IP is the abbreviation of Ingress Protection. The IP rating is the degree of protection against the intrusion of foreign objects in the enclosure of electrical equipment. The source is the standard IEC 60529 of the International Electrotechnical Commission. This standard was also adopted as the American national standard in 2004.
The IP level is composed of two numbers. The first number means dustproof; the second number means waterproof. The larger the number, the better the protection level.
Table 1 (IP dustproof rating)
Number | Protection range | Illustrate |
0 | No protection | No special protection for people or things outside |
1 | Prevent the intrusion of solid foreign objects with a diameter greater than 50mm | Prevent the human body (such as the palm) from accidentally contacting the internal parts of the appliance, and prevent the intrusion of foreign objects of larger size (diameter greater than 50mm) |
2 | Prevent the intrusion of solid foreign objects with a diameter greater than 12mm | Prevent people's fingers from touching the internal parts of the appliance, and prevent foreign objects of medium size (diameter greater than 12.5mm) from intruding |
3 | Prevent the intrusion of solid foreign objects larger than 2.5mm in diameter | Prevent tools, wires and similar small foreign objects with a diameter or thickness greater than 2.5mm from intruding and contacting the internal parts of the appliance |
4 | Prevent the intrusion of solid foreign objects larger than 1.0mm in diameter | Prevent tools, wires and similar small foreign objects with a diameter or thickness greater than 1.0mm from intruding and contacting the internal parts of the appliance |
5 | Prevent foreign objects and dust | Completely prevent the intrusion of foreign objects. Although the intrusion of dust cannot be completely prevented, the amount of dust intrusion will not affect the normal operation of the electrical appliance |
6 | Prevent foreign objects and dust | Completely prevent the intrusion of foreign objects and dust |
Table 2 (IP waterproof rating)
Number | Protection range | Illustrate |
0 | No protection | No special protection against water or humidity |
1 | Prevent the intrusion of water droplets | Vertically falling water droplets (such as condensed water) will not cause damage to the appliance |
2 | When tilted 15 degrees, it can still prevent the intrusion of water droplets | When the appliance is tilted from vertical to 15 degrees, dripping water will not cause damage to the appliance |
3 | Prevent the intrusion of sprayed water | Rainproof or prevent the water sprayed in the direction with an angle of less than 60 degrees from the vertical from entering the appliance and causing damage |
4 | Prevent splashing water intrusion | Prevent water splashing from all directions from entering the appliance and causing damage |
5 | Prevent the intrusion of sprayed water | Prevent the water from the nozzle from intruding into the appliance from all directions and causing damage |
6 | Prevent big waves from invading | Electrical appliances installed on the deck can prevent damage caused by strong waves |
7 | Prevent water intrusion during flooding | The appliance is immersed in water for a certain period of time or the water pressure is below a certain standard to ensure that it will not be damaged due to immersion |
8 | Prevent water intrusion when sinking | The appliance is submerged indefinitely under the specified water pressure, which can ensure that it will not be damaged due to flooding |