IP Protection Class

These tests are used to ensure the safety of electrical devices or their enclosures, both internally and externally. For this purpose, their conformity with the regulations summarized under IP protection types is checked. The abbreviation "IP" stands for the English term "International Protection", but in the English-speaking world it is sometimes also interpreted as "ingress protection", which also correctly describes the task.

This is because the penetration of undesirable foreign substances into the housing of electrical equipment in most cases presents them with major problems, or leads to their complete failure. Therefore, special attention must be paid to the tightness and resistance of the housings, as even the penetration of the smallest amounts of particles can have fatal consequences.

It is a matter of protection in two respects: firstly, as a guarantee of functionality and, secondly, as safety for users or even bystanders who happen to come into close contact with the electrical device. This may include animals that need to be protected from electric shock.

Which protection class applies to which enclosure is determined by the product type and the intended use of the device. Accordingly, the various products are divided into different classes, to which different IP codes are assigned. The class into which a device is to be classified depends primarily on the place of use and the conditions prevailing there.

Accordingly, test methods for the IP protection classes must attempt to emulate common disturbances at specific locations of use. For example, IP2X is about simulated penetration of a finger, IP3X is about tool-like objects, IP4X is about wire or similar. It must be demonstrated during testing that access to certain parts is not possible. A second digit describes the protection against water.

Definition of IP protection classes

The designation of the protection class always consists of the letters IP with two appended code numbers. These define protection against foreign bodies, protection against contact and protection against water. For example, IP54 would thus provide protection against dust in damaging quantities, complete protection against contact and protection against splashing water on all sides. If a protection class is not applicable or is not to be taken into account, this digit is replaced by an X (e.g. IPX6). For a more precise designation of the protection class, the digits can be supplemented by defined letters. ISO 20653 defines the letter K for marking the equipment of road vehicles.