IP Rating Guide
IP ratings identify the level of protection provided by electrical enclosures against solids and water ingress.
How IP Ratings Work
An IP rating consists of the letters IP followed by two numbers.
The first number relates to protection against solid objects and access to hazardous parts.
The second number relates to protection against water.
IP
6
5
6
5
Example: IP65 means dust tight protection and protection against water jets.
First Numeral
Protection Against Solids
| No. | Icon | Protection Level | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | No protection. | Non-protected | |
| 1 | Protection against objects greater than 50mm. Contact with hazardous parts not permitted. | Back of hand | |
| 2 | Protection against objects greater than 12.5mm. | Finger | |
| 3 | Protection against objects greater than 2.5mm. | Tool | |
| 4 | Protection against objects greater than 1.0mm. | Wire | |
| 5 | Dust protected. Limited dust ingress permitted where it does not interfere with operation. | Dust protected | |
| 6 | Dust tight. Totally protected against dust ingress. | Dust tight |
Second Numeral
Protection Against Water
| No. | Icon | Protection Level | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | No protection. | Non-protected | |
| 1 | Protected against vertically falling drops of water. | Vertically dripping | |
| 2 | Protected against dripping water when enclosure is tilted up to 15 degrees. | Dripping up to 15 degrees | |
| 3 | Protected against spraying water up to 60 degrees from vertical. | Limited spraying | |
| 4 | Protected against water splashing from all directions. | Splashing | |
| 5 | Protected against water jets from all directions. | Hosing jets | |
| 6 | Protected against strong water jets from all directions. | Strong hosing jets | |
| 7 | Protected against temporary immersion between 15cm and 1m. | Temporary immersion | |
| 8 | Protected against continuous immersion under pressure. | Continuous immersion |
Common IP Ratings for Switchboards
Note: This guide is for general reference only. Final enclosure selection should be confirmed against the project specification, installation environment and applicable Australian Standards.