IP ratings
explained

What is an IP rating?

The IP rating (Ingress Protection) is an internationally standardised classification system according to EN 60529 / IEC 60529 that describes the protection of an electrical enclosure against the ingress of foreign objects (dust, dirt) and water. The abbreviation ‘IP’ stands for Ingress Protection.

Every IP rating consists of two code digits: the first digit describes the protection against solid foreign objects and contact, the second digit the protection against water. An enclosure with IP65 is therefore completely dust-tight (6) and protected against water jets from all directions (5).

The complete IP table

First code digit — protection against foreign objects & contact

Digit	Degree of protection	Description
0	No protection	No protection against contact or ingress of foreign objects.
1	Protection against large foreign objects > 50 mm	Protection against accidental contact with the back of the hand. No deliberate access implied.
2	Foreign objects > 12.5 mm	Protection against fingers and similar objects (diameter ≤ 12.5 mm).
3	Foreign objects > 2.5 mm	Protection against tools, wires and objects with a diameter > 2.5 mm.
4	Foreign objects > 1 mm	Protection against wires, screws and objects with a diameter > 1 mm.
5	Dust-protected	No harmful dust ingress — a limited amount of dust may enter but does not impair function.
6	Dust-tight	No dust ingress. Complete sealing against dust particles of any size.

Second code digit — protection against water

Digit	Degree of protection	Test condition
0	No protection	No protection against ingress of water.
1	Vertically dripping water	Vertically falling drops of water shall have no harmful effect. (3–5 mm/min for 10 min)
2	Dripping water at up to 15° tilt	Vertically falling drops of water with the enclosure tilted up to 15°.
3	Spraying water up to 60°	Spraying water at an angle of up to 60° from the vertical. (Rain, drizzle)
4	Splashing water from all directions	Splashing water from any direction. (Spray nozzle 10 l/min, distance 0.5 m)
5	Water jets	Water jets from any direction. (Nozzle ⌀ 6.3 mm, 12.5 l/min, distance 3 m)
6	Powerful water jets / heavy seas	Powerful water jet from any direction. (Nozzle ⌀ 12.5 mm, 100 l/min, distance 3 m)
7	Temporary immersion	Immersion up to a depth of 1 m for 30 minutes without harmful effect.
8	Continuous immersion	Continuous submersion under conditions specified by the manufacturer (depth > 1 m).

The most important IP ratings in detail

IP44 — industrial halls and covered areas

IP44 protects against solid objects with a diameter > 1 mm (fourth degree, e.g. wires) and against splashing water from all directions. Suitable for workshops, assembly halls and covered industrial areas without direct exposure to rain. Typical for simple small enclosures and junction boxes indoors.

IP54 — the industrial standard for indoor halls

IP54 is the most widely used rating in industry. Dust-protected (digit 5: no harmful dust ingress) combined with protection against splashing water from any direction (digit 4). Sufficient for production plants, switch rooms and sheltered outdoor areas with a roof. Unsuitable for permanent open-air operation without further weather protection.

IP55 — increased protection for outdoor areas with weather protection

IP55 combines dust protection (digit 5) with protection against water jets (digit 5: nozzle ⌀ 6.3 mm, 12.5 l/min). Suitable for outdoor applications with indirect exposure to rain, e.g. under canopies, in plant rooms with moisture or for outdoor mounting with lateral rain protection. ZPAS outdoor enclosures (SZD aluminium series) are supplied with IP54 as standard and with IP55 on request.

IP65 — dust-tight and protected against water jets

IP65 combines dust-tightness (digit 6: no dust ingress) with protection against water jets (digit 5). Typical for wall-mounted and stainless steel enclosures in damp and wash-down areas, cleanrooms and the food industry. At ZPAS available for wall-mounted enclosures (SWN, steel) and stainless steel enclosures. For permanent outdoor use, the double-walled aluminium cabinets (SZD) are designed for IP54, or IP55 on request.

IP66 — powerful water jets and heavy seas

IP66 increases water protection considerably compared with IP65: the test jet is much stronger (nozzle ⌀ 12.5 mm, 100 l/min instead of 12.5 l/min). Required for applications with direct powerful water jets, e.g. in washing installations, ports, offshore installations or wherever the enclosure has to withstand high-pressure cleaning.

IP67 — temporary immersion (1 m, 30 minutes)

IP67 protects against temporary immersion in water up to 1 m deep for a maximum of 30 minutes. Typical for portable devices, outdoor sockets, sensors and applications with occasional contact with standing water or flooding.

IP68 — continuous immersion

IP68 is the highest water protection class in the standard IP system. Protection against continuous immersion under pressure conditions specified by the manufacturer (usually > 1 m depth). Applications: underwater cameras, sensors in bodies of water, sewer monitoring.

Which IP rating do I need?

Application / location	Recommended rating	Note
Dry indoor room, no dust	IP20 – IP30	Server rooms, office buildings, IT distribution cabinets
Industrial hall, moderate dust	IP44 – IP54	Production plants, machine halls, switch rooms
Outdoors under a canopy / roof	IP54 – IP55	No direct rainfall, but exposure to moisture
Open air, permanent outdoor use	IP54 – IP55	Cabinet with roof and double wall: telecoms, smart city, PV
Powerful water jets, washing installations	IP66	Ports, vehicle washing, offshore
Temporary flooding	IP67	Flood-prone areas, outdoor sensors
Food / pharmaceutical industry	IP66	Cleaning with powerful water jets and high pressure

IP ratings of ZPAS products

Outdoor enclosures — SZD aluminium series

ZPAS aluminium outdoor enclosures (SZD series) are supplied with IP54 as standard and with IP55 on request — dust-protected and, with IP55, resistant to water jets. Mechanical: IK10 (20 joules impact energy). Temperature range: −40 to +70 °C. View ZPAS outdoor enclosures →

Electrical enclosures & industrial enclosures

ZPAS electrical enclosures made of galvanised sheet steel are available with degrees of protection from IP54 to IP65 — depending on the version, sealing concept and ventilation variant. Stainless steel enclosures (1.4301 / AISI 304) for cleanrooms and hygienic environments achieve IP65. View ZPAS electrical enclosures →

19″ server racks & network cabinets

Server racks for data centres and server rooms generally do not require a high IP rating — the server room itself provides protection against the weather. ZPAS Z-SERVER and SZB IT racks offer IP20 as standard, which is generally sufficient for air-conditioned server rooms. For more demanding requirements (e.g. lockable server racks in public areas), IP54 variants are available. View ZPAS server racks →

IK code: mechanical protection

The IP rating says nothing about mechanical strength. For this there is the IK code according to IEC 62262, which describes the resistance to mechanical impact:

• IK07 – 2 joules impact energy (e.g. industrial-standard plastic enclosures)
• IK08 – 5 joules (light vandal resistance)
• IK09 – 10 joules (reinforced version)
• IK10 – 20 joules (highest standard class; equivalent to a 5 kg hammer dropped from a height of 40 cm)

ZPAS aluminium outdoor enclosures are IK10-certified as standard — the highest level of mechanical impact resistance. Relevant wherever vandalism, mechanical impact or heavy tools may occur nearby.

IP rating and standards: what applies?

The relevant standards at a glance:

• EN 60529 / IEC 60529 – European and international IP standard for degrees of protection of electrical equipment. The basis for all ZPAS products.
• IEC 62262 – IK code for mechanical impact resistance (supplementing the IP standard).
• EN 50102 – European counterpart to the IK code.

CE declarations of conformity and technical data sheets for ZPAS enclosures are available in the downloads section.