Ingress Protection (IP) and what it means

The IP Code (or International Protection Rating, sometimes also interpreted as Ingress Protection Rating*)
consists of the letters IP followed by two digits and an optional letter. As defined in international standard IEC 60529,
it classifies the degrees of protection provided against the intrusion of solid objects (including body parts like hands
and fingers), dust, accidental contact, and water in electrical enclosures. The standard aims to provide users more
detailed information than vague marketing terms such as waterproof.
The digits (characteristic numerals) indicate conformity with the conditions summarized in the tables below. For
example, an electrical socket rated IP22 is protected against insertion of fingers and will not be damaged or become
unsafe during a specified test in which it is exposed to vertically or nearly vertically dripping water. IP22 or 2X are
typical minimum requirements for the design of electrical accessories for indoor use.
*Explanation of the letters IP is given in IEC 60529 (Ed. 2.1), clause 4.1

First Digit: Solids

The first digit indicates the level of protection that the enclosure provides against access to hazardous parts (e.g.,
electrical conductors, moving parts) and the ingress of solid foreign objects.

Leve Object size

Effective against
l protected against

0 Not protected No protection against contact and ingress of objects

1 >50mm Any large surface of the body, such as the back of the hand, but no protection
against deliberate contact with a body part.

2 >12.5mm Fingers or similar objects.

3 >2.5mm Tools, thick wires, etc.

4 >1mm Most wires, screws, etc.

5 Dust Protected Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient
quantity to interfere with the satisfactory operation of the equipment; complete
protection against contact.

6 Dust Tight No ingress of dust; complete protection against contact.

Second Digit: Liquids
Protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against harmful ingress of water.

Object size
Leve
protected Effective against
l
against

0 Not protected –

1 Dripping water Dripping water (vertically falling drops) shall have no harmfull effect.

2 Dripping water Vertically dripping water shall have no harmful effect when the enclosure is tilted
when tilted up at an angle up to 15° from its normal position.
to 15°

3 Spraying water Water falling as a spray at any angle up to 60° from the vertical shall have no
harmful effect.

4 Splashing water Water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful
effect.

5 Water jets Water projected by a nozzle (6.3mm) against enclosure from any direction shall
have no harmful effects.

6 Powerful water Water projected in powerful jets (12.5mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any
jets direction shall have no harmful effects.

7 Immersion up to Ingress of water in harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is
1m immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time (up to 1 m of
submersion).

8 Immersion The equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water under conditions
beyond 1m which shall be specified by the manufacturer. Normally, this will mean that the
equipment is hermetically sealed. However, with certain types of equipment, it can
mean that water can enter but only in such a manner that it produces no harmful
effects.
IP Rating Reference Chart
Below is an easy to follow reference chart to help you decide which IP rating you need or have.

IP
First Digit - SOLIDS Second Digit - LIQUIDS
Number

IP00 Not protected from solids. Not protected from liquids.

IP01 Not protected from solids. Protected from condensation.

IP02 Not protected from solids. Protected from water spray less than 15
degrees from vertical.

IP03 Not protected from solids. Protected from water spray less than 60
degrees from vertical.

IP04 Not protected from solids. Protected from water spray from any direction.

IP05 Not protected from solids. Protected from low pressure water jets from
any direction.

IP06 Not protected from solids. Protected from high pressure water jets from
any direction.

IP07 Not protected from solids. Protected from immersion between 15

centimeters and 1 meter in depth.

IP08 Not protected from solids. Protected from long term immersion up to a
specified pressure.

IP10 Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 Not protected from liquids.
millimeters.

IP11 Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 Protected from condensation.
millimeters.

IP12 Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 Protected from water spray less than 15
millimeters. degrees from vertical.

IP13 Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 Protected from water spray less than 60
millimeters. degrees from vertical.

IP14 Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 Protected from water spray from any direction.
 IP
First Digit - SOLIDS Second Digit - LIQUIDS
Number

millimeters.

