IEC 60529 IP Rating Ingress Protection Test

While IP testing is optional under IEC 60529, specifiers and buyers often request an IP Rating to verify the acceptability of your lighting product for use in outdoor or industrial applications.

We certify that your product's enclosure will withstand moisture and dust and will perform as expected in environments where these conditions are common. With IP testing in accordance with IEC 60529, you can confidently stand behind your performance claims.

When water or dust enters the device, electrical and electronic devices break down or malfunction. The IEC has developed ingress protection (IP) ratings that rate an enclosure's resistance to the ingress of dust or liquids. Ratings are widely used throughout the industry.

In recent years, many consumers have become interested in smartphone features that include liquid and dust resistance. However, it can be difficult to evaluate the meaning of terms such as waterproof or water resistant when used for marketing purposes.

IEC 60529 was developed to grade and rate the resistance of enclosures of electrical and electronic equipment to the ingress of dust and liquids. It also assesses how easy it is for individuals to access potentially hazardous parts within the enclosure.

The Ingress Protection rating can be additional proof of product quality validation that gives you the competitive edge you are looking for. This standard is typically applied to commercial products and their ability to prevent the environment from interfering with the operation of a product. 

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 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 against intrusion (body parts such as hands and fingers), dust, accidental contact and mechanical sheaths and electrical water. enclosures. It is published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The equivalent British standard is EN 60529.

The standard aims to provide users with more detailed information than vague marketing terms such as waterproof. The numbers (characteristic numbers) indicate compliance with the conditions summarized in the tables below. When no data is available to indicate a protection rating for one of the criteria, the number is replaced with the letter X. The number 0 is used when no protection is provided.

The IEC has established an enclosure rating system that produces an IP rating. (For example, IP 54 - "5" is the first character - see tables I and II. "4" is the second character - see table III).  

Table I - Degrees of Protection Against Hazardous Parts

The degree of protection is indicated by the first characteristic number.

First Characteristic Figure	short description	Term
0	Unprotected
1	Protected against access to dangerous parts with the back of a hand.	The 50 mm ø ball access probe shall have sufficient clearance from hazardous parts.
2	Protected against finger access to dangerous parts.	The 12 mm ø, 80 mm long articulated test finger must have sufficient clearance from the dangerous parts.
3	Protected against access to hazardous parts with a tool.	The 2,5 mm ø access probe must not go in.
4	Protected against access to hazardous parts with a cable.	The 1.0 mm ø access probe must not go in.
5	Protected against access to hazardous parts with a cable.	The 1.0 mm ø access probe must not go in.
6	Protected against access to hazardous parts with a cable.	The 1.0 mm ø access probe must not go in.

Note: The initial characteristic numbers 3, 4, 5 and 6 provide protection against access to hazardous parts when sufficient clearance is provided.
Due to the simultaneous requirement stated in Table II, the definition of “will not pierce” is given in Table I.  

Table II - Degrees of Protection Against Solid Foreign Objects

The degree of protection is indicated by the first characteristic number.

First Characteristic Figure	short description	Term
0	Unprotected
1	Protected against solid foreign bodies of 50 mm ø and larger.	The 50 mm ø spherical object probe will not fully penetrate.¹
2	Protected against solid foreign bodies of 12,5 mm ø and larger.	The 12,5 mm ø spherical object probe will not fully penetrate.¹
3	Protected against solid foreign bodies of 2,5 mm ø and larger.	The 2,5 mm ø object probe will not penetrate at all.¹
4	Protected against solid foreign bodies of 1.0 mm ø and larger.	The 1.0 mm ø object probe will not penetrate at all.¹
5	Dust protected	The ingress of dust is not completely prevented, but the amount of dust must not enter to interfere with satisfactory operation of the device or impair safety.
6	Dustproof	No dust ingress

¹ The full diameter of the object probe must not pass through an opening in the housing.  

Table III - Degrees of Protection Against Water

The degree of protection is indicated by the second characteristic number

Second Characteristic Figure	short description	Term
0	Unprotected
1	Protected against vertically falling water drops	Vertically falling drops will have no harmful effects.
2	Protected against vertically falling water drops when the enclosure is tilted up to 15°.	Vertically falling drops shall have no detrimental effect when the enclosure is tilted at any angle up to 15° on either side of the vertical.
3	Protected against splashing water.	Water sprayed at any angle up to 60° on either side of the vertical will have no harmful effects.
4	Protected against splashing water	Water splashing into the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect.
5	Protected against water jets	Water sprayed against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect.
6	Protected against strong water jets	Water sprayed into the enclosure by strong jets from any direction will have no harmful effects.
7	Protected against the effects of temporary immersion in water.	When the enclosure is temporarily submerged under standardized pressure and time conditions, ingress of water in quantities that cause harmful effects will not be possible.
8	Protected against the effects of continuous immersion in water.	If the enclosure is continuously immersed in water under conditions agreed between the manufacturer and the user, but more severe than the figure 7, ingress of water in quantities causing harmful effects will not be possible.

NEMA to IEC converter

Enclosure Degree Cross-Reference¹ 
(CANNOT be used to convert IEC Classification definitions to NEMA Type Ratings)

NEMA Type	IP20	IP22	IP24	IP54	IP55	IP66	IP67
1	●
2		●
3					●
3R			●
4						●
4X						●
6							●
12, 12K				●
13				●

EUROLAB, together with its state-of-the-art accredited laboratories and expert team, helps you get precise and fast results within the scope of the IEC 60529 test.