IEC/EN 60259 Protection Degrees Provided by Enclosures (IP Code) Test Standard

The IEC/EN 60259 standard typically applies to commercial products and their ability to prevent the environment from interfering with a product's operation. Ratings are identified by the letters IP followed by two numbers and an optional letter.

As defined in the international standard IEC 60529, it classifies the degrees of protection provided against solid objects (including body parts such as hands and fingers), dust, accidental contact and the intrusion of water in electrical enclosures. The standard aims to provide users with more detailed information than vague marketing terms such as waterproof.

IP Code, International Protection Mark, IEC 60529, sometimes interpreted as Ingress Protection Mark, classifies and rates the degree of protection provided by mechanical enclosures and electrically against intrusion (body parts such as hands and fingers), dust, accidental contact and water. enclosures. It is published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

The standard aims to provide users with more detailed information than vague marketing terms such as waterproof. The numbers (characteristic figures) indicate compliance with the conditions summarized in the tables below. When there is no data available to indicate a degree of protection for one of the criteria, the number is replaced with the letter X. The number 0 is used when protection is not provided.

An X rating for one or more of the protection criteria may be erroneously interpreted as “no protection”. As an example, a piece of electronic equipment rated IPX7 will almost certainly show solid resistance to particle ingress, even if a rating for solids ingress has not been officially assigned. Therefore, an X designation should not automatically be misunderstood as a lack of protection.

For example, a cell phone with an IP58 rating is "dust resistant" and can be "submerged in 30 meters of fresh water for up to 1,5 minutes". Similarly, an IP22 rated electrical outlet is finger-proof and will not be damaged or rendered unsafe during a particular test where it is exposed to vertically or vertically dripping water. IP22 or 2X are typical minimum requirements for the design of electrical accessories for indoor use.

Water ingress ratings are not cumulative beyond IPX6. A device compliant with IPX7, which covers submersion, need not be compliant with IPX5 or IPX6, which covers exposure to water jets. A device that meets both tests is indicated by listing both tests separated by a slash, for example IPX5/IPX7.

There are no dashes in an original IP code. IPX-8 (for example) is therefore an incorrect IP code. As of 2013, IEC 60529 has been updated to include the IPX9 water ingress test. This test looks identical to the IP40050K test from DIN 9-69.

EUROLAB experts have years of experience in enclosure design, electronics as well as coatings, adhesives and gaskets. This experience with a wide range of sizes and types of protection allows us to add value and find quick solutions. In addition, our ability to manage tests and develop appropriate test plans ensures that results are meaningful and programs run efficiently.

Our organization provides IEC/EN 60259 Protection Degrees Provided by Enclosures (IP Code) Test Standard services within the framework of national and international standards, with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment, among numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies. .