IP Ratings Guide
What Are IP Ratings?
IP ratings, which stands for ingress protection ratings, are numerical codes given to devices to state the level of protection they have against solids or liquids. You’ll find IP ratings on devices such as outdoor sockets, electric showers, CCTV and lighting.
What Do Different IP Ratings Mean?
IP ratings have two digits, the first represents the level of protection against solids such as fingers or dust and ranges between 0 and 6. The second digit represents the protection against liquids, ranging from 0 to 9. The higher the number, the greater the protection.
You may find a supplementary letter after the IP rating which describes any additional protections the device may have, such as oil resistance.
Solid IP Ratings
| Rating | Protection Details |
|---|---|
| 0 |
No protection against solids
|
| 1 |
Accidentally touched by a surface greater than 50mm, such as hands. Devices with an IP1 rating are not protected from being deliberately touched.
|
| 2 |
Touched by something wider than 12.5mm, such as fingers. Products with an IP2 rating may include lighting connectors, indoor lighting, oil filled radiators, thermostats, or LED emergency exit signs.
|
| 3 |
Touched by something wider than 2.5mm, such as tools or thick wires. Products with an IP3 rating may include heat detectors.
|
| 4 |
Touched by something greater than 1mm wide, such as wires, screws, nails and even large ants. Products with an IP4 rating may include downlights, bathroom mirror lights, outdoor lights, torches, doorbells, smoke detectors and extractor fans.
|
| 5 |
Protected from damage by dust. It can still enter the device, but not in quantities that will affect it. Products with an IP5 rating may include junction boxes, outdoor lights, waterproof toolboxes, motion detectors and electric vehicle charging cables.
|
| 6 |
These devices are dust tight, so dust cannot enter. IP6 rated products may include industrial sockets, fire-rated downlights, security cameras, isolators, outdoor lights, cable joints, cable glands and floodlights. |
Liquid IP Ratings
| Rating | Protection Details |
|---|---|
| 0 |
No protection against moisture.
|
| 1 |
Protected against dripping water when the device is on a level surface. Water heaters are often protected to this level.
|
| 2 |
Protected against dripping water when the device is tilted 15 degrees. Products with this level of protection may include central heating pumps and panel heaters.
|
| 3 |
Device is protected against spraying water, up to an angle of 60 degrees. Toolboxes may have a water ingress protection level of 3 so they keep your tools protected against moisture.
|
| 4 |
Devices are protected from splashing water that hits at any direction or angle. Products with this level of protection may include electric showers, shower pumps, downlights, bathroom mirrors, water heaters, outdoor lights, central heating pumps and to name a few.
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| 5 |
Protected from jets of water from any direction with no harmful effects. Products may include fire-rated downlights, security cameras, isolators, bathroom extractor fans, humidistats, and central heating pumps.
|
| 6 |
Devices are protected against damage from powerful water jets from any direction. Products may include security cameras, isolators, alarm sounders, weatherproof sockets, outdoor laser levels, head torches, weatherproof fused spurs and garden lights.
|
| 7 |
The device is protected from moisture damage when immersed up to 1m deep. This IP rating can mean that water can enter the device but only in a specific way. Products with this protection level may include industrial sockets, watertight plugs, CCTV, and water resistant torches.
|
| 8 |
Protection against damage when continuously immersed in water 1 metre or deeper. The exact conditions and depth are set by the manufacturer of the device. For some products, it can mean water can only enter in specific ways in order to avoid damage. Products with this protection level may include cable joints, cable glands and water pumps.
|
| 9 |
The device is protected from close range, high pressure and high temperature spray downs. Products may include high pressure washing systems, some military and marine equipment, industrial cleaning equipment, and scientific tools used in water pressure or temperature testing.
|
Supplementary IP Ratings
| Rating | Protection Details |
|---|---|
| D |
Protected against a wire touching hazardous parts of the device.
|
| F |
Resistant to damage from oil getting into the device.
|
| H |
The device has a high voltage.
|
| M |
During testing to get the liquids IP rating, the device was in motion.
|
| S |
During testing to get the liquids IP rating, the device was still.
|
| W |
During testing, the device was in a weather condition that may contribute to the IP rating that was given, such as rain.
|
| B |
Protected from fingers accessing hazardous parts of the device. |
