Meaning of IP Rating:

The IP rating code is a two-digit (or optionally three-digit) designator to standardize the rating of protection
level against intrusion of solids and liquids into mechanical and electrical enclosures. An enclosure can be a
piece of equipment, an assembly unit, a cable or simply a connector.
The numbers of IP of each have a specific meaning.
First Number: The first Number indicates the degree of protection from moving parts, as well as the
protection of enclosed equipment from foreign bodies.
Second Number: The second Number indicates the protection level that the enclosure enjoys from various
forms of moisture (drips, sprays, submersion etc).
Third Number: The third digit in the designator is not part of the official IEC standard and is sometimes
included (but more often omitted) to reference additional protections.
Abbreviation of IP Rating:

IP Rating Digits
IP
Rating
First Digit Second Digit Third Digit (Optional)
Solid Objects Protection Liquids Protection Mechanical impacts
0 No special protection No protection. No protection.
1
Protected against solid objects
greater than 50mm in diameter
( such as large part of the body
like hand)
Protection against
vertically falling drops of
water e.g. condensation.
Protects against impact
of 0.225 joule (150 g
weight falling from 15 cm
height)
2
Protected against solid objects
over 12 mm in diameter
(persons fingers)
Protection against direct
sprays of water up to
15 from the vertical.
Protected against impact
of 0.375 joule (250 g
weight falling from 15 cm
height)
3
Protected against solid objects
not greater than 80mm in length
and 12mm in diameter (tools
and wires).
Protected against direct
sprays of water up to
60 from the vertical.
Protected against impact
of 0.500 joule (250 g
weight falling from 20 cm
height)
4
Protected against solid objects
larger than 1 mm diameter
(tools, wires, and small wires).
Protection against water
sprayed from all
directions (limited ingress
permitted).
Protected against impact
of 2.0 joule (500 g weight
falling from 40 cm height)
5
Protected against dust limited
ingress (no harmful deposit).
Protected against low
pressure jets of water
from all directions (limited
ingress).
Protected against impact
of 6.0 joule (1.5 kg
weight falling from 40 cm
height)
6 Totally dust tight. Protected against Protected against impact