Degrees of Protection Provided by IEC 60529 Enclosures (IP Code)

The IEC 60529 standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) applies to the classification of degrees of protection provided by electrical equipment enclosures with a rated voltage not exceeding 72,5 kV.

When water or dust enters an electrical and electronic equipment, it breaks down or malfunctions. In this regard, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has developed an ingress protection (IP) rating system that rates an enclosure's resistance to the ingress of dust or liquid. This system is widely used throughout the industry.

In recent years, many consumers have become interested in smartphone features that include resistance to liquids and dust. However, it is difficult to grasp the meaning of terms like "waterproof" or "water-resistant" used for marketing purposes.

The IEC 60529 standard is designed to rate the resistance of electrical and electronic equipment enclosures to the ingress of dust and liquids. This standard also assesses how easy it is for persons to access potentially dangerous parts inside the enclosure.

The IEC 60529 standard uses the IP code (ingress protection code) to rate the degrees of protection offered by the enclosure of electrical equipment with a maximum rated voltage of 72,5 kV. This standard also defines the tests to be performed to verify that the enclosure meets these requirements.

The IP code consists of two numbers:

• The first digit indicates the protection of the enclosure against solid objects. It uses a scale from 0 (no protection) to 6 (no dust ingress).
• The second digit denotes the protection of the enclosure against liquids. It uses a scale from 0 (no protection) to 9 (high pressure hot water from different angles).

In short, the IP code is an international sign of protection and classifies the degrees of protection of enclosures against intrusion (body parts such as hands and fingers), dust, accidental contact and water. The IEC 60529 standard typically applies to commercial products and their ability to prevent environmental interference with their operation.

Among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors, our organization also provides testing services for the degrees of protection (IP code) provided by the enclosures, within the scope of the IEC 60529 standard, with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.