PROTECTION CATEGORIES TO IEC 60 529 (EN 60 529)

The IP protection category is characterised by 2 numbers:

Degrees of protection for protection against contact and foreign bodies: First characteristic numeral

First characteristic numeralDescriptionExplanation
1Protected against solid foreign objects with a diameter of 50 mm and greaterThe object probe, a sphere 50 mm in diameter, must not penetrate fully 1).
2Protected against solid foreign objects with a diameter of 12.5 mm and greaterThe object probe, a sphere 12.5 mm in diameter, must not penetrate fully 1).
The articulated test finger may penetrate up to its length of 80 mm, but adequate distance must be adhered to.
3Protected against solid foreign objects with a diameter of 2.5 mm and greaterThe object probe, a sphere 2.5 mm in diameter, must not penetrate at all 1).
4Protected against solid foreign objects with a diameter of 1.0 mm and greaterThe object probe, a sphere 1.0 mm in diameter, must not penetrate at all1).
5Dust-protectedThe ingress of dust is not fully prevented, but dust may not enter to such an extent as to impair satisfactory operation of the device or safety.
6Dust-tightNo ingress of dust at a partial vacuum of 20 mbar inside the enclosure.

1) The full diameter of the object probe shall not pass through an opening of the enclosure.

Degrees of protection for protection against water: Second characteristic numeral

Second characteristic numeralDescriptionExplanation
1Protected against vertically falling water dropsVertically falling drops shall have no harmful effects.
2Protected against vertically falling water drops when the enclosure is tilted up to 15°Vertically falling drops must not have any harmful effects when the enclosure is tilted up to 15° on either side of the vertical.
3Protected against spraying waterWater sprayed at an angle of up to 60° on either side of the vertical shall have no harmful effects.
4Protected against splashing waterWater splashed on the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects.
5Protected against water jetsWater directed at the enclosure from any direction in a jet shall have no harmful effects.
6Protected against powerful water jetsWater directed at the enclosure from every direction in a powerful jet shall have no harmful effects.
7Protected against the effects of temporary immersion in waterWater must not ingress to such an extent as to cause harmful effects when the enclosure is temporarily immersed in water under standardised pressure and time conditions.
8Protected against the effects of continuous immersion in waterIngress of water in quantities causing harmful effects shall not be possible when the enclosure is continuously immersed in water under conditions to be agreed between the manufacturer and the user. However, the conditions must be more difficult than for characteristic numeral 7.
9Water during high-pressure/steam-jet cleaningWater directed at the enclosure from every direction under greatly increased pressure must not have any adverse effects.

Example of a protection category, e.g. IP 43:
First characteristic numeral = 4:
Protected against solid foreign objects with a diameter of 1.0 mm and greater

Second characteristic numeral = 3:

Protected against spraying water

Informations

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