An In-Depth Guide: IP Protection Level Definition and Its Application in Waterproof-breathable Products-Spider-Amoy（SST）

【General】IP protection level Definition

2024-01-04

IP (INGRESS PROTECTION) Protection rating system is drafted by INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION (IEC). Electrical appliances are classified according to their dust and moisture resistance characteristics. IP protection level is composed of two numbers, the first digit indicates the level of dustproof, prevent object intrusion (here refers to the object including tools, human fingers and so on are not in contact with electrical appliances live part, so as to avoid electric shock), the second digit indicates the degree of electrical moisture, waterproof immersion, the greater the number, the higher the level of protection.

Description method

The protection level is usually expressed by IP followed by two digits. The number is used to define the protection level

The first number indicates the extent to which the device is resistant to dust, or the extent to which people are protected from harm in a sealed environment. Represents the level to prevent the entry of solid foreign objects, the highest level is 6;

The second number indicates how waterproof the device is. Represents the level of water protection, with the highest being 8.

The first digit after IP dust level

Digit	Protection range	Explanation
0	No protect	No special protection for outside persons or objects
1	Prevent the invasion of solid objects diameter larger than 50mm	Prevent the human (such as the palm) from contacting the internal parts of the electric appliance due to accidents, and prevent the invasion of outside objects of large size (diameter larger than 50mm)
2	Prevent the invasion of solid objects diameter larger than 12.5mm	Prevent human fingers from touching the internal parts of electrical appliances, and prevent the intrusion of medium size (diameter larger than 12.5mm) objects
3	Prevent the invasion of solid objects diameter larger than 2.5mm	Prevent tools, wires and similar small external objects with diameter or thickness larger than 2.5mm from intruding into the internal parts of electrical appliances
4	Prevent the invasion of solid objects diameter larger than 1.0mm	Prevent tools, wires and similar small external objects with diameter or thickness larger than 1.0mm from intruding into the internal parts of electrical appliances
5	Prevent external objects and dust	Completely prevent the invasion of external objects, although not completely prevent the invasion of dust, but the amount of dust intrusion will not affect the normal operation of electrical appliances
6	Prevent external objects and dust	Completely prevent the invasion of external objects and dust

The second digit after IP: waterproof grade

Digit	Protection range	Explaination
0	No protection	No special protection against water or moisture
1	Prevent water invasion	Falling water droplets, such as condensed water, do not damage electrical appliances
2	When the angularity is 15 degrees, water droplets can still be prevented from immersion	When the appliance is tilted from vertical to 15 degrees, dripping water will not cause damage to the appliance
3	Prevent the spray water invasion	Prevent rain or prevent the water sprayed in the direction of vertical Angle less than 60 degrees from invading electrical appliances and causing damage
4	Prevent splashing water invasion	Prevent water from splashing in all directions from invading electrical appliances and causing damage
5	Prevent jet water from immersing	Prevent low pressure spraying lasting at least 3 minutes
6	Keep large waves out	Prevent large spraying lasting at least 3 minutes
7	Prevent water immersion during flooding	Resist the effects of soaking for 30 minutes in water up to 1 meter deep
8	prevent water from sinking	Resist the effects of continuous soaking in water more than 1 meter deep. The exact conditions are specified by the manufacturer for each device

Scope

The waterproofing test includes the second digit from 1 to 8, i.e. the protection grade code is IPX1 to IPX8.

IP rate

⑴IPX 1

Method Name: Vertical dripping test

Test equipment: drip test equipment

Sample placement: According to the normal working position of the sample placed on the rotating sample table at 1r/min, the distance between the top of the sample and the drip mouth is not more than 200mm

Test conditions: the dripping water was 1.0±0.5mm/min

Duration: 10 min

⑵IPX 2

Method name: Tilt 15° dripping test

Test equipment: drip test equipment

Sample placement: make one face of the sample at an Angle of 15° with the vertical line, and the distance between the top of the sample and the drip port not more than 200mm. After each test on one side, switch to another side, a total of four times.

