Often, on a quest to find a great product, you are faced with lots of technical jargon that can highly affect which product you choose, but lucky for you the IP ratings are easy to understand. IP ratings are used on all kinds of devices. We will primarily discuss the uses of these ratings on headlamps and flashlights, but understand that the rating system was created for enclosures and works on any device that was rated with the system.
IP (Ingress Protection) ratings are used to define the effectiveness of enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies like dust and moisture. The higher the digit, the more protected the enclosure. The first digit rates protection against solids. The second digit rates protection against liquids.
What do the numbers in an IP Rating mean?
There are two numbers, and sometimes a letter mixed into the IP ratings. The first number indicates the protection from solids such as dust, tools and even your fingers. The second number is used for protection from moisture in its many forms like dripping, spraying and submersion. The rating system combines both of them, as well as the letters IP to quickly show what a device has been tested against. When you find a letter in a rating, such as IPX8, the device has not received a rating for solids because the first number, or in this case X, is just a place holder.
What is An IPX rating? IPX8 vs IP68
In the case of IP ratings, such as in algebra, the X is a place holder for other numbers. In the case of IPX8 VS IP68, IPX8 would mean that a device or enclosure has been rated with an IP level of 8 for moisture (second number) but nothing officially for solids. A device rated IP68 would be rated in both the solids and moisture categories.
What Does The First Number In An IP Rating Mean?
The first number indicates the protection from solids such as dust, tools and even your fingers. Please refer to the list below to get an idea of exactly what this means given the possible numbers for the IP ratings system.
| 0 | No protection, sometimes replaced with “X”, against ingress of this type |
| 1 | Protection against objects larger than 50mm in size such as hands |
| 2 | Protection against objects larger than 12mm in size such as fingers |
| 3 | Protection against objects larger than 2.5mm such as tools and wires |
| 4 | Protection against objects larger than 1mm such as wires, nails, screws and smaller insects |
| 5 | Partial protection against dust and other particulates, such that any ingress will not damage or impede the satisfactory performance of internal components |
| 6 | Full protection against dust and other particulates |
What Does The Second Number In An IP Rating Mean?
The second number is used for protection from moisture in its many forms like dripping, spraying and submersion. Please refer to the list below to get an idea of exactly what this means given the possible numbers for the IP ratings system.
| 0 | No protection, sometimes replaced with “X”, against ingress of this type |
| 1 | Protection against vertical droplets such as condensation |
| 2 | Protection against vertical droplets when device is tilted up to 15 degrees |
| 3 | Protection against vertical droplets when device is tilted up to 60 degrees |
| 4 | Protection against splashes from any direction |
| 5 | Protection against low-pressure water from any angle (6.3mm jets) |
| 6 | Protection against medium-pressure water from any angle (12.5mm jets) |
| 7 | Protection against full immersion up to 1 meter and 30 minutes |
| 8 | Protection against full immersion more than 1 meter specified by manufacturer |
| 9K | Protection against high-pressure AND high-temperature water jets such as steam cleaners |
Which IP Rating Is Waterproof?
If you are solely looking for protection against water, and in this case submersion of your product in water, then the rating you are looking for is IPX7 or better. The number seven in this rating protects your enclosure or product against full immersion up to 1 meter for a duration of 30 minutes. You may also see this rating as IP67 or IP68 as they are common when looking for water proof products.
What Is The Difference Between Waterproof and Water Resistant?
When an enclosure is waterproof it is protected against droplets, splashes, and sprays, as well as submersion in water for a specified distance and length of time. In an IPX8 rating, for example, an enclosure would be protected against full immersion more than 1 meter, typically specified by the manufacturer. This matters because the deeper your enclosure finds itself in water, the more pressure that it has to resist before water will penetrate the enclosure system.
When an enclosure is water resistant it will not be designed for submersion. Water resistance simply protects from droplets, splashes, and water pressure jets at varying angles and distance depending on the rating. If we take a look at an IPX4, the enclosure will be protected from splashes from any direction such as rainfall. If you take a water gun and shoot it, however, the water may penetrate the enclosure as it is pressurized via the gun.
What Is The Highest IP Rating?
Given the possibilities of ratings when using the Ingress Protection (IP) rating system, one could deduce that the highest IP rating is IP69K. Although 9K is a rating, you are more likely to come across enclosures using the IP68 rating as the highest rating available. An enclosure with a rating of IP68 would be fully protected against dust and foreign solid particulates as well as resistant to full immersion to depths more than 1 meter which would be specified by the manufacturer.
Which Is Better IP65 or IP67?
When shopping we are likely to make a comparison list or chart. In a situation where you are faced with similar, yet different, IP ratings you can usually go with the safe route by purchasing the higher rating. In the case for IP65 vs IP67, the difference would be in the protection against fluids. IP65 would be fully protected against dust (first digit is a 6) and protected against low-pressure water from any angle when using 6.3mm jets.
As for the product or enclosure rated with IP67, the protection against dust is again at its highest given the 6. Protection against fluids is a 7 and would mean your enclosure is rated for full immersion up to 1 meter and 30 minutes
What Does Dust Proof Mean?
Still unsure about what dust proof and water proof mean? Dust proof rates an enclosure against solid particles entering successfully. For something like a headlamp or flashlight, this could be the difference between the internal components becoming dirty over time and preventing a good flow of electricity due to reduced contact between electrical components. The dust proof ratings in the IP rating scheme indicate protection from all solids such as tools, dirt, dust, and even your fingers.
What Does Water Proof Mean?
When an enclosure is waterproof it protects the internals from being touched by outside fluids or water. Fluids will not enter in any way, even if the enclosure is fully submerged. Headlamps and flashlights can, again, be highly useful if they are waterproof as accidents can, and will, happen. Use of these devices is also typical in the outdoors where all of the elements are constantly attacking your headlamp or flashlight. If you work somewhere prone to rainfall or surrounded by bodies of water, you will definitely want an enclosure that is waterproof.
Which IP Ratings Are Suitable For Outdoors?
Any enclosure with a rating of IP57 or higher, on either digit, will be great for the outdoors. The rating of 5 for solids indicates that an enclosure will be resistant enough against dust that the proper function of the device will not be interrupted. The rating of 7 for fluids indicates protection against full submersion up to 1 meter. This also means your enclosure is protected fully against all droplets, splashes, and jet sprays. If you are looking for a headlamp, flashlight, or any device/enclosure that is suitable for the outdoors you cannot go wrong with IP57. More often than not, however, you will see IP67 and IP68 in the marketplace when you are on the hunt for a new device. Be sure to understand that for a device to have these ratings, you may lose functions such as battery replacement (phones) or the device may be a bit clunkier and heavier. More protection usually means more bulk and slower functions.