Overview
- Guide to IP Ratings
- Solid Ingress Protection
- Liquid or Water Resistance Ingress
- Description of IP Rating
Guide to IP Ratings
Users in Europe use IP rating to identify an electrical enclosure’s level of protection. The level of ingress protection pertains to its performance against environmental conditions. IP is the short term for Ingress Protection. To order the proper IP rating for face recognition technology, one must be aware of its location and method of operation.
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) initiates the creation of the IP Rating System. IEC is a global organisation for standardisation with the mission to foster collaboration on issues about standardisation in the electrical and electronic fields as they work with the ISO, often known as the International Organization for Standards. The IEC Publication 529 contains the complete description of the IP ratings. Other IP-relevant tests are in this publication.
Conversely, it also introduces a classification system for enclosures that engineers can use as a convenient and useful way to contrast different levels of sealing. Adopting this standardization promotes international cooperation in describing the level of protection provided by the enclosure.
The IP rating describes various degrees of protection. The chart below shows the ratings of relative protection that the electrical enclosures provide.
An IP rating usually has two, and sometimes 3, numbers. The first number indicates its level of protection from solid objects or materials. The second number pertains to its level of protection from liquids or water, and the third number states the level of protection against mechanical impacts. Commonly IEC 60529 sometimes removes and doesn’t include the number three.
Below is the general overview describing each level of protection for specific and more description details of what each level can do for an electronic enclosure. You may refer to IEC 60529.
Solid IP Levels
Level 1
The enclosure protects against a solid object size greater than 50mm.
Level 2
The enclosure’s level of protection is up against a solid object with a size greater than 12.5 mm.
Level 3
With this level, the enclosure protects against a solid object greater than 2.5 mm.
Level 4
An enclosure with a solid ingress level 4 protects against a solid object that is greater than 1mm.
Level 5
Enclosures in solid ingress level 5 consider protection from dust. This means it limits the ingress of dust that can enter the enclosure. However, the operation will not interfere. On the other hand, this dust protection might last from two to eight hours.
Level 6
On the other hand, enclosures with solid ingress level 6 are dust-tight. No ingress of dust permits from two to eight hours. In other words, the enclosure is fully dust-tight.
Liquid or Water Resistance IP Levels
Level 1
Enclosures with level 1 water resistance ingress protect against drops of water falling vertically. However, it only permits limited ingress.
Level 2
With level 2 liquid ingress protection, the enclosure is protected against vertically falling drops of liquid. The enclosure is tilted up to 15 degrees. Limited ingress permitted.
Level 3
With this, the enclosure is protected against sprays of water up to 60 degrees vertically with level 3 liquid ingress protection. For three minutes, limited ingress is permitted.
Level 4
With level 4 liquid ingress protection, the enclosure is protected against water splashed in all directions.
Level 5
The enclosure can withstand against jets of water with limited ingress permitted.
Level 6
Water projected in powerful jets will not enter the enclosure.
Level 7
With level 7 liquid ingress protection, the enclosure can withstand the effects of water immersion between 15 centimetres and one meter for 30 minutes.
Level 8
The enclosure is protected against the effects of water immersion in water under pressure for long periods.
Description of IP Rating
As described by the IP rating chart, the first, second, and third number indicated in the code has their meaning. The first number pertains to the enclosure’s protection against solid objects. The second number describes the enclosure’s protection against water or liquid.
To clarify, an IP rating of 56 has a solid protection ingress of 5 and liquid protection of 6, and if ever there is only one class of protection, it uses the letter “X” instead of omitting its class.
Likewise, it is also important to be aware of what a product enclosure’s IP rating stands for, and determining the correct IP rating for an electrical enclosure can save you time and money from investing in the right item or when purchasing electronics. You can always check the IP rating of the item.
As an industrial expert in today’s needs of warehouse and inventory management systems, Qbasis gained experience in selecting the correct IP rating for an item’s electrical enclosure. Therefore, boosting productivity and efficiency in your management systems is not only limited to the right software but also knowing the right hardware compatible with the system. Contact Qbasis to know more about your warehouse management system procurement needs.
