IP (international protection or ingress protection) and IK (impact protection) ratings

• IP ingress protection (International Protection Rating) – what is it?
• The first in the IP code – dust protection
• The second digit (characteristic numeral) in the IP code – liquid ingress protection
• IP code systems
• IP rating (level)
• Mechanical impact protection levels IK
• IK classification – impact protection
• IP and IK protection rating – summary

When selecting electronic devices or products, user safety is a key factor. Characteristic markings that can be found on enclosures and packaging enable you to determine the degree of protection and waterproofness of a particular component. To understand it, you need to know what they refer to.

IP class (International Protection Rating) – what is it?

The phrase International Protection Rating refers to the the degree of protection (IP codes) provided by the enclosure of a device against intrusion. As per IEC 60 529 (PN-EN 60 529) standard, it has the form of IP XX, where:

• the first digit indicates the level of protection against solid particles and touch
• the second digit indicates liquid ingress protection level.

Furthermore, sometimes characteristic digits are followed by a special character, which serves as a supplementary information or marking of the level of protection against access to hazardous parts. According to the adapted character hierarchy, any number contains all the preceding levels of protection.

First digit in the IP protection marking – protection against dust

The first digit indicates the level of protection of the device against the ingress of solid foreign objects, and user protection against contact with hazardous parts.

• Zero level of protection (IP 0X) – no protection against contact with hazardous parts of the device or the ingress of solid objects – this marking is used for devices with no enclosure.
• First level of protection (IP 1X) – protection against foreign objects with the diameter of >50 mm, as well as protection of users touching device parts with the back of a hand.
• Second level of protection (IP 2X) – protection against foreign objects with the diameter of >12.5 mm, as well as protection of users touching hazardous parts of the device with fingers. According to the hierarchy, the second level of protection meets the conditions of the preceding class, which means it also ensures protection for the back of a hand.
• Third level of protection (IP 3X) – protection against foreign objects with the diameter of 2.5 mm, as well as protection of users touching device parts with tools.
• Fourth level of protection (IP 4X) – protection against solid objects with a diameter of up to 1 mm. This level also ensures protection to users touching the hazardous device with a wire.
• Fifth level of protection (IP 5X) – protection against dust. It also ensures safety of a person using a wire.
• Sixth level of protection (IP 6X) – this is the highest level of protection, as it ensures complete protection of the insides of the device and its components against dust. This level provides full safety of people and parts of the body typically used for operating the device.

Second digit in the IP protection marking – waterproofness

The second digit indicates full or partial protection against water, and characterises a device as waterproof or partially waterproof against the determining factor (IP X_).

• Zero level of protection (IP X0) – no protection against water; the manufacturer does not guarantee that the device will continue to work after ingress of water.
• First level of protection (IP X1) – protection against vertically falling drops of water, which shall have no harmful effect on the functionality of the device.
• Second level of protection (IP X2) – protection against vertically dripping water when the enclosure is tilted at an angle of 15° from its normal position.
• Third level of protection (IP X3) – protection against water falling as a spray at any angle up to 60° from the vertical.
• Fourth level of protection (IP X4) – protection against water splashing against the enclosure from any direction.
• Fifth level of protection (IP X5) – protection against water projected in a jet against enclosure from any direction.
• Sixth level of protection (IP X6) – protection against water projected in powerful jets.
• Seventh level of protection (IP X7) – protection of the device when the enclosure is immersed in water for a short time and up to 1m.
• Eight level of protection (IP X8) – protection of the device when the enclosure is immersed in water for a long time, causing no damages visible during operation.
• Ninth level of protection (IP X9) – protection against high pressure spray downs.

Notation of the IP protection classes

When there’s no need for indicating the protection level for the factors represented by the first or the second digit, ”X” is used in the notation, e.g. IP6X – this means that the device or product is protected against dust, whereas protection against water does not need to be specified. Furthermore, in special cases the characteristic digits may be followed by additional characters (letters). Letters A, B, C, and D indicate user safety when touching the device:

• Letter A – means protection of the user touching the device with the back of a hand.
• Letter B – means protection of the user touching the device with a finger.
• Letter C – means protection of the user touching the device with a tool with a diameter below 2.5 mm.
• Letter D – means protection of the user touching the device or its components with a wire or tool with a diameter up to 1 mm.

IP protection classes – examples of notations

IP 44 level of protection – protection against solid objects with a diameter of up to 1 mm, protection of the user touching the hazardous device with a wire, and protection against water splashing against the enclosure from any direction.