IP15 Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 Protected from low pressure water jets from
millimeters. any direction.

IP16 Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 Protected from high pressure water jets from
millimeters. any direction.

IP17 Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 Protected from immersion between 15
millimeters. centimeters and 1 meter in depth.

IP18 Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 Protected from long term immersion up to a
millimeters. specified pressure.

IP20 Protected from touch by fingers and objects Not protected from liquids.
greater than 12 millimeters.

IP21 Protected from touch by fingers and objects Protected from condensation.
greater than 12 millimeters.

IP22 Protected from touch by fingers and objects Protected from water spray less than 15
greater than 12 millimeters. degrees from vertical.

IP23 Protected from touch by fingers and objects Protected from water spray less than 60
greater than 12 millimeters. degrees from vertical.

IP24 Protected from touch by fingers and objects Protected from water spray from any direction.
greater than 12 millimeters.

IP25 Protected from touch by fingers and objects Protected from low pressure water jets from
greater than 12 millimeters. any direction.

IP26 Protected from touch by fingers and objects Protected from high pressure water jets from
greater than 12 millimeters. any direction.

IP27 Protected from touch by fingers and objects Protected from immersion between 15
greater than 12 millimeters. centimeters and 1 meter in depth.

IP28 Protected from touch by fingers and objects Protected from long term immersion up to a
greater than 12 millimeters. specified pressure.

IP30 Protected from tools and wires greater than Not protected from liquids.
 IP
First Digit - SOLIDS Second Digit - LIQUIDS
Number

2.5 millimeters.

IP31 Protected from tools and wires greater than Protected from condensation.
2.5 millimeters.

IP32 Protected from tools and wires greater than Protected from water spray less than 15
2.5 millimeters. degrees from vertical.

IP33 Protected from tools and wires greater than Protected from water spray less than 60
2.5 millimeters. degrees from vertical.

IP34 Protected from tools and wires greater than Protected from water spray from any direction.
2.5 millimeters.

IP35 Protected from tools and wires greater than Protected from low pressure water jets from
2.5 millimeters. any direction.

IP36 Protected from tools and wires greater than Protected from high pressure water jets from
2.5 millimeters. any direction.

IP37 Protected from tools and wires greater than Protected from immersion between 15
2.5 millimeters. centimeters and 1 meter in depth.

IP38 Protected from tools and wires greater than Protected from long term immersion up to a
2.5 millimeters. specified pressure.

IP40 Protected from tools and small wires greater Not protected from liquids.
than 1 millimeter.

IP41 Protected from tools and small wires greater Protected from condensation.
than 1 millimeter.

IP42 Protected from tools and small wires greater Protected from water spray less than 15
than 1 millimeter. degrees from vertical.

IP43 Protected from tools and small wires greater Protected from water spray less than 60
than 1 millimeter. degrees from vertical.

IP44 Protected from tools and small wires greater Protected from water spray from any direction.
than 1 millimeter.

IP45 Protected from tools and small wires greater Protected from low pressure water jets from
 IP
First Digit - SOLIDS Second Digit - LIQUIDS
Number

than 1 millimeter. any direction.

IP46 Protected from tools and small wires greater Protected from high pressure water jets from
than 1 millimeter. any direction.

IP47 Protected from tools and small wires greater Protected from immersion between 15
than 1 millimeter. centimeters and 1 meter in depth.

IP48 Protected from tools and small wires greater Protected from long term immersion up to a
than 1 millimeter. specified pressure.

IP50 Protected from limited dust ingress. Not protected from liquids.

IP51 Protected from limited dust ingress. Protected from condensation.

IP52 Protected from limited dust ingress. Protected from water spray less than 15
degrees from vertical.

IP53 Protected from limited dust ingress. Protected from water spray less than 60
degrees from vertical.

IP54 Protected from limited dust ingress. Protected from water spray from any direction.

IP55 Protected from limited dust ingress. Protected from low pressure water jets from
any direction.