Test conditions: The dripping water was 3.0± 0.5mm /min

Duration: 4×2.5 min (10 min in total)

⑶IPX 3

Method name: Spraying water test

Test Method:

A).Pendulum tube spray test

Test equipment: pendulum tube splash test equipment

Sample placement: Select the appropriate radius of the pendulum tube, so that the height of the sample table is in the position of the pendulum tube diameter, put the sample on the sample table, so that the distance between the top of the sample and the sample nozzle is not more than 200mm, the sample table does not rotate.

Test conditions: The water flow rate is calculated according to the number of spout holes in the pendulum tube, each hole is 0.07L /min. When water is sprayed, the spout holes in the 60° arcs on both sides of the middle point of the pendulum tube spray to the sample. The test sample is placed in the center of the pendulum tube semicircle. The pendulum tube swings 60° on each side of the vertical line, for a total of 120°. Each swing (2×120°) is about 4s.

Test time: 10 min continuous spraying

B). Sprinkler type spray test

Test equipment: hand-held water spraying test device

Sample placement: make the parallel distance between the top of the test and the nozzle of the hand-held sprinkler between 300mm and 500mm

Test conditions: A baffle with a balancing weight should be installed during the test, and the water flow rate should be 10 L/min

Test time: 1 min per square meter (not including installation area), at least 5 min, calculated according to the surface area of the housing of the sample tested

⑷IPX 4

Method name: splash test

Test method

a). Pendulum tube splash test

Test equipment and sample placement: same as IPX 3 (a) above

Test conditions: The same as paragraph a of IPX 3 above except for the conditions described below; The spraying area is the spray from the water holes in 90° arcs on each side of the middle point of the pendulum tube to the sample. The test sample is placed in the center of the pendulum tube semicircle. The pendulum tube swings 180° on each side of the vertical line, for a total of about 360°. Each swing (2×360°) is about 12s

Test duration: The same as in paragraph a of IPX 3 above (i.e. 10 min).

b)．Sprinkler type splash test

Test equipment and sample placement: same as in paragraph b of IPX 3 above;

Test conditions: Remove the baffle mounted with a balancing weight from the equipment. The rest are the same as in paragraph b of IPX 3 above;

Test time: same as above paragraph b of IPX 3, i.e., 1 min per square meter (not including installation area) based on the surface area of the case

⑸IPX 5

Method name: Water spray test

Test equipment: The inner diameter of the spray nozzle is 6.3mm

Test conditions: the distance between the test sample and the spray nozzle is 2.5m ~ 3m, and the water flow is 12.5L /min (750 L/h).

Test time: 1 min per square meter (not including installation area) and at least 3 min according to the surface area of the shell of the sample tested

⑹IPX 6

Method Name: Strong water spray test

Test equipment: the inner diameter of the spray nozzle of the nozzle is 12.5mm

Test conditions: the distance between the test sample and the spray nozzle is 2.5m ~ 3m, and the water flow is 100 L/min (6000 L/h).

Test time: 1 min per square meter (not including installation area) and at least 3 min according to the surface area of the shell of the sample tested

⑺IPX 7

Method name: short time immersion test

Test equipment and test conditions: immersion tank. The size shall be at least 1m from the bottom of the sample to the surface of the water after the sample is placed in the immersion tank. The distance between the top of the sample and the water surface should be at least 0.15m

Test time: 30 min

⑻IPX 8

Method Name: Continuous diving test;

Test equipment, test conditions and test time: to be agreed by supply and demand (buyer and seller), harsher than IPX 7.

Note: In addition, many outdoor electronics emphasize the ability to float.

IP (INGRESS PROTECTION) Protection grade and waterproof test based on the following standards:

1）INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION (IEC) has drafted the International standard for protection and waterproofing: IEC 529-598

2）Chinese national standard GB 700-86;

3）GB/T 4208-2017 Shell protection grade (IP code), etc.

IP protection level laboratory: The laboratories that can carry out IP level test mainly include a test laboratory, environmental reliability and electromagnetic compatibility test center, aerospace environmental reliability Test and Test Center, Suzhou Electrical Science Research Institute, National Electrical Products Quality Supervision and Inspection Center, etc.