Electronic equipment, such as industrial instrumentation, often includes an IP Rating, which indicates how resistant instrumentation is from various types of intrusions into its enclosure. IP Ratings are a standardized system that classifies the resistance to solids and liquids for enclosures of electronic devices. IP Ratings are set and governed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), a global nonprofit organization founded in 1906 for the purpose of improving growth and development in the industry by standardizing electronic equipment. The IP Rating for industrial instrumentation is a critical consideration when deciding which device is best for your use.
An IP Rating indicates an electronic enclosure’s Ingress Protection. Ingress is defined as “the act of entering.” Ingress of liquids and solids, like dust, into the enclosure of electronic devices can cause instrumentation to malfunction or stop working completely. And depending on the application and location of the instrumentation, higher IP Ratings may be required to ensure the device will continue working for any given time. In addition to IP Ratings, other organizations grant ingress protection ratings, such as NEMA.
Electronic devices are rated with an IP code, or IP Rating, which begins with “IP” and is followed by two numbers that indicate the actual resistance rating of the device. The first number indicates the instrumentation’s resistance against solids, with 0 indicating “no resistance” and 6 indicating that no dust should be able to enter the enclosure.
The second IP number indicates the liquid resistance of industrial instrumentation. On this scale, 0 again indicates “no resistance” while 9 indicates resistance in conditions up to hot water at high-pressure, from different angles. The IP rating that is required for automation instrumentation depends on the specific application and environmental conditions in which the device will used and/or mounted as well as how critical the instrumentation is to maintain process safety.
For example, automation instrumentation mounted outdoors that monitors critical processes at a gas plant may require an IP Rating of “IP69,” which is currently the highest IP Rating. Whereas an IP Rating of “IP10” would offer protection against solids up to 50 mm in diameter, but would offer no protection against liquids.
| First Digit | Rated Protection Against Solids |
|---|---|
| 0 | No Protection |
| 1 | Protected against solid objects up to 50 mm in diameter |
| 2 | Protected against solid objects up to 12 mm in diameter |
| 3 | Protected against solid objects over 2.5 mm in diameter |
| 4 | Protected against solid objects over 1 mm in diameter |
| 5 | Protected against dust particles / minimal ingress |
| 6 | Totally protected against dust |
| Second Digit | Rated Protection Against Liquids |
|---|---|
| 0 | No Protection |
| 1 | Protection against vertically falling drops of water (rain or condensation) |
| 2 | Protection against direct sprays of water when enclosure is tilted up to 15˚ in either direction from vertical position |
| 3 | Protection against direct sprays of water when enclosure is tilted up to 60˚ in either direction from vertical position |
| 4 | Protection against splashes of water any direction, resulting in no harmful effects |
| 5 | Protection against low pressure splashes / jets of water from all directions, resulting in no harmful effects |
| 6 | Protection against high pressure splashes / jets of water from all directions, resulting in no harmful effects |
| 7 | Protection against water while temporarily immersed under water in standardized conditions: pressure and time |
| 8 | Protection against repeated or long periods of immersion under water in conditions agreed upon by the manufacturer and user |
| 9 | Protection against water jets at high temperature and pressure, resulting in no harmful effects |
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