IP - Degree of protection from liquids and solids
What is the IP degree of protection?
The IP degree of protection indicates the degree of protection against dust and liquids of the enclosures. As, for example, for video cameras , it is defined with the standard CEI EN 60529/1997 (ex CEI 70-1). Below and in reading order (from left to right) the possible values will be explained. If you should find an "X", in any position, this means that the data is not available or declared by the manufacturer.
The first digit indicates the degree of protection against the penetration of solid foreign bodies .
| IP | EXPLANATION |
| 0 | No protection |
| 1 | Protection from solid bodies Ø > 50 mm |
| 2 | Protection against solid bodies Ø > 12 mm |
| 3 | Protection from solid bodies Ø > 2.5 mm |
| 4 | Protection from solid bodies Ø > 1 mm |
| 5 | Dust protection |
| 6 | Totally protected from dust |
The second digit indicates the degree of protection against the penetration of liquids .
| IP | EXPLANATION |
| 0 | No protection |
| 1 | Protection against vertical drops of water |
| 2 | Protection against falling drops of water or rain up to 15° |
| 3 | Protection against falling drops of water or rain up to 60° |
| 4 | Protected against splashes of water from all directions |
| 5 | Protection against water jets from all directions |
| 6 | Protection against powerful water jets |
| 7 | Temporary immersion protection |
| 8 | Continuous immersion protection |
These are the most common wordings, other distinctions may be present to categorize protection against access to dangerous parts .
| IP | EXPLANATION |
| TO | Protection against access with hands |
| b | Protection against finger access |
| c | Protection against access with tools |
| d | Protection against wired access |
There may also be an additional letter indicating material protection .
| IP | EXPLANATION |
| h | Suitable for high voltage appliances |
| m | Protection from water on moving parts |
| St | Protection from water on moving parts are not moving |
| w | Suitable for specified atmospheric conditions and equipped with additional measures or procedures |