The IP rating (Ingress Protection rating) of an electrical device indicates how well the device's enclosure protects it from solid objects and moisture. The rating helps you choose the right device for the environment in which it will operate, such as outdoors, in damp areas or in industrial conditions. The protection class of the enclosure is always verified by testing, and only accredited testing is guaranteed to be reliable. The requirements for the protection rating of electrical device enclosures are described in the IEC/EN 60529 standard. The rating consists of the letter combination IP and two numbers that determine the level of protection of the device. The first number (0–6) indicates the level of protection against solid objects, such as dust and debris. The second number (0–9): indicates the level of protection against water. The rating is therefore presented in the form IPXX, e.g. IP44.
First Digit – Protection Against Solid Objects:
0: No protection
- 1: Protection against objects larger than 50 mm (e.g., hands)
- 2: Protection against objects larger than 12 mm (e.g., fingers)
- 3: Protection against objects larger than 2.5 mm (e.g., tools, thin wires)
- 4: Protection against objects larger than 1 mm (e.g., screws, pins)
- 5: Dust protection (no harmful amounts of dust can enter)
- 6: Complete dust protection (no dust can enter)
Second Digit – Protection Against Water:
- 0: No protection
- 1: Protection against vertically dripping water (e.g., water falling straight down)
- 2: Protection against water splashing at an angle (e.g., light rain)
- 3: Protection against water splashing at angles up to 60°
- 4: Protection against water splashing from all directions
- 5: Protection against water jets (water under pressure)
- 6: Protection against powerful water jets
- 7: Protection against immersion in water (up to 1 meter deep for up to 30 minutes)
- 8: Protection against immersion in water at greater depths (typically over 1 meter)
- 9: Protection against hot, high-pressure water jets (e.g., car washes)
For example, a device with an IP65 rating is completely dust-tight and protected against water jets. A device rated IP44 is protected from splashing water from all directions and objects larger than 1 mm. An IP68-rated device is completely dust-tight and can withstand long-term immersion in water (usually over 1 meter deep).
Why choose SGS?
SGS is the world's leading testing, inspection, and certification company. We have been testing electrical equipment in Finland for almost 100 years. Like most of our testing, our ingress protection class testing is also accredited*). When you choose SGS testing services, you can reliably demonstrate the protection class of your product to your customers with our test report and thus stand out from the competition.
We are constantly expanding our environmental testing capabilities. The latest testing capability is related to the highest water tightness classification, i.e. IPX9 class, according to the IEC/EN 60529 standard. In this test, the test object is sprayed with high-pressure water at +80C.
We also provide impact resistance, i.e. IK class testing.
Contact our sales team for more information about our IP and IK testing.
*) SGS Fimko Oy's testing laboratory is a testing laboratory T004 accredited by the FINAS accreditation service, accreditation requirement EN-ISO/IEC 17025.
About SGS
SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,700 laboratories and business facilities across 119 countries, supported by a team of 99,250 dedicated professionals. With over 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, safety and compliance.
Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and sustainability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and trusted specialized brands, including Brightsight, Bluesign, Maine Pointe and Nutrasource.
SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH0002497458, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN:SW).
