ENCLOSURES
Understanding IP ratings: Specifying the right plastic enclosure for your electronics
Watertightness is not a simple question of ‘yes’ or ‘no’: pressure complicates matters, says Robert Cox, marketing director of OKW Enclosures
I
P ratings confirm how much protection an enclosure offers. The first digit relates to dust/ solids; the second concerns liquids. A higher IP rating does not always mean ‘better’ – merely ‘different’.
IP 54 and IP 55 enclosures are suited to general indoor or light outdoor use. IP 65 and IP 66 housings are common in industrial environments, while IP 67 is for devices requiring temporary protection against shallow immersion.
IP 54 enclosures offer protection against limited dust ingress and splashing water. While not completely dust-tight, the design stops particles from interfering with the operation of internal components. For water resistance, IP X4 indicates protection against splashing. The five-minute test involves the enclosure being sprayed with water from various angles: 10 litres/minute at 80-100 kPa. IP 54 is often sufficient for indoor applications, some industrial control panels and some consumer devices.
Enclosures such as OKW’s CARRYTEC offer optional IP 54 protection because applications include Industry 4.0, machine building, construction, agriculture and forestry. When inverted, CARRYTEC can be fitted to a suspension arm; the tough integrated grab handle makes these housings easy to manoeuvre.
IP 55 enclosures provide slightly better water resistance compared with IP 54: they can cope with low-pressure water jets. The 15-minute test is based on 12.5 litres/minute (30 kPa) at a distance of three metres. IP 65 enclosures offer complete protection against dust ingress (verified through a vacuum test or by pressurising the enclosure while introducing fine particles of dust). They can also withstand low-pressure water jets in the same way as IP 55 enclosures. This makes them suitable for dusty or humid environments and for some industrial control systems. Impact-resistant HAND-TERMINAL (IP 65 optional) is a prime example of this. Despite its large size, this PC+ABS enclosure is well
balanced, sitting comfortably in the hand for long periods thanks to its ergonomic design. PROTEC (IP 65 optional) can also be specified for challenging environments. Its large, sloping operating area makes it ideal for desktop and wall-mount electronics.
IP 66 is the starting point for harsh industrial applications. IP 6X offers complete dust tightness – and can withstand more powerful jets of water than IP 55 and IP 65 housings. The IP 66 water test lasts three minutes: 100 litres/minute at 100 kPa at a distance of three metres. It simulates conditions such as heavy rain or temporary flooding in rough seas. Remember when we said earlier that a higher IP rating was not always better, merely different? IP 67 exemplifies this. IP 67 enclosures are dustproof and can cope with short-term immersion in shallow water – but not with high-pressure spray jets.
In the IP 67 test, the enclosure is immersed in water for 30 minutes. The top must be at least 150 mm below the surface, and the water must be, at most, one metre deep. Water must not enter the housing in any harmful quantity. The IP 67 rating is used for enclosures
safeguarding sensitive electronics, sensors and communication devices that may be temporarily submerged or operated in extremely wet conditions.
Robust SOLID-BOX (IP 66/IP 67) is one of the new breed of plastic enclosures being specified for outdoor and industrial applications where previously a diecast aluminium housing may have been the first and only choice. SOLID-BOX underlines its credentials with IK 08 impact protection and deep side recesses to protect connectors. It’s always worth getting specialist advice when specifying IP-rated enclosures – especially customised housings which require EMC shielding or machining of apertures for displays, controls and connectors. Customisation also includes lacquering, decor foils, printing, laser marking, special materials and assembly of accessories. Partnering with an enclosures specialist that offers all the services in-house ensures quality and accountability from start to finish. It also saves time, money and CO2 emissions.
https://www.okw.co.uk/en MAY 2025 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS 31
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