IP code: Difference between revisions

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[[File:IPX Codes Explanation Chart (cropped).jpg|thumb|Example IP code. From left to right:

{{unordered list

|1=IP = IngressInternational Protection

|2=2 = number from 0 to 6, or X

|3=3 = number from 0 to 9, or X

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]]

[[File:VIA VID Touch Screen Screen Display - VIA VID-2212-IP65 (5466727999).jpg|thumb|IP65 touchscreen display]]

[[File:09584jfCalumpit Pulilan Bulacan Landmarksfvf 17.jpg|thumb|IP65 LED lamp]]The '''IP code''' or '''ingressIngress protectionProtection code''' indicates how well a device is protected against water and dust. It is defined by the [[International Electrotechnical Commission]]&nbsp;(IEC) under the [[international standard]] IEC 60529<ref>{{Cite web |title=IEC 60529:1989+AMD1:1999+AMD2:2013 CSV {{!}} IEC Webstore {{!}} water management, smart city, rural electrification |url=https://webstore.iec.ch/publication/2452 |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=webstore.iec.ch}}</ref> which classifies and provides a guideline to the degree of protection provided by mechanical casings and [[electrical enclosures]] against intrusion, [[dust]], accidental contact, and [[waterproofing|water]]. It is published in the European Union by the [[European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization]]&nbsp;(CENELEC) as EN&nbsp;60529.

The standard aims to provide users more detailed information than vague marketing terms such as ''waterproof''. For example, a cellular phone rated at IP67 is "dust resistant" and can be "immersed in 1 meter of freshwater for up to 30 minutes". Similarly, an electrical socket rated IP22 is protected against insertion of fingers and will not become unsafe during a specified test in which it is exposed to vertically or nearly vertically dripping water. IP22 or IP2X are typical minimum requirements for the design of electrical accessories for indoor use.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IP Rating - Ingress Protection Explained {{!}} Tansun |url=https://www.tansun.com/gb_en/technical/technical-ip-rating.html |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=www.tansun.com}}</ref>

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There are no hyphens in a standard IP code. IPX-8 (for example) is thus an invalid IP code.<ref name="NE Laser" />

== Etymology ==

== Origin of the letters IP ==

In the original IEC 60529 standard from year 1976, the letters IP are used without providing an explanation, and referred as "characteristic letters".<ref>{{Cite book |title=IEC Publication 529: Classification des degrés de protection procurés par les enveloppes – Classification of degrees of protection provided by enclosures |publisher=[[International Electrotechnical Commission]] |year=1976 |edition=1st}}</ref> In the next editions of the standard, from years 1989 and 1999 respectively, the IP is explained to denote "international protection" on both French and English pages. According to the Finnish national committee of the IEC, one possibility is that the abbreviation is a combination of English word ingress and French word ''pénétration'' which stands for ingress, but finding the correct answer would require doing a historical study on the 1970's standardization, which is difficult because the experts preparing the original standards are likely retired or deceased.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SESKO: Frequently asked questions (in Finnish) |url=https://sesko.fi/yhteystiedot/usein-kysytyt-kysymykset/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=sesko.fi}}</ref>