When shopping for electronics or outdoor equipment, you may notice labels like IP44, IP54, or IP55 on the products or their packaging. But what do these codes signify? These are international standards that indicate the level of protection a product has against the ingress of solid objects and liquids. In this guide, we’ll demystify what an IP rating means, how to interpret these codes, and delve into the specifics of various protection levels.
What is an IP Rating?
The term “IP” stands for “Ingress Protection.” This rating system is designed to provide detailed information about how well a product can resist the intrusion of dust and water. The two digits following “IP” each have specific meanings:
- First Digit: Indicates the level of protection against solid objects.
- Second Digit: Indicates the level of protection against liquids.
Breakdown of Common IP Ratings
Solid Object Protection (First Digit)
- 0: No protection.
- 1: Protected against solid objects over 50mm (e.g., hands).
- 2: Protected against solid objects over 12.5mm (e.g., fingers).
- 3: Protected against solid objects over 2.5mm (e.g., wires).
- 4: Protected against solid objects over 1mm (e.g., small tools and wires).
- 5: Dust-protected; some dust may enter but will not interfere with operation.
- 6: Dust-tight; no dust ingress.
Liquid Protection (Second Digit)
- 0: No protection.
- 1: Protected against vertical drops of water.
- 2: Protected against vertical drops when tilted up to 15°.
- 3: Protected against direct sprays up to 60° from vertical.
- 4: Protected against splashing water from any direction.
- 5: Protected against water jets from any direction.
- 6: Protected against powerful water jets.
- 7: Protected against temporary immersion in water (up to 1 meter for 30 minutes).
- 8: Protected against continuous immersion in water beyond 1 meter depth.
- 9K: Protected against high-pressure and steam cleaning.
IP Code Rating
IP00
A product with an IP00 rating is not protected against solid objects and is not protected against liquids.
IP01
A product with an IP01 rating is not protected against solid objects but is protected against vertical drops of water.
IP02
A product with an IP02 rating is not protected against solid objects but is protected against vertical drops of water when tilted up to 15° from its normal position.
IP03
A product with an IP03 rating is not protected against solid objects but is protected against direct sprays of water at any angle up to 60°.
IP04
A product with an IP04 rating is not protected against solid objects but is protected against water splashing from any angle.
IP05
A product with an IP05 rating is not protected against solid objects but is protected against water jets projected by a nozzle (6.3mm) from any angle.
IP06
A product with an IP06 rating is not protected against solid objects but is protected against powerful water jets projected by a nozzle (12.5mm) from any angle.
IP07
A product with an IP07 rating is not protected against solid objects but is protected against water immersion at a depth between 15 cm and 1 meter for maximum 30 minutes.
IP08
A product with an IP08 rating is not protected against solid objects but is protected against long periods of water immersion at a depth of over 1 meter.
IP09K
A product with an IP09K rating is not protected against solid objects but is protected against the effects of high-pressure water jets and steam cleaning.
IP10
A product with an IP10 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 50mm (e.g. hands) but is not protected against liquids.
IP11
A product with an IP11 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 50mm (e.g. hands). It is also protected against vertical drops of water.
IP12
A product with an IP12 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 50mm (e.g. hands). It is also protected against vertical drops of water when tilted up to 15° from its normal position.
IP13
A product with an IP13 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 50mm (e.g. hands). It is also protected against direct sprays of water at any angle up to 60°.
IP14
A product with an IP14 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 50mm (e.g. hands). It is also protected against water splashing from any angle.
IP15
A product with an IP15 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 50mm (e.g. hands). It is also protected against water jets projected by a nozzle (6.3mm) from any angle.
IP16
A product with an IP16 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 50mm (e.g. hands). It is also protected against powerful water jets projected by a nozzle (12.5mm) from any angle.
IP17
A product with an IP17 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 50mm (e.g. hands). It is also protected against water immersion at a depth between 15 cm and 1 meter for maximum 30 minutes.
IP18
A product with an IP18 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 50mm (e.g. hands). It is also protected against long periods of water immersion at a depth of over 1 meter.