IP 44D level of protection – this is the notation for the IP 44 level of protection, with an additional letter emphasizing the protection of the user touching the device with a wire.

Classification of mechanical impact protection IK

An IK code consists of letters “IK” and numerals from 00 to 10, indicating the level of protection ensured by the electrical device's enclosure against external mechanical impact.

Labelling devices with IK ratings (or impact protection levels) is a current international standard for electrical device enclosures (outer cases). IK ratings were primarily defined in 1995 by the European standard BS EN 50102, and then were replaced in 1997 with IEC 60068-2-75. Subsequently, the European standard EN62262 was established in 2002, which is equivalent to the international standard IEC62262 (2002). However, before the standards were developed and implemented, information about mechanical protection was indicated by adding a third digit to the IP code, e.g. IP66(9).

The IK standard defines guidelines for the assembly and mounting of enclosures for performing the tests and the environmental conditions thereof and the number of impacts to be executed (which depends on the enclosure size). The standards also describe distribution of the impacts, size, style, dimensions and even materials of different types of hammers (objects) designed to produce the required amounts of energy. It is subsequently measured in joules.

High IK ratings are particularly important for devices to be installed in public places, areas with high traffic, industrial areas, commercial environments and sites exposed to acts of vandalism. Any damage to electrical devices' outer cases in such places can pose a hazard to the health and life of people, cause hampered access to infrastructure and economic losses.

Therefore, it is crucial to assess the risk of damage while making decisions about applying devices with high or low IK levels. It is worth noting, however, that IK ratings may be subjective, and EN 62262 may fail here, as the manufacturer has a considerable degree of discretion in conducting the tests and selecting the points where the impacts will be located, which has a significant effect on the result. Such parts as hinges and locks are exempt from the tests. Remember that if a device has an IK rating determined, it must also have an equivalent IP rating. For example, if an enclosure has IP66 protection level, it means that after passing a test for IK06 protection level, it may be labelled with both IP66 and IK06 markings. However, if an enclosure passes IK08 tests but has only an IP54 level, it must be labelled with IK068 and IP54 or IK06 and IP66, but it may not be labelled with the protection levels IK08 and IP66 if one test affects the results of the other ones.

IK classification – impact protection level

• IK00 – Not protected.
• IK01 – Protected against 0.14J impact (equivalent to an impact of 0.25 kg mass dropped from 56 mm above the impacted surface).
• IK02 – Protected against 0.2J impact (equivalent to an impact of 0.25 kg mass dropped from 80 mm above the impacted surface).
• IK03 – Protected against 0.35J impact (equivalent to an impact of 0.25 kg mass dropped from 140 mm above the impacted surface).
• IK04 – Protected against 0.5J impact (equivalent to an impact of 0.25 kg mass dropped from 200 mm above the impacted surface).
• IK05 – Protected against 0.7J impact (equivalent to an impact of 0.25 kg mass dropped from 280 mm above the impacted surface).
• IK06 – Protected against 1J impact (equivalent to an impact of 0.25 kg mass dropped from 400 mm above the impacted surface).
• IK07 – Protected against 2J impact (equivalent to an impact of 0.5 kg mass dropped from 400 mm above the impacted surface).
• IK08 – Protected against 5J impact (equivalent to an impact of 1.7 kg mass dropped from 300 mm above the impacted surface).
• IK09 – Protected against 10J impact (equivalent to an impact of 5 kg mass dropped from 200 mm above the impacted surface).
• IK10 – Protected against 20J impact (equivalent to an impact of 5 kg mass dropped from 400 mm above the impacted surface).

IP and IK protection rating – summary

Ingress protection assessment is carried out by specialist and certified entities. This gives users confidence in the safety of the equipment or components and their resistance to the ingress of solids, dust and liquids. The same is true with the IK ratings, which confirm mechanical resistance. It is therefore always a good idea to check the device's labels, especially if you plan to operate them in challenging environments.

Oto tłumaczenie na język angielski z zachowaniem formatowania:

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about IP and IK Ratings

Transfer Multisort Elektronik (TME) is one of the world’s largest global distributors of electronic components, electrotechnical parts, workshop equipment, and industrial automation. The catalog includes over 1,500,000 products from 1,300 leading manufacturers. TME’s modern logistics centers in Łódź and Rzgów (Poland), with a combined area of over 40,000 m², ship nearly 6,000 packages daily to customers in more than 150 countries.

TME also invests in the development of knowledge and skills of young engineers and electronics enthusiasts through the TME Education project, and supports the tech community by organizing the TechMasterEvent series, promoting innovation and experience exchange.