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The IP rating system

· IP stands for Ingress Protection

· The rating’s first digit e.g. IP6_ relates to the ingress protection against dust (6 means dust tight, see the table below)

· The second digit e.g IP_5 relates to the ingress protection against water (5 means protected against water jets, see the table below)

Protection against solid objects - 1st Digit Description Definition		Protection against liquids - 2nd Digit Description Definition
0	Non-protected No special protection	0	Non-protected No special protection
1	Protected against solid objects greater than 50 mm A large surface of the body such as the hand (no protection against deliberate access). Solid objects exceeding 50mm diameter	1	Protected against dripping water Dripping water (vertically falling drops)
2	Protected against solid objects greater than 12 mm Fingers or other objects not exceeding 80 mm in length. Solid objects exceeding 12 mm diameter	2	Protected against dripping water when tilted up to 15º Vertically dripping water shall have no harmful effect
3	Protected against solid objects greater than 2.5 mm Tools, wires, etc of diameter or thickness greater than 2.5 mm. Solid objects exceeding 2.5 mm diameter.	3	Protected against spraying water. Water falling as spray at an angle up to 60º from the vertical shall have no harmful effect
4	Protected against solid objects greater than 1.0 mm Wires or strips of thickness greater than 1.0 mm. Solid objects exceeding 1.0 mm	4	Protected against splashing water. Water splashed against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect when the enclosure is tilted at any angle up to 15º from its normal position
5	Dust protected Ingress of dust is not totally prevented but dust does not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with satisfactory operation of the equipment	5	Protected against water jets. Water projected from a nozzle against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect
6	Dust-tight No ingress of dust	6	Protected against heavy seas. Water from heavy seas or water projected in powerful jets shall not enter the enclosure in harmful quantities
		7	Protected against the effects of immersion Ingress of water in a harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time
		8	Protected against submersion The equipment is suitable for continuous submersion in water under conditions, which shall be specified by the manufacturer

The test means and main test conditions for the tests for protection against water (2^nd number) are defined as follows:

Test Means – A water jet hose nozzle with a nozzle diameter of 6.3 mm is positioned 2.5m to 3m from the enclosure being tested

Water flow rate – 12.5 l/min ±5%

Duration of Test – 1 min/m² but at least 3 min.

Test conditions – Test will be performed spraying the enclosure from every practicable angle.