Electronic devices such as mobile phones, cameras, tablets and wireless speakers have become an integral part of our daily essentials, both professionally and in everyday live. This has increased the demand for rugged devices that can be used outdoor as well as under demanding circumstances at work. For the latter, think of industrial equipment such as regulators and meters that have to be protected from dust and moisture. Manufactures cater to this demand by producing and marketing dustproof and waterproof devices.

The IP (International Protection, also known as Ingress Protection) ratings consists of the letters IP, followed by two digits. The first digit (IP XX) indicates the degree of protection against touching and penetrating by foreign bodies of various sizes. The second digit (IP XX) indicates the degree of protection against moisture. The IP rating is standardized internationally in the IEC 60529 standard.

The level of protection against the intrusion of liquid bodies consists of eight levels (source: Wikipedia):

  1. Dripping water: dripping water (vertically falling drops) shall have no harmful effect on the specimen when mounted in an upright position onto a turntable and rotated at 1 RPM;
  2. Dripping water when tilted at 15°: vertically dripping water shall have no harmful effect when the enclosure is tilted at an angle of 15° from its normal position;
  3. Spraying water: water falling as a spray at any angle up to 60° from the vertical shall have no harmful effect, utilizing either: a) an oscillating fixture, or b) a spray nozzle with a counterbalanced shield;
  4. Splashing of water: water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect, utilizing either: a) an oscillating fixture, or b) a spray nozzle with no shield;
  5. Water jets: water projected by a nozzle (6.3 mm) against enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects;
  6. Powerful water jets: water projected in powerful jets (12.5 mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects;
  7. Immersion, up to 1 m depth: ingress of water in harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time (up to 1 m of submersion);
  8. Immersion, 1 m or more depth: the equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water under conditions which shall be specified by the manufacturer;
  9. Powerful high temperature water jets: protected against close-range high pressure, high temperature spray downs.

Example: an IP 54 device is dust-resistant (level 5, also see: IP XX testing IP XX testing solid objects) and splash-proof (level 4).

Kiwa’s fully equipped test facilities enable IP testing in accordance with IEC 60529 up to IPX8. Testing includes assessing the protective properties of the equipment against the intrusion of liquids under various circumstances and various degrees of protection.

Are you interested in obtaining a IP XX rating for liquid intrusion protection? Please contact Kiwa’s ECP sales office!