Technical data

66
IP Degree of Protection
Protection for electrical apparatus against physical contact, foreign bodies and ingress of water. The degree of protection is stipulated by
using the abbreviation IP (international protection) and two identification numbers according to the following table.
Degree of protection (Protection against contact and ingress of solid foreign bodies)
0 No special protection.
1 Protection against ingress of solid objects with a diameter of more than 50 mm (large foreign bodies). 1)
No protection against deliberate access, for example with a hand, but large surfaces of the body are
prevented from approach.
2 Protection against penetration by solid objects with a diameter of more than 12 mm (medium-size objects). 1)
3 Protection against ingress of solid objects with a diameter of more than 2.5 mm (small foreign bodies). 1) 2)
Tools, wires, etc., with a thickness of more than 2.5 mm are prevented from approach.
4 Protection against ingress of solid objects with a diameter of more than 1 mm (granular objects). 1) 2)
Tools, wires, etc., of thickness greater than 1 mm are prevented from approach.
5 Protection against harmful dust deposits. Ingress of dust is not totally prevented but the dust must not enter
in sufficient quantity as to interfere with satisfactory operation of the equipment (dust protected). 3)
Complete protection against contact.
6 Protection against ingress of dust (dust-tight).
Complete protection against contact.
1) In the case of equipment with a degree of protection from 1 to 4, uniformly or non-uniformly
shaped foreign bodies with three mutually perpendicular dimensions greater than the numerical
values given for the diameter are prevented from ingress.
2) For degree of protection 3 and 4, the application of this table for equipment containing drainage
holes or ventilation openings is the responsibility of the relevant technical committee.
3) For degree of protection 5, the application of this table for equipment containing drainage holes is the
responsibility of the relevant technical committee.
Degree of protection (Protection against ingress of water)
0 No special protection.
1 Protection against dripping water at an angle.
No harmful effect must be produced (vertically falling drops).
2 Protection against dripping water falling vertically.
There must be no harmful effect when the equipment (enclosure) is tilted at an angle up to 15
o
from its normal position (drops falling at an angle).
3 Protection against water falling at any angle up to 60
o
from the vertical.
There must be no harmful effect (spray water).
4 Protection against water splashed against the equipment (enclosure) from any direction.
There must be no harmful effect (splashing water).
5 Protection against water projected from a nozzle against the equipment (enclosure) from any direction.
There must be no harmful effect (water jet).
6 Protection against heavy seas or powerful water jets.
Water must not enter the equipment (enclosure) in harmful quantities (splashing over).
7 Protection against water when the equipment (enclosure) is immersed in water under defined conditions
of pressure and time.
Water must not enter in harmful quantities (immersion).
8 The equipment (enclosure) is suitable for continuous submersion in water under conditions which must
be specified by the manufacturer (submersion). 1)
1) This degree of protection normally means that the equipment is hermetically sealed. However, with certain types of
equipment it can mean that water may enter, provided it produces no harmful effects.