IP Rating

Sometimes called Ingress Protection Rating is a measure of how well a device is protected against water and dust. The two digits after IP refer to the categories of protection. The First Digit (0 - 6) refers to the protection level against solids & the Second Digit (0 - 9k) refers to the protection level against liquids.

First Digit

 * 0 No Protection
 * 1 Protected against solids objects over 50mm (e.g. accidental touch by hands
 * 2 Protected against solids objects over 12mm (e.g. fingers)
 * 3 Protected against solids objects over 2.5mm (e.g. tools and wires)
 * 4 Protected against solids objects over 1mm (e.g. tools, wires and small wires
 * 5 Protected against dust - limited ingress (no harmful deposit)
 * 6 Totally protected against dust

Second Digit

 * 0 No Protection
 * 1 Protected against vertically falling drops of water
 * 2 Protected against direct sprays up to 15 degrees from the vertical
 * 3 Protected against direct sprays up to 60o from the vertical
 * 4 Protected against sprays from all directions - limited ingress permitted
 * 5 Protected against low pressure jets if water from all directions - limited ingress permitted
 * 6 Protected against strong jets of water e.g. for use on shipdecks - limited ingress permitted
 * 7 Protected against the effects of temporary immersion between 15cm and 1m. Duration of test 30 minutes
 * 8 Protected against long periods of immersion under pressure
 * 9k Protected against steam jet cleaning