We all use electrical devices daily and hear terms like “Waterproof,” “Water Resistant,” and “Dustproof.” Ever wondered how this works or what they’re called in the industrial world? If not, this article explains it all. They’re known as IP ratings, which help determine a device’s level of protection.
Understanding the Purpose and Meaning of IP Rating
How many times have you got your Electric and electronic devices broken down because of water or the fan of your machine or motor/generator etc. got stuck because dust got inside them? To understand the safety protection to save your investments, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) came up with the ingress protection (IP) ratings.
This rating is code-based information about equipment and devices. It informs you about how well a device’s casing keeps out dust and liquids. These ratings are used a lot in industries. Many technicians and service providers want to learn about tricky terms like “waterproof” or “water-resistant” when used for marketing.
An IP Rating is printed with 2 numerals but sometimes an additional (not necessary) number or alphabet is also printed.
First number
If you see the image above you can see the word IP with 4, 7 and W. The first digit in the code represents the level of resistance of the device to solid particulates. It has a scale varying from 0-6. You will learn in-depth about it in the following sections.
Second number
Similarly, there is another number along with the first digit. This 2nd number tells you about the resistance of enclosures against liquid material’s contact with the device. In the same way of first digit, also has a scale that varies from 0 to 9.
Additional Digit or Alphabet
Along with the 2 digits, sometimes you will see a third digit or an alphabet too. This is provided by the manufacturer if some additional critical information about the enclosure is necessary to tell the user. It is optional and is not commonly seen except on special-purpose devices that operate in special environments.
Understanding Codes of IP Rating
IP ratings are crucial when selecting the right equipment in industries like construction, manufacturing, packaging and food and beverages. You can take an example, for instance, a control panel on a construction crane that might have an IP56 rating. It means that it is dust-protected and also protected against powerful water jets.
An IP69K rating offers the highest protection, making the enclosure dust-tight and safe from Powerful high-temperature water jets.
In almost all hydraulics and heavy machinery, the electrical and pneumatic components are enclosed in IP-rated cases. For example, circuit boxes are built of sensitive electronic components and control panels of various Hydraflu hydraulic equipment and other machines contain various components and circuit boards.
All the similar pieces of equipment containing electronics need to be safeguarded, else, otherwise, the chances of malfunctioning or causing an injury increases – if exposed to dust or liquids. There is a variation in equipment rating within the same job floor. This variation exists because different components of big system are installed at different positions so each position will define which IP rating is best at what place. This will be covered in the upcoming sections.
Now, let us move you to the reference charts below for a better and quick understanding of the IP rating.
Dust Particulates Rating
The first numeral in the above IP rating code i.e. “4”, represents the scale of protection of the device or casing against the dust particulates. When you check from the table below, 4 means it is protected against the particulates at 1mm particulate level. The table below talks about the levels of protection for solid particles. You can learn more about this by making some sample code.
Liquid Ingress Protection Levels
Liquid is the enemy of electronics, no matter if it is water or oil. That is why it is a most important digit in IP rating. The higher the number, the better the protection against liquid ingress. The table below “Hydraflu Liquid Material Protection Level” will let you learn the code and description.
3rd Digit or Alphabet (Optional)
The third digit is usually absent from the rating unless there is a critical need to mention it. You can learn this too, because just in case, you may need to handle equipment with an additional 3rd letter before or after the main 2 digits. This learning will let you not get confused if any such situation happens.
The third digit/alphabet indicates some of the special instructions or information that you may need to keep in mind along with the other 2 digits.
Now if you back to the very first image where a Sample IP code is given as IP47W, you can interpret the meaning of this code by following the instructions from all these charts. Try it for your exercise in comprehending the meaning and you will be able to apply this technique on all future real situations.
Factors that Can Degrade IP Protection
IP-ratings are the values, that are tested when the equipment or the device was manufactured. It gets a Quality assurance test and so IP rated aligns with it. But as you use and operate the equipment, the IP ratings degrade with time. This can be because of various reasons. Some of the reasons are:
- The device got damaged and so the dust particles or liquid found a space or crack to enter into the casing or enclosure.
- Environmental hazards such as chemical spills, chemically polluted atmospheres, extreme temperatures or humidity play significant roles in the degradation of IP ratings.
- Similarly, prolonged wear and tear also degrades the IP ratings.
- One of the critical factors is to install equipment with a wrong understanding of the IP rating od that equipment. It will not fit into its right place and so it will quickly degrade the IP Ratings.
That is why, understanding of IP Rating with respect to the utilization and application of instruments and equipment is critically essential. So, head to the following section to get this concept in detail.
How to Understand the Most Appropriate IP Rating
Choosing the right IP rating depends on the environment your device will face, balancing cost with necessary protection levels. Many critical factors contribute to the selection of equipment with the most appropriate IP rating. Following is the chart with most appropriate IP rating with respect to environment and situations:
Most Commonly used IP Ratings
The specific IP Rating can only be determined correctly if you and the manufacturer carefully evaluate your operating environment. Just for an understanding point, you can consider exploring details of IP56 or IP66 which is followed mostly and is mostly suitable in the majority of the environmental conditions. Similarly, you can check about different devices and their particular placement on the job floor.
Conclusion
Understanding IP ratings helps you select durable devices that meet your protection needs, enhancing their longevity and performance. The key part is to understand the environmental conditions in which you are going to install the equipment or machinery’s control panel. If this will be calculated with care, the equipment will last longer.
