---
title: "Ingress Protection | IP Code"
description: "## Ingress Protection (IP Code) – to IEC60529 Enclosures of electrical equipment are classified according to their agility to resist the ingress of solid objects and water by means of a system of numbers known as the **‘Ingress Protection’ Code**.…"
url: "https://www.eicstech.com/kb/general-principles/basics-on-ingress-protection/"
updated: "2022-05-31"
category: Explosion Proof Basics / General Principles
---

# Ingress Protection | IP Code

## Ingress Protection (IP Code) – to IEC60529

Enclosures of electrical equipment are classified according to their agility to resist the ingress of solid objects and water by means of a system of numbers known as the **‘Ingress Protection’ Code**. This consists of the letters **IP** + two numbers, e.g. **IP56**.

The first number, in the range **0-6**, indicates the degree of protection against solid objects, and the higher the number the smaller the solid object that is prevented from entering the enclosure. **Zero (0) indicates no protection, and 6 indicates the equipment is dust-tight**.

The second number, ranging from 0-8, identifies the level of protection against water entering the enclosure, from 0 – ‘no protection’ to 8 – ‘withstands indefinite immersion a specified at depth.

#### Table for Ingress Protection (IP Code)

| Solid Objects |   | Water |   |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| First Numeral | Level of Protection | Second Numeral | Level of Protection |
| 0 | No protection of equipment against the ingress of solid particles and objects | 0 | No protection |
| 1 | Protection against ingress of particles or objects larger than 50mm diameter | 1 | Protection against drops of liquid falling vertically (typically drip proof) |
| 2 | Protection against ingress of solid particles or objects larger than 12.5mm | 2 | Protection against liquid falling at any angle up to 15° from vertical (typically shower proof) |
| 3 | Protection against ingress of solid particles or object larger than 2.5mm | 3 | Protected against liquid falling from any angle up to 60° from the vertical direction. This include spraying of water. |
| 4 | Protection against ingress of solid particles or objects greater than 1.0mm | 4 | Protection against splashing, liquid splashed from any direction should have no harmful effects (splash proofs) |
| 5 | Dust protected – protection against the ingress of dust in an amount sufficient to interfere with the satisfactory operation of the equipment enclosed. | 5 | Protection against powerful water jets, projected against the enclosure from any direction. |
| 6 | Dust – complete protection against the ingress of dust. | 6 | Protection against powerful water jets & condition on ship decks in heavy seas. |
|   |   | 7 | Protection against immersion in water up to 1m in depth for a specified time |
|   |   | 8 | Protection against continuous immersion (submersion)in water to a specific depth |

#### Illustrations on Ingress Protection (IP Code)

![first digit of the ingress protection code](https://www.eicstech.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ingress-protection-first-digit.png)
The First Digit of the IP Code

![second digit of the ingress protection code](https://www.eicstech.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ingress-protection-second-digit.png)
the Second Digit of the IP Code