What does the term “waterproof” really mean? In our product presentations, we use an international standard (IEC 60529) that measures how effectively devices are protected from intrusion by foreign solid objects or liquids. Ingress Protection (IP) Ratings (for example, IP65) use two numbers, rated on a scale from zero to eight. The first digit deals with solids, the second with liquids, and the letter X is used where there is no rating for one of these indices. IPX7, the most common rating in our catalog, means that the device is not rated for protection against solid objects, and is rated with a seven against liquids. Remember that these ratings are made by the manufacturer, not some impartial group like Underwriters Laboratories (UL). They’re useful for comparison purposes, however, in showing how manufacturers rate their products. The table below shows the IP Rating standards:
| First Number: Solid Objects |
Definition | Second Number: Liquids |
Definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | No protection | 0 | No protection |
| 1 | Protected against solid objects over 50mm (accidental touch by hands) | 1 | Protected against vertically falling drops of water |
| 2 | Protected against solid objects over 12mm (such as fingers) | 2 | Protected against direct sprays up to 15° from vertical |
| 3 | Protected against solid objects over 2.5mm (such as tools and wires) | 3 | Protected against direct sprays up to 60° from vertical |
| 4 | Protected against solid objects over 1mm (tools, wires and small wires) | 4 | Protected against sprays from all directions. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 5 | Protected aganist dust. Limited ingress (no harmful deposit) | 5 | Protected against low-pressure jets of water from all directions. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 6 | Totally protected against dust | 6 | Protected against strong jets of water (for use on ship decks). Limited ingress permitted. |
| 7 | N/A | 7 | Protected against the effects of immersion at depth between 15cm and 1 meter. 30 minute test. |
| 8 | N/A | 8 | Protected against long periods of immersion. Depth (more that one meter) specified by manufacturer. |