objects over 45mm | 1 | Protected against vertically falling drops of water |
| 2 | Protected against solid objects over 12mm | 2 | Protected against direct spray up to 15 degrees from vertical |
| 3 | Protected against solid objects over 2.5mm | 3 | Protected against direct spray up to 60 degrees from vertical |
| 4 | Protected against solid objects over 1mm | 4 | Protected against spray from all directions – limited ingress permitted |
| 5 | Protected against dust – limited ingress | 5 | Protected against low pressure jets of water from all directions – limited ingress permitted |
| 6 | Completely protected against dust | 6 | Protected against strong jets of water – limited ingress permitted |
| 7 | Protected against the effects of temporary immersion between 15cm and 1m for 30 min | ||
| 8 | Protected against long periods of immersion under pressure |