Installing network components in cabinets
3.2 IP degrees of protection
Passive network components
System Manual, 02/2013, C79000-G8976-C282-01
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3.2
IP degrees of protection
General
Electrical equipment is normally surrounded by a protective casing.
The purpose of this casing includes
●
Protection of persons from touching live components or moving parts
(accidental contact protection)
●
Protection of equipment from intrusion of solid foreign bodies (solid body protection)
●
Protection of equipment from ingress of water (water protection).
IEC 60529, EN 60529 /15/
The degree of protection specifies the degree to which the casing meets these
three protective functions.
The degrees of protection are specified uniformly in the "International Standard IEC 60529"
or in the identical European standard EN 60529.
The degree of protection of a casing is indicated by a code. The code consists of the letters
IP (International Protection) followed by a code number for contact, solid body and water
protection as shown below:
In some situations, the degree of protection is specified in even greater detail by adding
letters to the code numbers.
Scope of protection
The various degrees of protection are listed briefly in Tables 1-1 and 1-2. For more detailed
information on the individual ratings and the test conditions that must be fulfilled, please refer
to the standards listed above.
Table 3- 1
Contact protection (short form)
First number
Protection of equipment from intrusion of
solid foreign bodies
Protection of persons from access to
dangerous parts
0
not protected
not protected
1
≥ 50.0 mm diameter
back of hand
2
≥ 12.5 mm diameter
finger
3
≥ 2.5 mm diameter
tool
4
≥ 1.0 mm diameter
wire
5
dust protected
wire
6
dustproof
wire