The IP Code (or Ingress Protection Rating, sometimes also interpreted as International Protection Rating) consists of the letters IP followed by two digits or one digit and one letter and an optional letter. As defined in international standard IEC 60529, IP Code classifies and rates the degrees of protection provided against the intrusion of solid objects (including body parts like hands and fingers), dust, accidental contact, and water in mechanical casings and with electrical enclosures.
The standard aims to provide users with more detailed information than vague marketing terms such as waterproof. However, no edition of the standard is openly published for unlicensed readers.
The digits (characteristic numerals) indicate conformity with the conditions summarised in the list below. Where there is no protection rating regarding one of the criteria, the digit is replaced with the letter X.
Here is a breakdown of the IP standard as it relates to waterproof and water resistant:
IPX0 – This means there is no protection against water, so it’s not water resistant at all.
IPX1 – This will protect a device from some water drops that are falling vertically for at least 10 minutes.
IPX2 – This will protect your device from some water drops when the device is tilted up to and including 15° for at least 10 minutes.
IPX3 – offers protection for your device from a spray of water when the device is rotated up to 60° any direction from vertical for at least 5 minutes.
IPX4 – It means the level of protection from splashing water from any direction for at least 5 minutes.
IPX5 – Will protect your gear from water spray at any direction for at least 3 minutes.
IPX6 – Protects from powerful water jets, (100 litres per minute) for at least 3 minutes. Everything after this is now waterproof.
IPX7 –If you drop your device in water up to 1 meter your device is still going to work.
IPX8 – offers protection as defined by the manufacturer, usually stated immediately following the IPX-8 label, stating that the device has been tested at “x” meters for “x” minutes.