IP56 Protected from limited dust ingress. Protected from high pressure water jets from
any direction.

IP57 Protected from limited dust ingress. Protected from immersion between 15
centimeters and 1 meter in depth.

IP58 Protected from limited dust ingress. Protected from long term immersion up to a
specified pressure.

IP60 Protected from total dust ingress. Not protected from liquids.

IP61 Protected from total dust ingress. Protected from condensation.

IP62 Protected from total dust ingress. Protected from water spray less than 15
 IP
First Digit - SOLIDS Second Digit - LIQUIDS
Number

degrees from vertical.

IP63 Protected from total dust ingress. Protected from water spray less than 60
degrees from vertical.

IP64 Protected from total dust ingress. Protected from water spray from any direction.

IP65 Protected from total dust ingress. Protected from low pressure water jets from
any direction.

IP66 Protected from total dust ingress. Protected from high pressure water jets from
any direction.

IP67 Protected from total dust ingress. Protected from immersion between 15
centimeters and 1 meter in depth.

IP68 Protected from total dust ingress. Protected from long term immersion up to a
specified pressure.

IP69K Protected from total dust ingress. Protected from steam-jet cleaning.

References
1. IEC 60529, “degrees of Protection Provided by Enclosures (IP Codes),” Ed. 2.1 (Geneva: International Electrotechnical
Commision, 2011)
2. IEC 60529 (Ed. 2.1), clause 4.1.

IP
First Digit - SOLIDS Second Digit - LIQUIDS
Number

IP00 Not protected from solids. Not protected from liquids.

IP01 Not protected from solids. Protected from condensation.

IP02 Not protected from solids. Protected from water spray less than 15
degrees from vertical.

IP03 Not protected from solids. Protected from water spray less than 60
degrees from vertical.

IP04 Not protected from solids. Protected from water spray from any direction.

IP05 Not protected from solids. Protected from low pressure water jets from
 IP
First Digit - SOLIDS Second Digit - LIQUIDS
Number

any direction.

IP06 Not protected from solids. Protected from high pressure water jets from
any direction.

IP07 Not protected from solids. Protected from immersion between 15

centimeters and 1 meter in depth.

IP08 Not protected from solids. Protected from long term immersion up to a
specified pressure.

IP10 Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 Not protected from liquids.
millimeters.

IP11 Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 Protected from condensation.
millimeters.

IP12 Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 Protected from water spray less than 15
millimeters. degrees from vertical.

IP13 Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 Protected from water spray less than 60
millimeters. degrees from vertical.

IP14 Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 Protected from water spray from any direction.
millimeters.

IP15 Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 Protected from low pressure water jets from
millimeters. any direction.

IP16 Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 Protected from high pressure water jets from
millimeters. any direction.

IP17 Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 Protected from immersion between 15
millimeters. centimeters and 1 meter in depth.

IP18 Protected from touch by hands greater than 50 Protected from long term immersion up to a
millimeters. specified pressure.

IP20 Protected from touch by fingers and objects Not protected from liquids.
greater than 12 millimeters.
 IP
First Digit - SOLIDS Second Digit - LIQUIDS
Number

IP21 Protected from touch by fingers and objects Protected from condensation.
greater than 12 millimeters.

IP22 Protected from touch by fingers and objects Protected from water spray less than 15
greater than 12 millimeters. degrees from vertical.

IP23 Protected from touch by fingers and objects Protected from water spray less than 60
greater than 12 millimeters. degrees from vertical.

IP24 Protected from touch by fingers and objects Protected from water spray from any direction.
greater than 12 millimeters.

IP25 Protected from touch by fingers and objects Protected from low pressure water jets from
greater than 12 millimeters. any direction.

IP26 Protected from touch by fingers and objects Protected from high pressure water jets from
greater than 12 millimeters. any direction.

IP27 Protected from touch by fingers and objects Protected from immersion between 15
greater than 12 millimeters. centimeters and 1 meter in depth.

