IEC 60529 compliance testing is a widely recognized standard for ingress protection, crucial for determining an enclosure’s ability to safeguard its contents against solids and liquids. This standard is pivotal for various industries, ensuring that products meet stringent protection criteria. The resulting degree of protection is denoted by the IP Code.
What is the IP Code?
The IP Code consists of the letters “IP” followed by two digits or a combination of a digit and a letter, with an optional additional letter. The first digit indicates protection against solid particles, while the second digit signifies protection against liquids. These requirements are consistent with those detailed in EN 60529 testing.
Protection from Solid Foreign Objects & Dust
IEC Standard 60529 outlines specific guidelines for protection against solid objects. These can range from small particles like dust to larger items such as fingers or tools. The IP rating table specifies the level of protection:
- IP0X: No protection
- IP1X: Protection against objects larger than 50 mm
- IP2X: Protection against objects larger than 12.5 mm
- IP3X: Protection against objects larger than 2.5 mm
- IP4X: Protection against objects larger than 1 mm
- IP5X: Dust protected
- IP6X: Dust tight
Protection Against Water
The IEC 60529 and EN 60529 standards also detail water ingress protection, specifying parameters like duration, flow rate, temperature, depth, and angle of water exposure:
- IPX0: No protection
- IPX1: Protection against dripping water
- IPX2: Protection against dripping water when tilted up to 15 degrees
- IPX3: Protection against spraying water
- IPX4: Protection against splashing water
- IPX5: Protection against water jets
- IPX6: Protection against powerful water jets
- IPX7: Immersion up to one meter
- IPX8: Immersion beyond one meter
- IPX9: Protection against powerful steam jets
Additional considerations include corrosion resistance and temperature conditioning of the liquid used in testing.
Additional Enclosure Testing Clarifications
The IP Code may include additional letters to classify the level of protection against hazardous parts or provide extra information about device protection:
- A – Back of hand
- B – Finger
- C – Tool
- D – Wire
- H – High voltage device
- M – Device moving during water test
- S – Device standing still during water test
- W – Weather conditions
Mechanical impact resistance was part of earlier editions but has been omitted from the third edition onwards.
Sample IP Ratings
Common examples include:
- An IP54 rating indicates dust protection and splashing water resistance.
- An IP67 rating means the enclosure is dust tight and can withstand immersion up to one meter.
These ratings are essential for various applications, ensuring devices meet necessary ingress and waterproof standards.
Our website provides comprehensive information on popular commercial and military test standards related to IEC 60529, including ip waterproof tests, ip dust proof tests, and ip test equipment.
