Ingress Protection tests are conducted in accordance with IEC 60529/EN60529.

The level of protection of a product is signified by a number (e.g. IP56) where the first number is the ingress protection against solid bodies, and the second number is protection against liquid.

Dust ingress testing is performed using a latest self-contained talc powder circulating chamber. The airflow circulates upward from the bottom, blowing the dust in a circular motion around the units under test.

Water ingress again uses high tech simulation equipment giving protection from dripping water (rain and spray) through to sprays and water jets to high pressure immersion testing.

Testing is verified in each case by our knowledgeable engineers, whose job it is to inspect the tested item immediately after completion and produce a report.

We can perform the following levels of solids and water IP testing: 

Solids

Water
Level of Ingress Protection
Level of Ingress Protection
1. Protected against a solid object greater than 50mm (such as a hand, 50N of force)  1. Protected against vertically falling drops of water. Limited ingress permitted (Turn table at 1RPM required per spec)
2. Protected against a solid object greater than 12.5mm (such as a finger, 10N of force) 2. Protected against vertically falling drops of water with enclosure tilted up to 15 deg. From vertical. Limited ingress permitted
3. Protected against a solid object greater than 2.5mm (such as a screwdriver, 3N of force) 3. Protected against sprays of water up to 60 deg. From the vertical. Limited ingress permitted for three minutes (Calculation of surface area required) 
4. Protected against a solid object greater than 1mm (such as a wire, 1N of force) 4. Protected against water splashed from all directions. Limited ingress permitted 
5. Dust protected. Limited ingress of dust permitted. Will not interfere with operation of the equipment. 2 – 8 hours (Category 2 only) 5. Protected against jest of water. Limited ingress protection 
6. Dust tight. No ingress of dust. 2 – 8 hours (Category 2 only, need pressure regulating system) 6. Water from heavy seas of water projected in powerful jets shall not enter the enclosure in harmful quantities 
  7. Protection against the effects of immersion in water between 15cm and 1m below the surface from 30 minutes 
  8. Protection against the effects of immersion in water under pressure for long periods

Dust ingress (First number)

IP 5X – Dust protected (Vacuum)

Ingress of dust is not totally prevented, but dust shall not penetrate in a sufficient quantity to interfere with satisfactory operation of the apparatus or to impair safety.

IP 6X – Dust Tight

No ingress of dust


Water ingress (second number)

IP x0 - No protection

IP x1 - Vertically dripping water

IPx2 - 75 to 90 degrees dripping water

IP x3 - Sprayed water

IP x4 - Splashed water

IP x5 - Water jets

IP x6 - Powerful water jets

IP x7 - Effects of immersion

IP x8 - Indefinite immersion