IP19K
A product with an IP19K rating is protected against solid objects that are over 50mm (e.g. hands). It is also protected against the effects of high-pressure water jets and steam cleaning.
IP20
A product with an IP20 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 12.5mm (e.g. fingers) but is not protected against liquids.
IP21
A product with an IP21 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 12.5mm (e.g. fingers). It is also protected against vertical drops of water.
IP22
A product with an IP22 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 12.5mm (e.g. fingers). It is also protected against vertical drops of water when tilted up to 15° from its normal position.
IP23
A product with an IP23 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 12.5mm (e.g. fingers). It is also protected against direct sprays of water at any angle up to 60°.
IP24
A product with an IP24 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 12.5mm (e.g. fingers). It is also protected against water splashing from any angle.
IP25
A product with an IP25 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 12.5mm (e.g. fingers). It is also protected against water jets projected by a nozzle (6.3mm) from any angle.
IP26
A product with an IP26 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 12.5mm (e.g. fingers). It is also protected against powerful water jets projected by a nozzle (12.5mm) from any angle.
IP27
A product with an IP27 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 12.5mm (e.g. fingers). It is also protected against water immersion at a depth between 15 cm and 1 meter for maximum 30 minutes.
IP28
A product with an IP28 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 12.5mm (e.g. fingers). It is also protected against long periods of water immersion at a depth of over 1 meter.
IP29K
A product with an IP29K rating is protected against solid objects that are over 12.5mm (e.g. fingers). It is also protected against the effects of high-pressure water jets and steam cleaning.
IP30
A product with an IP30 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 2.5mm (e.g. wires) but is not protected against liquids.
IP31
A product with an IP31 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 2.5mm (e.g. wires). It is also protected against vertical drops of water.
IP32
A product with an IP32 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 2.5mm (e.g. wires). It is also protected against vertical drops of water when tilted up to 15° from its normal position.
IP33
A product with an IP33 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 2.5mm (e.g. wires). It is also protected against direct sprays of water at any angle up to 60°.
IP34
A product with an IP34 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 2.5mm (e.g. wires). It is also protected against water splashing from any angle.
IP35
A product with an IP35 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 2.5mm (e.g. wires). It is also protected against water jets projected by a nozzle (6.3mm) from any angle.
IP36
A product with an IP36 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 2.5mm (e.g. wires). It is also protected against powerful water jets projected by a nozzle (12.5mm) from any angle.
IP37
A product with an IP37 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 2.5mm (e.g. wires). It is also protected against water immersion at a depth between 15 cm and 1 meter for maximum 30 minutes.
IP38
A product with an IP38 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 2.5mm (e.g. wires). It is also protected against long periods of water immersion at a depth of over 1 meter.
IP39K
A product with an IP39K rating is protected against solid objects that are over 2.5mm (e.g. wires). It is also protected against the effects of high-pressure water jets and steam cleaning.
IP40
A product with an IP40 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 1mm (e.g. tools and small wires) but is not protected against liquids.
IP41
A product with an IP41 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 1mm (e.g. tools and small wires). It is also protected against vertical drops of water.
IP42
A product with an IP42 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 1mm (e.g. tools and small wires). It is also protected against vertical drops of water when tilted up to 15° from its normal position.
IP43
A product with an IP43 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 1mm (e.g. tools and small wires). It is also protected against direct sprays of water at any angle up to 60°.
IP44
A product with an IP44 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 1mm (e.g. tools and small wires). It is also protected against water splashing from any angle.
IP45
A product with an IP45 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 1mm (e.g. tools and small wires). It is also protected against water jets projected by a nozzle (6.3mm) from any angle.
IP46
A product with an IP46 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 1mm (e.g. tools and small wires). It is also protected against powerful water jets projected by a nozzle (12.5mm) from any angle.
IP47
A product with an IP47 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 1mm (e.g. tools and small wires). It is also protected against water immersion at a depth between 15 cm and 1 meter for maximum 30 minutes.
