IP Ratings for Electrical Enclosures

The IP rating (or International Protection Rating, also referred to as Ingress Protection Rating) consists of the letters IP followed by two digits. It is defined by IEC 60529 and classifies the degree of protection against the intrusion of a solid object (e.g. hands, fingers, screwdriver and dust) as the first numeral and protection against water as the second numeral. IP ratings are often specified for projects and it is important to know that generally any IP rating higher than the one specified will be sufficient for the application. For example, if IP56 is specified you could use IP66, but not IP65 (as the 2nd numeral indicating water protection is too low).

For a full description of what each numeral means, see our IP Rating Chart (pdf).

B&R Enclosures industrial products are rated at the following: –

• IP30 – An access probe of 2.5mm diameter shall not penetrate but no protection against water damage.
• IP34 – An access probe of 2.5mm diameter shall not penetrate and protected against water splashed from all directions. Limited ingress permitted.
• IP42 – An access probe of 1.0mm diameter shall not penetrate and protected against sprays to 60°. Limited ingress permitted.
• IP54 – Limited ingress of dust permitted (no harmful deposit) and protected against water splashed from all directions. Limited ingress permitted.
• IP55 – Limited ingress of dust permitted (no harmful deposit) and protected against jets of water. Limited ingress permitted.
• IP56 – Limited ingress of dust permitted (no harmful deposit) and protected against strong jets of water. Limited ingress permitted.
• IP65 – Totally protected against the ingress of dust and protected against jets of water. Limited ingress permitted.
• IP66 – Totally protected against the ingress of dust and protected against strong jets of water. Limited ingress permitted.
• IP67 – Totally protected against the ingress of dust and protected against the effects of temporary immersion between 15cm and 1m.