Decoding every IP code

An IP code or IP protection class indicates how well an electronic product is protected against solid foreign bodies (dust) and fresh water. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is responsible for the codes and defines them in the international standard IEC 60529.

Every code is indicated by the abbreviation IP, which stands for Ingress Protection, and two code numbers. This results in specifications such as IP68. The first digit indicates on a scale how easily foreign bodies can penetrate, from 0 for no protection to 6 for dustproof. The second digit indicates how well water can penetrate, from 0 for no protection to 9 for protection against water jets from all sides at high pressure and high temperature (high-pressure and steam jet cleaning). If the letter X is listed instead of one of these digits (e.g. IPX8), this means that not enough data has been collected to assign a protection level. The degree of protection is unknown.

The following IEC diagram provides an overview of all protection types. To avoid you having to combine the digits yourself, I’ll explain all the codes from IP00 to IP69 individually in ascending order.

IP protection types explained individually

IP00

A product with protection class IP00 isn’t protected against solid foreign bodies or liquids.

IP01

A product with protection class IP01 isn’t protected against solid foreign bodies, only vertically dripping water.

IP02

A product with protection class IP02 isn’t protected against solid foreign bodies. However, it is protected against vertically dripping water when tilted up to 15° from its normal upright position.

IP03

A product with protection class IP03 isn’t protected against solid foreign bodies, only direct spray water at an angle up to 60° from above.

IP04

A product with protection class IP04 isn’t protected against solid foreign bodies, only splashes of water from all sides.

IP05

A product with protection class IP05 isn’t protected against solid foreign bodies, but is protected against water jets out of a nozzle from all sides (6.3 millimetres).

IP06

A product with protection class IP06 isn’t protected against solid foreign bodies, but is protected against strong water jets out of a nozzle from all sides (12.5 millimetres).

IP07

A product with protection class IP07 isn’t protected against solid foreign bodies. However, it does offer protection against temporary immersion in water under standardised pressure and time conditions (e.g. 1 metre depth for a maximum of 30 minutes for smartphones).

IP08

A product with protection class IP08 isn’t protected against solid foreign bodies. However, it does offer protection against lengthy immersion in water under standardised conditions, stricter than IP07 (standard depth of 1 metre).

IP09

A product with protection class IP09 isn’t protected against solid foreign bodies, but is protected against water jets at high pressure and high temperatures from all sides (high-pressure and steam jet cleaning).

IP10

A product with protection class IP10 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 50 millimetres or more, but not against liquids.

IP11

A product with protection class IP11 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 50 millimetres or more. It also shields against vertically dripping water.

IP12

A product with protection class IP12 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 50 millimetres or more. It also shields against vertically dripping water when tilted up to 15° from its normal upright position.

IP13

A product with protection class IP13 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 50 millimetres or more. It also shields against direct water spray at an angle up to 60° from above.

IP14

A product with protection class IP14 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 50 millimetres or more. It also shields against splashes of water from all sides.

IP15

A product with protection class IP15 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 50 millimetres or more. It also shields against jets of water out of a nozzle from all sides (6.3 millimetres).

IP16

A product with protection class IP16 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 50 millimetres or more. It also shields against powerful jets of water out of a nozzle from all sides (12.5 millimetres).

IP17

A product with protection class IP17 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 50 millimetres or more. It also offers protection against temporary immersion in water under standardised pressure and time conditions (e.g. 1 metre depth for a maximum of 30 minutes for smartphones).

IP18

A product with protection class IP18 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 50 millimetres or more. It also protects against lengthy immersion in water under standardised conditions, stricter than IP17 (standard depth of 1 metre).

IP19

A product with protection class IP19 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 50 millimetres or more. It also shields against high pressure and high temperature water jets from all sides (high pressure and steam jet cleaning).

IP20

A product with protection class IP20 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 12.5 millimetres or more, but not against liquids.

IP21

A product with protection class IP21 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 12.5 millimetres or more. It also shields against vertically dripping water.

