IP Protection Classes Define the Extent to which an Electrical Component Can be Exposed to Environmental Influences without Being Damaged.
IP protection classes (International Protection, also known as Ingress Protection) indicate how well electrical or electronic devices are protected against the ingress of solid foreign bodies (e.g. dust) and liquids (e.g. water). The protection class is indicated by a two-digit code, e.g. IP65.
- The first digit stands for protection against solid objects (e.g. dust, contact).
- The second digit describes the protection against water (e.g. splashing water, jet water, immersion).
The higher the numbers, the better the device is protected from external influences. The correct protection class is crucial for operational safety – especially in industrial, humid or dusty environments.
| Digit 1 | Contact protection |
|---|---|
| 0 | No protection |
| 1 | Protection against solid foreign bodies ≥ 50 mm (e.g. back of hand) |
| 2 | Protection against solid foreign bodies ≥ 12.5 mm (e.g. finger) |
| 3 | Protection against solid foreign bodies ≥ 2.5 mm (e.g. tool) |
| 4 | Protection against solid foreign bodies ≥ 1.0 mm (e.g. wire) |
| 5 | Dust-protected (limited ingress possible, but without harmful effect) |
| 6 | Dust-tight (complete protection against dust ingress) |
| Digit 2 | Water protection |
|---|---|
| 0 | No protection |
| 1 | Protection against vertically falling drops of water |
| 2 | Protection against falling drops of water at an inclination of up to 15° |
| 3 | Protection against spray water (up to 60° against the vertical) |
| 4 | Protection against spray water from all sides |
| 5 | Protection against jet water (from any direction) |
| 6 | Protection against strong jet water or flood waves |
| 7 | Protection against temporary immersion (up to 1 m, max. 30 min) |
| 8 | Protection against permanent immersion (observe manufacturer’s specifications) |
| 9K | Protection against high-pressure and steam jet cleaning (according to DIN 40050-9, typical in the automotive sector) |
Example
- IP54 = Protection against dust in harmful quantities (5) and against spray water from all sides (4)
- IP67 = Dust-tight (6) and protected against temporary immersion (7)