IP28 Protected from touch by fingers and objects Protected from long term immersion up to a
greater than 12 millimeters. specified pressure.

IP30 Protected from tools and wires greater than Not protected from liquids.
2.5 millimeters.

IP31 Protected from tools and wires greater than Protected from condensation.
2.5 millimeters.

IP32 Protected from tools and wires greater than Protected from water spray less than 15
2.5 millimeters. degrees from vertical.

IP33 Protected from tools and wires greater than Protected from water spray less than 60
2.5 millimeters. degrees from vertical.

IP34 Protected from tools and wires greater than Protected from water spray from any direction.
2.5 millimeters.

IP35 Protected from tools and wires greater than Protected from low pressure water jets from
2.5 millimeters. any direction.
 IP
First Digit - SOLIDS Second Digit - LIQUIDS
Number

IP36 Protected from tools and wires greater than Protected from high pressure water jets from
2.5 millimeters. any direction.

IP37 Protected from tools and wires greater than Protected from immersion between 15
2.5 millimeters. centimeters and 1 meter in depth.

IP38 Protected from tools and wires greater than Protected from long term immersion up to a
2.5 millimeters. specified pressure.

IP40 Protected from tools and small wires greater Not protected from liquids.
than 1 millimeter.

IP41 Protected from tools and small wires greater Protected from condensation.
than 1 millimeter.

IP42 Protected from tools and small wires greater Protected from water spray less than 15
than 1 millimeter. degrees from vertical.

IP43 Protected from tools and small wires greater Protected from water spray less than 60
than 1 millimeter. degrees from vertical.

IP44 Protected from tools and small wires greater Protected from water spray from any direction.
than 1 millimeter.

IP45 Protected from tools and small wires greater Protected from low pressure water jets from
than 1 millimeter. any direction.

IP46 Protected from tools and small wires greater Protected from high pressure water jets from
than 1 millimeter. any direction.

IP47 Protected from tools and small wires greater Protected from immersion between 15
than 1 millimeter. centimeters and 1 meter in depth.

IP48 Protected from tools and small wires greater Protected from long term immersion up to a
than 1 millimeter. specified pressure.

IP50 Protected from limited dust ingress. Not protected from liquids.

IP51 Protected from limited dust ingress. Protected from condensation.

IP52 Protected from limited dust ingress. Protected from water spray less than 15
 IP
First Digit - SOLIDS Second Digit - LIQUIDS
Number

degrees from vertical.

IP53 Protected from limited dust ingress. Protected from water spray less than 60
degrees from vertical.

IP54 Protected from limited dust ingress. Protected from water spray from any direction.

IP55 Protected from limited dust ingress. Protected from low pressure water jets from
any direction.

IP56 Protected from limited dust ingress. Protected from high pressure water jets from
any direction.

IP57 Protected from limited dust ingress. Protected from immersion between 15
centimeters and 1 meter in depth.

IP58 Protected from limited dust ingress. Protected from long term immersion up to a
specified pressure.

IP60 Protected from total dust ingress. Not protected from liquids.

IP61 Protected from total dust ingress. Protected from condensation.

IP62 Protected from total dust ingress. Protected from water spray less than 15
degrees from vertical.

IP63 Protected from total dust ingress. Protected from water spray less than 60
degrees from vertical.

IP64 Protected from total dust ingress. Protected from water spray from any direction.

IP65 Protected from total dust ingress. Protected from low pressure water jets from
any direction.

IP66 Protected from total dust ingress. Protected from high pressure water jets from
any direction.

IP67 Protected from total dust ingress. Protected from immersion between 15
centimeters and 1 meter in depth.

IP68 Protected from total dust ingress. Protected from long term immersion up to a
 IP
First Digit - SOLIDS Second Digit - LIQUIDS
Number

specified pressure.

IP69K Protected from total dust ingress. Protected from steam-jet cleaning.