What is the IP rating?

The IP Rating is the Ingress Protection Rating.

An IP number is used to specify the environmental protection of enclosures around electronic equipment. These ratings are determined by specific tests. The IP number is composed of two digits, the first referring to the protection against solid objects and the second against liquids. The higher the number, the better the protection.

 First Number - Protection from Solid Objects

• 0 = No Protection
• 1 = Protected against solid objects up to 50mm3
• 2 = Protected against solid objects up to 12mm3
• 3 = Protected against solid objects up to 2.5mm3
• 4 = Protected against solid objects up to 1mm3
• 5 = Protected against dust, limited ingress (no harmful deposit)
• 6 = Totally protected against dust

Second Number - Protection from Liquids

• 0 = No Protection
• 1 = Protection against vertically falling drops of water
• 2 = Protection against direct sprays of water up to 15 from vertical
• 3 = Protection against direct sprays of water up to 60 from vertical
• 4 = Protection against direct sprays of water from all directions, limited ingress permitted
• 5 = Protected against low pressure jets of water from all directions, limited ingress permitted
• 6 = Protected against low pressure jets of water, limited ingress permitted
• 7 = Protected against the effect of immersion between 15cm and 1m
• 8 = Protected against long periods of immersion under pressure