Specifications

First IP Number
0 No protection
1 Protection from solid foreign objects
of 50 millimeters or greater
2 Protection from solid objects up to
12 millimeters
3 Protection from solid objects more
than 2.5 millimeters
4 Protection from solid objects more
than 1 millimeter
5 Protected from dust, limited ingress
6 Totally protected from dust, dust tight
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Second IP Number
0 No protection
1 Protection from vertically falling
drops of water and condensation
2 Protection from direct sprays of
water up to 15° from the vertical
3 Protection from direct sprays of
water up to 60° from the vertical
4 Protection from splashing water
from all directions
5 Protection from low-pressure
water jets from all directions
6 Protection from high-pressure
water jets
7 Protection from temporary immersion
up to 1 meter
8 Protection from long periods
of immersion under pressure
Third IP Number
0 No protection
1 Protection from impact of 0.225 joules
(150 grams falling from 15 cm)
2 Protection from impact of 0.375 joules
(250 grams falling from 15 cm)
3 Protection from impact of 0.5 joules
(250 grams falling from 20 cm)
4 Protection from impact of 2.0 joules
(500 grams falling from 40 cm)
5 Protection from impact of 6.0 joules
(1.5 kilograms falling from 40 cm)
6 Protection from impact of 20 joules
(5 kilograms falling from 40 cm)
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Other Standards
Ethernet/Industrial Protocol.
The Ethernet/Industrial Protocol (Ethernet/IP) standard, usually
called Industrial Ethernet, is an open standard. Industrial Ethernet
adapts ordinary, off-the-shelf IEEE 802.3 Ethernet physical media
to industrial applications. In addition, all the TIA/EIA 568-B.1,
568-B.2, and 568-B.3 standards apply in harsh environments.
TIA/EIA 1005: Industrial Telecommunication
Infrastructure.
The TIA TR-42.9 subcommittee is developing the TIA/EIA 1005
standard to address harsh environments. It defines the requirements
for cabling, connectors, pathways, and spaces and will establish
four environmental conditions with the acronym MICE:
• Mechanical (shock, vibration, impact, etc.)
• Ingress (contamination influx)
• Climate (temperature, humidity, UV exposure, etc.)
• Electromagnetic (conducted and radiated interference)
Ingress Protection.
The Ingress Protection (IP) ratings, developed by the European
Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), specify
the environmental protection equipment enclosures provide.
It consists of two or three numbers: The first number refers to
protection from solid objects or materials; the second number refers
Industrial environments
to protection from liquids; and the third number, commonly omitted,
refers to protection against mechanical impacts. For example, an
IP67-rated connector is totally protected from dust and from the
effects of immersion in 5.9 inches (15 cm) to 3.2 feet (1 m) of water
for 30 minutes. Because office-grade RJ-45 connectors do not stand
up in industrial environments, the Ethernet/IP standard calls for
sealed industrial RJ-45 connectors that meet an IP67 standard.
NEMA ratings.
The National Electrical Manufacturers’ Association (NEMA) issues
guidelines and ratings for an enclosure’s level of protection against
contaminants. Here are a few of the most common ratings:
NEMA 3 and 3R enclosures, for indoor and outdoor use, protect
against falling dirt, windblown dust, rain, sleet, snow, and ice
formation. NEMA 3R is identical to NEMA 3 except that it doesn’t
specify protection against windblown dust.
NEMA 4 and 4X enclosures, for indoor and outdoor use, protect
against windblown dust and rain, splashing and hose-directed
water, and ice formation. NEMA 4X goes further, specifying
protection against corrosion caused by the elements.
NEMA 12 enclosures, for indoor use, protect against falling dirt;
circulating dust, lint, and fibers; dripping or splashing non-corrosive
liquids; and oil and coolant seepage.
Ingress Protection Ratings