IP65,IP66,IP67,IP68 Define Ingress Rating Levels for Waterproof Phones

A two-digit number established by the International Electro Technical Commission, is used to provide an Ingress Protection rating to a piece of electronic equipment or to an enclosure for electronic equipment. The protection class after EN60529 are indicated by short symbols that consist of the two code letters IP and a code numeral for the amount of the protection.

Type of rating is quit important for engineers when they desire to have a “waterproof” enclosure for phone body. It is pretty much similar with watches or other sensitive information too. For a normal user, all terms like waterproof, water resistant, and other descriptive, may sound similar but in real, there is a big difference between all these. For example, IP65 comes under NEMA 4. These two digit number represent different forms of environmental influence. The first digit represents protection against ingress of solid objects, while the second digit represents protection against ingress of liquids.

It is a fact that there are several rating systems that have been developed and several testing agencies that verify the results. Among these, NEMA and IP are the two best known. This article will focus on both two i.e. IP system as well as NEMA 4. For enclosures, the typical “waterproof” IP ratings are IP67, IP66 and IP65 enclosures. The chart below gives the specifics of what these ratings mean and how they are measured.

IP65,IP66,IP67,IP68 Define Ingress Rating Levels for Waterproof Phones

Here you can find all relevant information about IP define ingress rating levels that are used for waterproof phones, so keep reading.

Brief History

IP ratings, or ingress protection, were developed by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission). These ratings are most heavily used in Europe and Asia, with some adherents in North America as well. Since these are international standards, the testing is often certified by the TUV instead of UL, although both provide stringent testing. These ratings are basically developed to deal with harsh environments, that’s why they do not address UV protection standards (outdoor) and the engineer should look for or ask about the ability of the enclosure to include UV protection materials.

Water resistant but not water proof

This statement that “ water resistant! Not water proof!” is really confusing for a layman. Actually “waterproof” or “water resistant” by itself means nothing. “Waterproof” does not mean that water damage is covered by the warranty. Water-resistant is the lowest level of water protection. If a device is labeled as water-resistant it means that the device itself may be built in such a way that it is more difficult for water to get inside of it, or possibly that it is coated with a very light substance that helps improve the device’s chances of surviving an encounter with water.

Currently, there is no established industry standard in order for a device to classify as waterproof. The closest thing currently available, as far as a rating scale is concerned, is the Ingress Protection Rating scale (or IP Code). This scale assigns items a rating from 0-8 in terms of how effective the device is at keeping water from entering into it.

What does IP Code mean?

IP code consists of two digits, first digit is for solid particle protection. Protection level can be estimated from first digit i.e. 0 is for no protection, while 1 to 4 is protection from objects larger than 50, 12.5, 2.5 and 1 mm. Number 5 is used to show “dust protected”. Number 6 shows highest level of particle protection, means no dust what so ever in the enclosure.

Second digit is trickier. 0 for no protection is fairly obvious. 1 is equivalent of light rain. 2, 3 and 4 are different degrees of splashing water. Numbers 5 and 6 is water jets with specific flow rates. The most popular numbers are 7 and 8, in this regard. Number 7 is used to show up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. Number 8 means test done for more than 1 meter (has to be specified) for a specified amount of time.

IP65,IP66,IP67

Here you can find that what actually these IPs shows about phone’s ability to protect itself from outer harmful environment. Devices with different rating levels have different resistance level and for different duration of time. Let’s check it out.

IP65 Enclosures

• Able to protect against water jets
• Water projected by a nozzle (6.3 mm) against enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects.
• Test duration: at least 15 minutes
• Water volume: 12.5 litres per minute
• Pressure: 30 kPa at distance of 3 m

IP66 Enclosures

• Able to protect against powerful water jets
• Water projected in powerful jets (12.5 mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects.
• Test duration: at least 3 minutes
• Water volume: 100 litres per minute
• Pressure: 100 kPa at distance of 3 m

IP67 Enclsoures

• Able to protect against Immersion up to 1 m
• Ingress of water in harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time (up to 1 m of submersion).
• Test duration: 30 minutes
• Immersion at depth of at least 1 m measured at bottom of device, and at least 15 cm measured at top of device