Feature IP ratings


Understanding enclosure ingress protection ratings


When it comes to deciding which electrical enclosure or junction box should be used to protect your electrical systems and their connections, one of the most critical factors is its IP rating. But how many people actually know how these IP ratings are achieved and, most importantly, the ways in which they can be compromised during installation? Chris Lloyd, general manager for Spelsberg UK, explains how different IP ratings can be reached and how to maximise your enclosure’s integrity


I


P ratings relate to the degree of protection that a housing offers against ingress from foreign bodies and moisture. EN 60529 outlines the universal rating system which utilises the letters IP (Ingress Protection) followed by two digits – the first to indicate the degree of protection against foreign bodies and the second to indi- cate protection from moisture. A third digit may be added to indicate protec- tion from mechanical impact damage, but this is rarely used.


As the numbers get higher so too does the level of protection. IP68 is the highest, and this offers total protection from fine dust and from complete, continuous, submersion in water. While the rating system for an enclosure’s effectiveness is extremely simple, the methods used by manu- facturers to deliver such protection are the product of many years of research and development. Two enclosures which offer the same level of overall protection may achieve it in


Enclosure & Panel Building Solutions WINTER/SPRING 2013


IP68 is the highest rating, and this offers total


protection from fine dust and from complete, continuous, submersion in water


very different ways – and this can have a big impact on the purchase cost, installation time and longevity of the product. Understanding the different techniques is the first step in making the right choice for any given applica- tion during specification.


Sealing protection


External debris or moisture can enter the enclosure through gaps between the body of the product and its lid. No matter how precisely an enclosure is


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