Glossary A–ZLetter I
IP rating
The IP rating, under the standard IEC 60529, states how well an enclosure is protected against the ingress of foreign bodies and water.
It consists of the letters IP and two digits. The first digit refers to foreign bodies and dust, the second to water; the higher, the better the protection.
A few examples: IP54 means dust-protected and protected against splashing water. IP65 means dust-tight and protected against water jets. IP67 means dust-tight and protected against temporary immersion. If an X appears in one position, such as IP5X, that protection was not tested or not stated. Screens outdoors, in car washes, kitchens or factory halls need a suitable rating.
Operators should read carefully what the figure refers to. Some devices are protected only at the front, for example for installation in a wall, and not all round. The rating says nothing about heat, cold, sunlight or vandalism. Impact resistance has a code of its own, the IK code. A rating only applies as long as seals and cable glands are intact.