What is the IP67 Rating?

The IP67 Rating represents one of the highest levels of protection provided by electrical enclosures or housings against water and dust. An IP67-rated device is 100% protected against solid objects like dust and sand while also being tested to work for at least 30 minutes while under 1 m of water.

An IP67-rated device is a great choice for:

• Utility devices that are installed outdoor, predominantly IP67-rated components will be of great importance in high rainfall areas.
• Equipment that requires to survive harsh weather conditions in military, airborne or other applications.
• Industrial heavy machinery devices that are frequently exposed to high pressure wash-downs.
• Security system components, especially the outdoor ones that are regularly exposed to a variety of harsh conditions.

IP stands for Ingress Protection and this ingress of a component can be defined as solid object ingress and liquid ingress. Solid object ingress is an umbrella term that covers a wide variety of hazards. This type of hazard can range from accidental contact from large objects like users’ hands and tools to fine and tiny particles like sand and dust. Any of these can cause significant damage to a device’s components and impair its operation. Ingress of liquids ranges from simple accidental dripping or splashing to hose-directed water. This also includes submersion of the given component in over one meter of water. Liquid ingress is one of the worst hazards for electronic devices.

An IP rating or a product’s Ingress Protection number is what defines the level of protection provided to that product. An IP rating is a two-digit number, and each number signifies a different level of protection. The first number after IP, which ranges from 0 to 6, defines the component’s protection against solid objects like dust and sand. The second number after IP, which ranges from 0 to 8, defines the component’s protection against liquids.

For example: The number zero (0) after IP refers to no protection against dust and sand, the number one (1) protects against accidental contact with large objects or body surfaces like hands while the number six (6) refers to 100% protection against dust and sand. Similarly, the second number after IP, covers liquid hazards and can range from 0 to 8. Here, zero refers to no protection against any form of liquids, the number one (1) means the device is protected against minor dripping/ splashing of water, and number eight (8) is complete protection even in prolonged submersion of the given device.

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