What is an IP rating? Ingress Protection (IP) is the measurement of the protection an item will have against foreign objects such as dust, sand, dirt and liquids.
An IP rating is comprised of two numbers. Each number will provide you with information on the protection level. A higher number means greater protection against solids and liquids.
The first number (0 - 6) refers to the level of protection against solid objects and moving parts, such as dust, debris, or other solid matter.
The second number (0 - 8) references the level of liquid and moisture protection.
Take a look at the chart below to better understand the protection offered with each number.
What's the difference? There are several varieties of IP ratings, however the most common are IP65, IP67 and IP68. Whilst the difference between these are minimal, it is also very important.
Referencing the chart above, it's clear that all strips are protected at the highest level from solids and dust. The variations come with the protection against liquids.
IP65: Water resistant - protected against water jets from any angle
IP67: Water resistant plus - protected against the events of temporary submersion (for approximately 10 minutes)
IP68: Waterproof - protected against the events of permanent submersion up to 3 meters (for approximately 30 minutes)
What IP Rating do you need? If you predict you will not be in a harsh environment containing extreme dust and moisture, then a low IP rating will be enough. In places that will have a lot of dust, debris or contact with any solids and/or liquids, you’ll want to make sure that the IP ratings are higher, so you have adequate protection.
At ECCO, we're confident we have the right solution for you, regardless of your application requirements. Check out some of the products below that we have on offer which contain a high IP rating.
IP65 400 Series
IP66 7160 Series
IP67 7630 Series 7660 Series
Blog