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2.3 IP Protection
The
IP Code
,
Ingress Protection Rating
, sometimes also interpreted as
International
Protection Rating
, classifies and rates the degree of protection provided against the
intrusion (including body parts such as hands and fingers), dust, accidental contact, and
water in
mechanical casings
and with electrical enclosures. It is published by the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
Solid particle protection
The first digit indicates the level of protection that the enclosure provides against access
to hazardous parts (e.g., electrical conductors, moving parts) and the ingress of solid
foreign objects.
Level
Object size
protected against
Effective against
0
—
No protection against contact and ingress of objects
1
>50 mm
Any large surface of the body, such as the back of a
hand, but no protection against deliberate contact
with a body part
2
>12.5 mm
Fingers or similar objects
3
>2.5 mm
Tools, thick wires, etc.
4
>1 mm
Most wires, screws, etc.
5
Dust protected
Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must
not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with the
satisfactory operation of the equipment; complete
protection against contact
6
Dust tight
No ingress of dust; complete protection against
contact
