International Ingress Protection (IP) Ratings

What are IP Ratings & Standards?

The Ingress Protection Ratings & Standards are set forth by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) classifies the degree of protection that an IP enclosure provides from solid objects and liquids in order to operate the enclosed electrical equipment. This rating system is most prevalently recognized in European countries and meets a number of British and European standards, including those established by the IEC.

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) created dozens of IP standards. The two digits used in an IP rating each stand for something different. The first, always between 0-6, indicates the degree of protection against solid objects (its dust/dirt resistance). The second digit, between 0-8, indicates the protection against liquids.

The IP or NEMA rating needed for any environment depends on that site’s amount and type of ingress risk. Manufacturing facilities have large amounts of dust and debris, while food manufacturing facilities may have more potential for water ingress. The rating number (and method of achieving it) needed for your enclosure is something to discuss with an enclosure partner based on the specific environmental conditions along with a discussion regarding security, heat removal, and the ability to quickly scale up.

Entering the IP (Ingress Protection) Rating that you are looking at replacing and the table below will provide you with a general description of its protection capabilities, as well as a NEMA enclosure that can meet the same protection capabilities.