IP48
A product with an IP48 rating is protected against solid objects that are over 1mm (e.g. tools and small wires). It is also protected against long periods of water immersion at a depth of over 1 meter.
IP49K
A product with an IP49K rating is protected against solid objects that are over 1mm (e.g. tools and small wires). It is also protected against the effects of high-pressure water jets and steam cleaning.
IP50
A product with an IP50 rating is protected against quantity of dust that could interfere with the normal operation of the product but is not fully dust tight. The product is completely protected against solid objects but is not protected against liquids.
IP51
A product with an IP51 rating is protected against quantity of dust that could interfere with the normal operation of the product but is not fully dust tight. The product is completely protected against solid objects. It is also protected against vertical drops of water.
IP52
A product with an IP52 rating is protected against quantity of dust that could interfere with the normal operation of the product but is not fully dust tight. The product is completely protected against solid objects. It is also protected against vertical drops of water when tilted up to 15° from its normal position.
IP53
A product with an IP53 rating is protected against quantity of dust that could interfere with the normal operation of the product but is not fully dust tight. The product is completely protected against solid objects. It is also protected against direct sprays of water at any angle up to 60°.
IP54
A product with an IP54 rating is protected against quantity of dust that could interfere with the normal operation of the product but is not fully dust tight. The product is completely protected against solid objects. It is also protected against water splashing from any angle.
IP55
A product with an IP55 rating is protected against quantity of dust that could interfere with the normal operation of the product but is not fully dust tight. The product is completely protected against solid objects. It is also protected against water jets projected by a nozzle (6.3mm) from any angle.
IP56
A product with an IP56 rating is protected against quantity of dust that could interfere with the normal operation of the product but is not fully dust tight. The product is completely protected against solid objects. It is also protected against powerful water jets projected by a nozzle (12.5mm) from any angle.
IP57
A product with an IP57 rating is protected against quantity of dust that could interfere with the normal operation of the product but is not fully dust tight. The product is completely protected against solid objects. It is also protected against water immersion at a depth between 15 cm and 1 meter for maximum 30 minutes.
IP58
A product with an IP58 rating is protected against quantity of dust that could interfere with the normal operation of the product but is not fully dust tight. The product is completely protected against solid objects. It is also protected against long periods of water immersion at a depth of over 1 meter.
IP59K
A product with an IP59K rating is protected against quantity of dust that could interfere with the normal operation of the product but is not fully dust tight. The product is completely protected against solid objects. It is also protected against the effects of high-pressure water jets and steam cleaning.
IP60
A product with an IP60 rating is fully dust tight and is completely protected against solid objects but is not protected against liquids.
IP61
A product with an IP61 rating is fully dust tight and is completely protected against solid objects. It is also protected against vertical drops of water.
IP62
A product with an IP62 rating is fully dust tight and is completely protected against solid objects. It is also protected against vertical drops of water when tilted up to 15° from its normal position.
IP63
A product with an IP63 rating is fully dust tight and is completely protected against solid objects. It is also protected against direct sprays of water at any angle up to 60°.
IP64
A product with an IP64 rating is fully dust tight and is completely protected against solid objects. It is also protected against water splashing from any angle.
IP65
A product with an IP65 rating is fully dust tight and is completely protected against solid objects. It is also protected against water jets projected by a nozzle (6.3mm) from any angle.
IP66
A product with an IP66 rating is fully dust tight and is completely protected against solid objects. It is also protected against powerful water jets projected by a nozzle (12.5mm) from any angle.
IP67
A product with an IP67 rating is fully dust tight and is completely protected against solid objects. It is also protected against water immersion at a depth between 15 cm and 1 meter for maximum 30 minutes.
IP68
A product with an IP68 rating is fully dust tight and is completely protected against solid objects. It is also protected against long periods of water immersion at a depth of over 1 meter.
IP69K
A product with an IP69K rating is fully dust tight and is completely protected against solid objects. It is also protected against the effects of high-pressure water jets and steam cleaning.
