What is IP Rating?

What Is an IP Rating? And Why Does It Matter?

IP Rating stands for Ingress Protection rating. The IP rating system rates and classifies the level of sealing effectiveness provided by mechanical casings and electrical enclosures for a specified object. The IP rating indicates the ingress protection of a product. A product’s IP rating can degrade after the product is dropped or when it gets exposed to environmental hazards that compromise the material's strength. These environmental hazards include a chemical spill, extreme temperatures, impact forces, or other factors due to distortion, cracking, and structural degradation that may occur.

The mobile computer industry uses the IP rating system for determining how resistant a device is to damage from “ingress” of water, dirt, dust, sand, and other elements. Essentially, the IP rating of a mobile device can help give an idea of the degree of protection it has against the harmful effects of foreign bodies like the intrusion of solids and liquids.

As mobile computers are often exposed to and operated within less-than-ideal conditions, they can be exposed to dust, moisture, extreme temperatures, or UV radiation outside of the standard office space. How the device is designed to withstand these conditions is very important to how it will perform, as well as survive in extreme environments.

Extreme conditions, specifically the drastic transition between high and low temperatures, can provide a different path for moisture to create potential damage without it “leaking” into the product. Similarly, understanding condensation and what drives it is key to understanding the limitations of devices to withstand condensation and perform the tasks needed. These considerations must be addressed for mobile computers to have a certain level of protection to be able to withstand extreme conditions. The ability of a mobile computer manufacturer to safeguard a device in these conditions helps drive a specific product’s IP rating.

What Does the IP Code Stand For?

IP code stands for Ingress Protection Code or International Protection Code. The term "IP code" is often used interchangeably with the term "IP rating." It can also be interpreted as International Protection Rating. All of these terms help indicate the measurement of the device's resistance to damage from the ingress of solid foreign objects and liquids.

How Is the IP Rating Given?

An IP rating is given as a two-digit code defined in the international standard IEC 60529 by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The international IP rating system, IEC 60529, utilizes the naming convention where the rating starts with the two letters “IP”, followed by two numbers, as follows:

IPXY Rating system: What does an IPXY rating mean?

The IP rating consists of two numbers, with each number representing a different aspect of protection.

The first number (X) represents a product's resistance to the intrusion of particles or dust. A higher number means stronger and better protection against solid objects.

The second number (Y) represents a product's resistance to the intrusion of liquid (standardized testing uses distilled water). A higher number means better protection against water.

The highest rating level for dust protection is 6. For water protection, the highest rating level is 8. An IP rating of “IP67” represents a level 6 for dust protection and a level 7 for water protection. The number 68 in IP68 represents the degree of protection that a device has against solid particles and liquids. The "6" indicates that the device is dust-tight, while the "8" indicates that it is capable of being immersed in water beyond 1 meter for an extended period of time without damage. In other words, a device with an IP68 rating is highly resistant to both dust and water.

A poor IP rating would be one that offers low to no protection against intrusion by foreign objects or water. For example, an IP rating of IPX0 would mean that the device has no protection against water ingress, and an IP rating of IP0X would mean that the device has no protection against solid objects. Generally, any IP rating lower than IP44 may be poor, as it offers limited protection against dust and water ingress. However, the specific rating needed will depend on the intended use and environment of the device or enclosure.

To summarize, the first digit indicates the level of protection against the intrusion of foreign bodies, while the second digit indicates the level of resistance against the intrusion of moisture or liquid. The IP rating is relevant in today's world as more and more people rely on their smartphones and other mobile devices to stay connected and productive in a variety of environments, including outdoor activities and workplaces where exposure to water and dust is common.

The European standard for IP is EN 60529. While slightly different in the details, it is largely similar to the more universal IEC 60529.

What are the differences between IEC 60529 and EN 60529?

IEC 60529 and EN 60529 are related standards that provide a system for classifying the degree of protection provided by an enclosure for electrical equipment. The IEC 60529 is an international standard developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), while EN 60529 is a European standard that has been adopted by the European Union member states.

The EN 60529 is essentially the same as IEC 60529, but with additional European-specific requirements and modifications. These modifications are mostly related to the adoption of the standard by the European Union and the requirements of the European Single Market.

One of the main differences between the two standards is the use of different terminology. For example, IEC 60529 uses the term "International Protection" (IP) code, while EN 60529 uses "Ingress Protection" (IP) code. In addition, EN 60529 includes additional guidance and requirements related to product conformity and compliance with EU directives.

Despite these differences, the two standards are largely harmonized, and the IP codes generated by both standards are equivalent. Most manufacturers choose to use either IEC or EN standard depending on the target market for their products.

IEC 60529 IP Ratings (Dust and Water)

EN 60529 IP Ratings (Solid Objects)

EN 60529 Ratings (Liquids)

What Do IP Ratings Mean for a Mobile Computer?

A mobile computer user should understand the IP rating necessary for their device, based on the type of environment and conditions in which it will be used. Some examples of use cases and the likely required IP ratings are as follows:

• Clean indoor office
• Will not be going in and out of a cooler or freezer
• Unlikely to be exposed to water
• An IP rating on the device may not be needed at all

Dusty Indoor Office

• Dust may be in the air from the handling of paper and cardboard
• Will not be going in and out of a cooler or freezer
• Unlikely to be exposed to water
• An IP rating of IP53 is probably what is needed with the “5” protecting against airborne dust and the “3” protecting against a random splash from someone watering a plant or spilling their beverage

Brief Exposure to Non-Continuous, Soft Rain

• May be exposed to rain spray (not continuous rain) while running between a vehicle and a building 
• Could be exposed briefly at any angle to the water
• The desired water ingress rating would likely be a “4”. IP54 ratings are generally good for these applications

Note: As the water intrusion protection numbers move to “5” or higher, the dust protection number almost automatically needs to move to the highest value of “6”.

Brief Exposure to Non-Continuous, Driving Rain

• May be exposed to driving rain (not continuous rain) while running between a vehicle and a building
• Could be exposed briefly at any angle to the water
• The desired water ingress rating would likely be a “5”. IPX5 ratings are generally good for these applications

Continuous Exposure to Driving Rain

• May be exposed to driving rain continuously
• Could be exposed at any angle to the water
• The desired water ingress rating would likely be a “6”. IPX6 ratings are generally good for these applications

Briefly Submerged in Water

• May be dropped into a puddle and fully submerged, but NOT exposed to driving rain continuously
• The desired water ingress rating would likely be a “7”. IPX7 ratings are generally good for these applications

Note: The “7” rating does indicate resistance to submersion for short periods of time, but does not protect against the impact of driven rain. 

Moved In and Out of Cooler or Freezer

• Will be going in and out of a cooler or freezer
• An IP rating of any number will not protect it from moisture accumulating inside. Only hermetically sealed devices prevent the leaching of moisture over time when cycled through temperatures. Devices made of plastic cannot be hermetically sealed due to the nature of plastics.
• To avoid internal condensation when going in and out of a refrigerated area, the device needs to either have a mechanism for drying the air inside the device (a desiccator) or have a heater that maintains the internal air above the dew point.
  
  

We have created a more detailed guide around IP Ratings and on what to consider when using mobile computers beyond the office space.