How EN 60529 Defines IP Ratings for Dust and Water Protection
The IP rating of the electrical equipment shows the level of protection provided by the equipment enclosure from solid matter, including dust and moisture, according to the standard EN 60529:2018 Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code). Well-chosen IP ratings help to avoid any unnecessary downtime as a result of common failure caused by ingress, for example, such as corrosion, tracking, and contamination of the enclosure.
How Does the EN 60529 Define the IP Ratings?
An IP rating is written as:
Where:
- First digit (X): protection against access to hazardous parts and ingress of solid foreign objects / dust
- Second digit (Y): protection against water ingress
Where a digit is not specified, EN 60529 allows the letter “X” to be used in its place. For example, IPX5 means that the solid-object/dust protection level is not declared.
What Protection Does the First Digit in IP rating refer to?
The first digit ranges from 0 to 6 and describes protection against solid objects and dust:
|
Digit |
Level of Protection |
|
0 |
No protection |
|
1 |
Solid Foreign Objects ≥ 50 mm |
|
2 |
Solid Foreign Objects ≥ 12.5 mm |
|
3 |
Solid Foreign Objects ≥ 2.5 mm |
|
4 |
Solid Foreign Objects ≥ 1 mm |
|
5 |
Dust-protected |
|
6 |
Dust-tight |
How Is Water Ingress Classification in EN 60529?
The second number is from 0 to 9 and classifies the level of protection
against water exposure:
|
Digit |
Type of Water Exposure |
|
0 |
No protection |
|
1 |
Vertically falling water drops |
|
2 |
Vertically falling water drops when enclosure inclined at 15o |
|
3 |
Spraying water |
|
4 |
Splashing water |
|
5 |
Water jets |
|
6 |
Powerful water jets |
|
7 |
Temporary immersion in water |
|
8 |
Continuous immersion in water |
|
9 |
High-pressure and high temperature water jets |
Outdoor devices commonly have IP65, IP66, and IP67 classifications, but these are often misinterpreted. In particular, jet protection (X5/X6) and immersion protection (X7/X8) do not overlap, and the requirement should be stated depending on the type of exposure.
The following figure describes the IP rating classification according to the IEC 60529 standard:
How Are IP Ratings Proven in Practice?
The IP ratings are proven via physical testing conducted according to EN 60529. Depending on the classification claimed, verification would involve:
• Testing in dust chamber for IP5X and IP6X
• Testing by spraying and jets for IPX3-IPX6
• Immersion testing for IPX7 and IPX8
• Testing by high pressure for IPX9
It is also important to note that passing one level does not automatically demonstrate compliance with another level unless it is explicitly tested and documented.
How BallastCo Lab supports EN 60529 IP testing (IPX5 / IPX6)
IP testing device provided by BallastCo Lab is a device that performs IPX5 and IPX6 testing according to the EN/IEC 60529 standard. During the test, the specimen is installed in a waterproof box where it rotates on a turntable while being subjected to water flow from different sides.
Regarding the delivery of water, the device provides the following parameters of jets:
- IPX5: Ø6.5 mm nozzle, 12.5 L/min
- IPX6: Ø12.5 mm nozzle, 100 L/min
Water flow is controlled through the flow meter and manual valve. Moreover, a 2.5 m distance pipe is utilized in order to ensure proper nozzle position within the required range. Test procedure is performed for 3 minutes and then the specimen is inspected for water penetration and malfunctioning.
Since the size of the enclosure is a limiting factor for many manufacturers, BallastCo offers customization of test cabin size according to the requirements of the client.