So, what does IP Rated actually mean?
IP stands for Ingress Protection, which literally translates as “protection against entrance”.
But in a technological context, Ingress Protection represents a particular classified manufacturing and sealing process that protects equipment against the intrusion of water and dust.
Each digit that is assigned to “IP” has its own individual representation – protections against solid objects and protection against liquids.
Why is IP technology necessary?
Dust, water and humidity intrusion can prove extremely detrimental to any type of equipment over time.
This is why for organizations that deal with tough conditions regularly (bad weather, extreme temperatures, or industrial settings), and also heavily rely on mobile tech in order to fulfil work productivity, Ingress Protection is absolutely crucial.
What Does IP Rated Actually Mean
Without such technology, we would see a frightfully high (and wasteful) turnover of commercial tablets, handhelds, PDAs, and smartphones that are used in work environments.
IP also includes shock and vibration tolerance, and can therefore survive being dropped (at Conker we drop test our Ingress Protection Rated devices from 1.2m-1.5m onto wooden flooring and concrete).
Plus extreme high and low temperatures and corrosive environments.
Below is a table that maps out what each IP code actually means. You may have seen IP65 or IP67 before – each of which has a very different type of ingress protection.
The two digits following “IP” are treated separately. Read on to find out more.
First number
Protections against solid objects
0
No protection
1
Protection against solids objects over 50 mm (e.g. accidental touch by Hands)
2
Protection against solids objects over 12 mm (e.g. fingers)
3
Protection against solids objects over 2.5 mm (e.g. tools and wires)
4
Protection against solids objects over 1mm (e.g. tools, wires, and small wires)
5
Protection against dust, limited ingress (no harmful deposit)
6
Total protection against dust
Second number
Protection against liquids
0
No protection
1
Protection against vertically falling drops of water
2
Protection against direct sprays up to 15 degrees from the vertical
3
Protection against direct sprays up to 60 degrees from the vertical
4
Protection against sprays from all directions, limited ingress permitted
5
Protection against low-pressure jets of water from all directions, limited ingress permitted
6
Protection against strong jets of water e.g. for use on ship decks – limited ingress permitted
7
Protection against the effects of temporary immersion between 15 cm and 1m. Duration of test 30 minutes
8
Protection against long periods of immersion under pressure