A guide to the IP rating system
An IP (Ingress Protection) rating is used to specify the environmental protection of enclosures around electrical equipment. The IP rating is composed of two numbers, the first referring to the protection against solid objects and the second against liquids. The higher the number, the better the protection. Generally, Active Sensors range of products is designed for the highest of IP ratings, which are IP67, IP68 and IP69K. For quick reference, these are defined as:
- IP67 - Dust tight and protected against immersion
- IP68 - Dust tight and protected against continuous submersion
- IP69K - High-pressure, high-temperature wash-down applications
The first digit of the IP code indicates the degree that equipment is protected against solid foreign bodies intruding into an enclosure.
- No special protection
- Protected against solid objects up to 50mm Ø
- Protected against solid objects up to 12mm Ø
- Protected against solid objects up to 2.5mm Ø
- Protected against solid objects up to 1mm Ø
- Protected against dust, limited ingress (no harmful deposit)
- Totally protected against dust
The second digit indicates the degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against the harmful entry of various forms of moisture (e.g. dripping, spraying, submersion, etc.).
- No special protection
- Protection against vertically falling drops of water
- Protection against direct sprays of water up to 15 degrees from vertical
- Protection against direct sprays of water up to 60 degrees from vertical
- Protection against water sprayed from all directions - limited ingress permitted
- Protected against low pressure jets of water from all directions - limited ingress permitted
- Protected against low pressure jets of water, limited ingress permitted (example, ship deck)
- Protected against the effect of immersion between 15cm and 1m
- Protected against long periods of immersion under pressure