IP Ratings and NEMA protection



Ingress Protection (IP) ratings (described in IEC 60529) specify the environmental protection an enclosure provides.

The IP rating normally has two numbers.
The first number specifies the protection from solid objects or materials.
The second number specifies the protection from liquids.
The third number specifies the protection from impacts.

IP Protection Number Summary

FIRST NUMBER - Protection against solid objects
0 = No proteciton
1 = Protected against solid objects up to 50mm e.g. accidental hand contact
2 = Protected against solid objects up to 12mm e.g. fingers
3 = Protected against solid objects up to 2.5mm (tools and wires)
4 = Protected against solid objects up to 1mm (small tools and wires)
5 = Protected against dust, limited ingress (no harmful deposit)
6 = Totally protected against dust.

SECOND NUMBER - Liquid protection
0 = No proteciton
1 = Protected against vertically falling drops of water e.g. condensation
2 = Protected against direct sprays of water up to 15 degrees from vertical
3 = Protected against direct sprays of water up to 60 degrees from vertical
4 = Protected against water sprayed from all directions - limited ingress permitted
5 = Protected against low-pressure jets of water from all directions - limited ingress permitted.
6 = Protected against low pressure jets of water (such as use on ship decks) - limited ingress
7 = Protected against the effect of immersion between 15cm and 1m.
8 = Protected against long periods of immersion under pressure

So IP65 means the enclosure protects againts dust and low pressure water jets sprayed from all directions. It does allow some water to enter the enclosure, provided the amount is not harmful to the eauipment inside.

THIRD NUMBER (often omitted) - Impact protection
0 = No protection
1 = Protected against 150g falling from 15cm height (0.225 Joules)