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IP Ratings: Understanding Ingress Protection

The Ingress Protection (IP) Code classifies how well an electrical enclosure is protected against solid particles (like dust and debris) and moisture. Established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), this system, outlined in IEC 60529, assigns an IP rating with two digits following the letters “IP” (e.g., IP25, IP67), each digit defining a specific level of protection.

First Number – Protection Against Solid Particles

The first digit represents the degree of protection from objects and dust:

  • 0 – No protection.
  • 1 – Protection from objects larger than 50 mm.
  • 2 – Protection from objects larger than 12 mm.
  • 3 – Protection from objects larger than 2.5 mm.
  • 4 – Protection from objects larger than 1 mm.
  • 5 – Dust-protected; some dust may enter but will not interfere with function.
  • 6 – Fully dust-tight.

Second Number – Protection Against Moisture

The second digit defines the enclosure’s resistance to moisture:

  • 0 – No protection.
  • 1 – Protected from vertically falling drops.
  • 2 – Protected from vertically falling drops with the equipment tilted up to 15 degrees.
  • 3 – Protected from water spray up to 60 degrees from vertical.
  • 4 – Protected from splashes or spray from any direction.
  • 5 – Protected from low-pressure water jets.
  • 6 – Protected from strong jets of water or heavy seas.
  • 7 – Protected from immersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes.
  • 8 – Protected from continuous immersion in water under 1.5 meters deep.
  • 9 – Protected from prolonged submersion with high water pressure from all directions.

Example: An IP67 rating signifies full dust protection and water resistance up to 1 meter of submersion.

IP69K – Extreme Durability for High-Pressure, High-Temperature Cleaning

An IP69K rating offers maximum protection against dust and high-pressure, high-temperature water—ideal for settings requiring stringent sanitization. While it does not cover prolonged submersion, IP69K is suited to withstand intense cleaning procedures, withstanding water pressure between 1160-1450 psi and temperatures reaching 176°F, ensuring resilience in challenging environments.

What IP Rating is required for STANAG?

The STANAG (Standardization Agreement) for military equipment typically requires an IP rating of IP67 or higher. This ensures the equipment is:

  • Dust-tight (6): Fully protected against dust intrusion, which is critical in sandy or dusty environments.
  • Water-resistant to immersion (7): Able to withstand submersion in water up to 1 meter for a limited time, ensuring resilience in wet or muddy conditions.

For more demanding scenarios, like high-pressure washing or extreme sanitization in some military contexts, IP69K may be required. This rating includes resistance to high-pressure, high-temperature water jets, making it ideal for equipment that undergoes rigorous cleaning or operates in very challenging environments.

If you need further specifics on STANAG requirements for a particular type of equipment, feel free to let us know at: info{@}betalight-tactical.com