IP Rating Guide

What an IP Rating means and how it works

IP Rating is a system by which electrical products can be classified for suitability for use in proximity to moisture, water or fluids.

This describes a uniform system for classifying the degrees of protection provided by the enclosures of electrical equipment.

The light pictured to the left has an IP Rating of 44 which means:

4: Protected against solid objects greater than 1mm

4: Protected against water sprayed from any direction - limited ingress permitted

To see how the number system works please see below.

First Numeral - Protection against ingress of foreign bodies e.g. tools, dust, fingers, etc. (6 stages)
1	2	3	4	5	6
Protected against solid objects with a diameter of 50mm and over (e.g. accidental insertion of hands)	Protected against solid objects over 12mm (e.g. jointed fingers)	Protected against solid objects over 2.5mm (tools)	Protected against solid objects over 1mm (small wires)	Protected against dust - limited ingress permitted (no harmful deposit)	Totally protected against dust

Second Numeral - Protection against ingress of liquids. (8 stages)
1	2	3	4	5	6
Protected against drops of condensed water. Drops of condensed water falling on the enclosure shall have no harmful effects	Protection against drops of liquid. Drops of falling liquid shall have no harmful effect when the enclosure is tilted at an angle up to 15 degrees from the vertical	Protection against rain. Water falling in rain at an angle equal or similar than 60 degrees with respect to the vertical shall have no harmful effect	Protection against splashing. Liquid splashed from any direction shall have no harmful effect	Protection against water jets. Water projected by a nozzle from any direction under stated conditions shall have no harmful effect	Protection against conditions on ship decks (deck watertight equipment). Water from heavy seas shall not enter the enclosures under prescribed conditions
7	8
Protection against immersion in water. It shall not be possible for water to enter the enclosure under stated conditions of pressure and time	Protection against indefinite immersion in water under specified pressure. It shall not be possible for water to enter the enclosure.