IP22

A product with protection class IP22 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 12.5 millimetres or more. It also shields against vertically dripping water when tilted up to 15° from its normal upright position.

IP23

A product with protection class IP23 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 12.5 millimetres or more. It also shields against direct water spray at an angle up to 60° from above.

IP24

A product with protection class IP24 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 12.5 millimetres or more. It also shields against splashes of water from all sides.

IP25

A product with protection class IP25 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 12.5 millimetres or more. It also shields against jets of water out of a nozzle from all sides (6.3 millimetres).

IP26

A product with protection class IP26 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 12.5 millimetres or more. It also shields against powerful jets of water out of a nozzle from all sides (12.5 millimetres).

IP27

A product with protection class IP27 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 12.5 millimetres or more. It also offers protection against temporary immersion in water under standardised pressure and time conditions (e.g. 1 metre depth for a maximum of 30 minutes for smartphones).

IP28

A product with protection class IP28 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 12.5 millimetres or more. It also protects against lengthy immersion in water under standardised conditions, stricter than IP27 (standard depth of 1 metre).

IP29

A product with protection class IP29 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 12.5 millimetres or more. It also shields against high pressure and high temperature water jets from all sides (high pressure and steam jet cleaning).

IP30

A product with protection class IP30 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 2.5 millimetres or more, but not against liquids.

IP31

A product with protection class IP31 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 2.5 millimetres or more. It also shields against vertically dripping water.

IP32

A product with protection class IP32 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 2.5 millimetres or more. It also shields against vertically dripping water when tilted up to 15° from its normal upright position.

IP33

A product with protection class IP33 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 2.5 millimetres or more. It also shields against direct water spray at an angle up to 60° from above.

IP34

A product with protection class IP34 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 2.5 millimetres or more. It also shields against splashes of water from all sides.

IP35

A product with protection class IP35 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 2.5 millimetres or more. It also shields against jets of water out of a nozzle from all sides (6.3 millimetres).

IP36

A product with protection class IP36 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 2.5 millimetres or more. It also shields against powerful jets of water out of a nozzle from all sides (12.5 millimetres).

IP37

A product with protection class IP37 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 2.5 millimetres or more. It also offers protection against temporary immersion in water under standardised pressure and time conditions (e.g. 1 metre depth for a maximum of 30 minutes for smartphones).

IP38

A product with protection class IP38 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 2.5 millimetres or more. It also protects against lengthy immersion in water under standardised conditions, stricter than IP37 (standard depth of 1 metre).

IP39

A product with protection class IP39 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 2.5 millimetres or more. It also shields against high pressure and high temperature water jets from all sides (high pressure and steam jet cleaning).

IP40

A product with protection class IP40 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 1 millimetres or more, but not against liquids.

IP41

A product with protection class IP41 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 1 millimetre or more. It also shields against vertically dripping water.

IP42

A product with protection class IP42 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 1 millimetre or more. It also shields against vertically dripping water when tilted up to 15° from its normal upright position.

IP43

A product with protection class IP43 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 1 millimetre or more. It also shields against direct water spray at an angle up to 60° from above.

IP44

A product with protection class IP44 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 1 millimetre or more. It also shields against splashes of water from all sides.

IP45

A product with protection class IP45 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 1 millimetre or more. It also shields against jets of water out of a nozzle from all sides (6.3 millimetres).

IP46

A product with protection class IP46 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 1 millimetre or more. It also shields against powerful jets of water out of a nozzle from all sides (12.5 millimetres).

IP47

A product with protection class IP47 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 1 millimetre or more. It also offers protection against temporary immersion in water under standardised pressure and time conditions (e.g. 1 metre depth for a maximum of 30 minutes for smartphones).

IP48

A product with protection class IP48 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 1 millimetre or more. It also protects against lengthy immersion in water under standardised conditions, stricter than IP47 (standard depth of 1 metre).

