Why is Ingress Protection Important? Liquid and/or solid particle ingress into electrical equipment may not only be harmful to the equipment, it may also be dangerous to the operator. Therefore when buying electrical equipment whether it be an electric motor, a light fiiting or an enclosure, it is essential to now what degree of ingress protection the item offers.
!o how is Ingress Protection quoted? "n #IP# number, or as it is commonly nown, an IP rating is used to specify the en$ironmental protection offered. The IP rating is composed of two numbers, the first referring to the protection against solid ob%ect ingress and the second against liquid ingress. The higher the number the better the protection.
"re there standards co$ering these ratings? The applicable &uropean standards for ingress protection are' ( )! &* +,-./ !pecification of 0egrees of Protection Pro$ided by &nclosures ( I&1 -./ !pecification of 0egrees of Protection Pro$ided by &nclosures
What are the numerical codes? Ingress Protection 1lassification 2irst *umber !econd *umber IP Protection Pro$ided IP Protection Pro$ided , *o Protection , *o Protection 3 Protected against solid ob%ects up to -,mm e.g. accidental touch by hands 3 Protected against $ertically falling drops of water e.g. condensation . Protected against solid ob%ects up to 3.mm e.g. fingers . Protected against direct sprays of water up to 3- deg from the $ertical 4 Protected against solid ob%ects o$er ..-mm e.g. tools 4 Protected against direct sprays of water up to +, deg from the $ertical 5 Protected against solid ob%ects o$er 3mm e.g. wires 5 Protected against water sprayed from all directions ( limited ingress permitted - Protected against dust ( - Protected against low limited ingress 6no harmful deposit7 pressure %ets of water from all directions ( limited ingress permitted + Totally protected against dust + Protected against strong %ets of water e.g. for use on shipdecs ( limited ingress permitted 8 Protected against the affects of immersion between 3-cm and 3m 9 Protected against long periods of immersion under pressure What do they use outside &urope? In *orth "merica, the *&:" classification is used. *&:" 6*ational &lectrical :anufacturers "ssociation7 is a ;! trade association representing the interests of electroindustry manufacturers of products used in the generation, transmission and distribution, control, and end(use of electricity.
<ow does the IP and *&:" systems compare? The I&1 and *&:" degrees of protection can not be fully compared as equi$alent ratings. The *&:" !tandard includes tests for en$ironmental conditions such as mechanical damage, corrosion, rusting, ice formation, etc. <owe$er the follwoing table can be used as a guide' *&:" &nclosure Type *umber I&1 1lassification 3 IP 3, . IP 33 4 IP -5 4= IP 35 4! IP -5 5 and 5> IP -+ - IP -. + and +P IP +8 0oes *&:" produce standards? *&:" !tandard Publication .-, and ;L 5, !tandard Publication both pro$ide further information on ingress protection ratings used in the ;!.