IP RATINGS EXPLAINED
IP (Ingress Protection) ratings are defined in international standard EN 60529 (British BS EN 60529:1992, European IEC 60509:1989). They are used to define levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies (tools, dirt etc) and moisture.
The numbers that follow IP each have a specific meaning. The first indicates the degree of protection of people from moving parts, as well as the protection of enclosed equipment from foreign bodies. The second defines the protection level that the enclosure enjoys from various forms of moisture (drips, sprays, submersion etc). The tables below should help make sense of it.
IP Ratings, what they mean.
| IP | First digit: Ingress of solid objects |
Second digit: Ingress of liquids/moisture |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No protection | No protection |
| 1 | Protected against solid objects over 50mm e.g. hands, large tools. | Protected against vertically falling drops of water or condensation. |
| 2 | Protected against solid objects over 12.5mm e.g. hands, large tools. | Protected against falling drops of water, if the case is disposed up to 15 from vertical. |
| 3 | Protected against solid objects over 2.5mm e.g. wire, small tools. | Protected against water sprays from any direction, even if the case is disposed up to 60from vertical. |
| 4 | Protected against solid objects over 1.0mm e.g. wires. | Protected against splash water from any direction. |
| 5 | Limited protection against dust ingress. (harmless) | Protected against low pressure water jets from any direction. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 6 | Totally protected against dust ingress. | Protected against high pressure water jets from any direction. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 7 | N/A | Protected against short periods of immersion in water. |
| 8 | N/A | Protected against long, durable periods of immersion in water. |
| 9 | N/A | Protected against close-range high pressure, high temperature spray downs. |
Please note: “Our enclosures are not Ingress Protection certified” These details are given only for information purpose.
ABOUT UL 94 STANDARD
UL 94, the Standard for Safety of Flammability of Plastic Materials for Parts in Devices and Appliances testing.
HB: slow burning on a horizontal specimen; burning rate < 76 mm/min for thickness < 3 mm or burning stops before 100 mm.
V-0: burning stops within 10 seconds on a vertical specimen; drips of particles allowed as long as they are not inflamed.
V-1: burning stops within 30 seconds on a vertical specimen; drips of particles allowed as long as they are not inflamed.
V-2: burning stops within 30 seconds on a vertical specimen; drips of flaming particles are allowed.
MORE INFORMATION
All our enclosures are molded in virgin ABS plastic HI121 (Flammability UL94 HB). We also do molding in V-0 (UL94) standard materials. Before molding, color pigment and plastic granules are mixed in a mixer and there after kept for preheating in oven so that all the moisture releases out of the granules. After one hour of preheating @ 90 to 100 degree celsius these granules are ready to mould and are transferred to the hopper of molding machine. Deformation temperature of enclosure is 120 to 140 degree and melting point is 160 to 220 degree depending on thickness of the enclosure.