IP49

A product with protection class IP49 is protected against solid foreign bodies with a diameter of 1 millimetre or more. It also shields against high pressure and high temperature water jets from all sides (high pressure and steam jet cleaning).

IP50

A product with protection class IP50 is dustproof. It shields against quantities of dust that could impair operation of the product. The device is fully protected against solid foreign bodies, but not against liquids.

IP51

A product with protection class IP51 is dustproof. It shields against quantities of dust that could impair operation of the product. The device is fully protected against solid foreign bodies. It also shields against vertically dripping water.

IP52

A product with protection class IP52 is dustproof. It shields against quantities of dust that could impair operation of the product. The device is fully protected against solid foreign bodies. It also shields against vertically dripping water when tilted up to 15° from its normal upright position.

IP53

A product with protection class IP53 is dustproof. It shields against quantities of dust that could impair operation of the product. The device is fully protected against solid foreign bodies. It also shields against direct water spray at an angle up to 60° from above.

IP54

A product with protection class IP54 is dustproof. It shields against quantities of dust that could impair operation of the product. The device is fully protected against solid foreign bodies. It also shields against splashes of water from all sides.

IP55

A product with protection class IP55 is dustproof. It shields against quantities of dust that could impair operation of the product. The device is fully protected against solid foreign bodies. It also shields against jets of water out of a nozzle from all sides (6.3 millimetres).

IP56

A product with protection class IP56 is dustproof. It shields against quantities of dust that could impair operation of the product. The device is fully protected against solid foreign bodies. It also shields against powerful jets of water out of a nozzle from all sides (12.5 millimetres).

IP57

A product with protection class IP57 is dustproof. It shields against quantities of dust that could impair operation of the product. The device is fully protected against solid foreign bodies. It also offers protection against temporary immersion in water under standardised pressure and time conditions (e.g. 1 metre depth for a maximum of 30 minutes for smartphones).

IP58

A product with protection class IP58 is dustproof. It shields against quantities of dust that could impair operation of the product. The device is fully protected against solid foreign bodies. It also protects against lengthy immersion in water under standardised conditions, stricter than IP57 (standard depth of 1 metre).

IP59

A product with protection class IP59 is dustproof. It shields against quantities of dust that could impair operation of the product. The device is fully protected against solid foreign bodies. It also shields against high pressure and high temperature water jets from all sides (high pressure and steam jet cleaning).

IP60

A product with protection class IP60 is completely dustproof and fully protected against solid foreign bodies, but not against liquids.

IP61

A product with protection class IP61 is dustproof and fully protected against solid foreign bodies. It also shields against vertically dripping water.

IP62

A product with protection class IP62 is dustproof and fully protected against solid foreign bodies. It also shields against vertically dripping water when tilted up to 15° from its normal upright position.

IP63

A product with protection class IP63 is dustproof and fully protected against solid foreign bodies. It also shields against direct water spray at an angle up to 60° from above.

IP64

A product with protection class IP64 is dustproof and fully protected against solid foreign bodies. It also shields against splashes of water from all sides.

IP65

A product with protection class IP65 is dustproof and fully protected against solid foreign bodies. It also shields against jets of water out of a nozzle from all sides (6.3 millimetres).

IP66

A product with protection class IP66 is dustproof and fully protected against solid foreign bodies. It also shields against powerful jets of water out of a nozzle from all sides (12.5 millimetres).

IP67

A product with protection class IP67 is dustproof and fully protected against solid foreign bodies. It also offers protection against temporary immersion in water under standardised pressure and time conditions (e.g. 1 metre depth for a maximum of 30 minutes for smartphones).

IP68

A product with protection class IP68 is dustproof and fully protected against solid foreign bodies. It also protects against lengthy immersion in water under standardised conditions, stricter than IP67 (standard depth of 1 metre).

IP69

A product with protection class IP69 is dustproof and fully protected against solid foreign bodies. It also shields against high pressure and high temperature water jets from all sides (high pressure and steam jet cleaning).