The importance of IP when buying electronic equipment
Electronic equipment should be purchased only after learning about certain characteristics that ensure it is the ideal product for our needs. One of these qualities is IP (Ingress Protection), which is simply the level of protection the equipment has against exposure to external agents.
In other words, the IP rating tells you how safe the product is in relation to how solid objects or water may affect it. For example, if you are going to purchase a computer keyboard, its IP rating will tell you how well it can withstand impacts or moisture.
The same applies to LED luminaires: each type and model indicates how and where they can be used. In other words, if you are going to purchase a bulb for outdoor use, you should check the IP rating, as it will tell you whether it is resistant to rain and other solid agents.
Understanding IP easily
The IP nomenclature was established by the International Electrotechnical Commission and has been adopted by most countries. IP is based on two digits indicating protection against solid agents, the first digit, and liquid agents, the second digit.
The IP Code is defined in the international standard IEC 60529, which classifies the degrees of protection provided against the intrusion of solid objects, dust, accidental contact, and water or moisture.
It consists of the letters IP (International Protection), sometimes also interpreted as "Ingress Protection." IP is always followed by two digits and an optional letter. The standard is intended to provide users with more detailed information than standard marketing terms such as "water-resistant."
The digits ("characteristic numerals") indicate a particular type of protection:
Let's look at an explanatory table:
| Rating | Solids | Liquids (water) |
|---|---|---|
| IP 0 | No protection | No protection |
| IP 1 | Protection against solid objects larger than 50 mm | Protection against vertically falling water drops |
| IP 2 | Protection against solid objects larger than 12 mm | Protection against direct sprays at up to 15° from vertical |
| IP 3 | Protection against solid objects larger than 2.5 mm | Protection against direct sprays up to 60° from vertical |
| IP 4 | Protection against solid objects larger than 1 mm | Protection against direct sprays in general, limited ingress permitted |
| IP 5 | Protection against dust, limited ingress permitted | Low-pressure water jets from all directions |
| IP 6 | Protection against dust | Water jets from all directions |
| IP 7 | — | Protection against immersion from 15 cm to 1 m |
| IP 8 | — | Protection against prolonged periods of immersion under pressure |
First digit: protection against objects and dust
- IP0: No protection.
- IP1: Protection against objects with a diameter greater than 50 mm.
- IP2: Protection against objects with a diameter greater than 12 mm.
- IP3: Protection against objects with a diameter greater than 2.5 mm.
- IP4: Protection against objects with a diameter greater than 1 mm.
- IP5: Protection against dust.
- IP6: Dust-tight.
Second digit: protection against liquids
- IPx0: No protection.
- IPx1: Protection against water drops.
- IPx2: Protection against dripping water when tilted up to 15 degrees.
- IPx3: Protection against spraying.
- IPx4: Protection against splashes.
- IPx5: Protection against water jets.
- IPx6: Protection against heavy rain.
- IPx7: Protection against immersion for a specified period of time.
- IPx8: Protection against prolonged immersion underwater.
Example: what does IP66 mean?
However, based on the table above, we can give an example: an outdoor LED floodlight with IP66 protection.
What does this mean? It is dust-resistant, as indicated by the first digit when checking the table: 6.
The second digit is also a 6, indicating that it is protected against water jets from all directions.
Therefore, this is a suitable protection rating for products intended for outdoor use and exposed to conditions such as rain and dust.
The higher the IP protection rating, the higher the equipment's level of protection against the agents covered by the classification.
