Electrical equipment protection level (IP): what it is and how to decipher it. Ipx7 degree of protection decryption. Typically, the technical characteristics of devices intended for use in aggressive environments contain the letters IPX. Let's figure it out

As practice shows, waterproof does not always mean “waterproof”. In this article we will try to find out how durable your smartphones, tablets, fitness trackers, smart watches and other gadgets are.

Many companies claim that their smartphones, tablets, trackers, smartwatches, and even wireless speakers are “waterproof.” But what does this really mean? Can such gadgets be used during rain? Can you take them to the shower or swim in the pool? The information provided by the manufacturing companies can be misleading, but we will try to figure it out.

IP standard

The first thing you should pay attention to is the International Protection Rating, an international standard that classifies the degree of protection of devices against the penetration of dust and water particles (better known as “IP rating”). Standards codes do not contain hyphens or spaces, but are indicated by the letters "IP" and two numbers. Two generally accepted standards for user devices: IP67 and IP68. Below we will talk about what each of them means.

IP codes are a standard proposed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and are designed as “a system for classifying the degree of protection provided by electrical equipment enclosures.”

The first digit of the standard code indicates the degree of protection against penetration of foreign solid objects, such as fingers or dust. The protection level varies from 0 to 8.

The second digit indicates the degree of protection against moisture penetration, with protection levels ranging from 0 to 8.

An IP code with an "X" instead of the first or second digit indicates that the device has not been tested for protection against ingress of solid objects (first digit) or moisture (second digit). For example, an IPX7 rated device is protected against accidental immersion in water (up to 1 meter) for up to 30 minutes, but it is not tested for dust protection.

Below you will see a graph showing all the protection levels set by the IEC.

Protection from solid objects

IP Code	Protection	Object size
0	Lack of protection	No data
1	Protection from contact with any large surface of the body, such as the back of the hand. But without protection from intentional contact with a body part such as a finger	Less than 50 mm
2	Protection against fingers or similar objects	Less than 12.5 mm
3	Protection from tools, thick wires, etc.	Less than 2.5 mm
4	Protected from most wires, bolts, etc.	Less than 1 mm
5	Partial protection against contact with harmful dust	No data
6	Protection against contact with harmful dust	No data

As an example, an electrical outlet classified as IP22 (the minimum requirement for electrical accessories intended for indoor use) is protected against finger penetration and vertically dripping water. Since we are talking about gadgets, we should only pay attention to IP ratings above IP5X or IP6X (for water and dust resistance).

Moisture protection

IP Code	Protection	Test duration	Usage
0	Lack of protection	No data	No data
1	Protection against vertically dripping water	10 minutes	Light rain
2	Protection against vertically dripping water; if the device is at an angle of up to 15°	10 minutes	Light rain
3	Protection against direct jets of water; if the device is at an angle of up to 60°	5 minutes	Rain and streams
4	Protected against splashes from any direction	5 minutes	Rain, jets and splashes
5	Protection against low pressure water jets from nozzles with a diameter of up to 6.3 mm; from any direction		Rain, splashes and direct contact with most kitchen and bathroom faucets
6	Protection against high pressure water jets from nozzles with diameters up to 12.5 mm; from any direction	3 minutes from a distance of up to 3 meters	Rain, splashes and direct contact with most kitchen and bathroom faucets; sea waves
7	Immersion protection up to 1 meter	30 minutes
8	Protection when immersed to a depth of more than 1 meter (the manufacturer must indicate the exact depth)	Varies	Rain, splashes and unintentional immersion

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is IP67 certified, which means it is completely dustproof and can be submerged in static water up to 1 meter deep for up to 30 minutes.

Devices do not need to pass every test to achieve the highest standards. As a result, smartphones with an IP67 rating were not tested for dust protection from levels 1 to 5 or for water protection from levels 1 to 6. Since the Galaxy S5 doesn't include either an IPX5 or IPX6 standard that guarantees protection against splashing water, it's best to avoid taking the device into the shower with you.

The Sony Experia Z3 is certified to IP65 and IP68 protection standards, meaning it is protected from dust and low-pressure water jets (such as closed-head faucets). The company also states that the Z3 can be submerged in fresh water up to 1.5m deep for up to 30 minutes.

Water pressure

If someone tells you that the watch is waterproof, know that this is a lie. No watch is waterproof. And even the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) prohibit any watch from being labeled as “waterproof.” Although the watch can withstand a certain degree of water exposure, there is a limit (water pressure that the watch can withstand) beyond which it will leak. And the term “waterproof” means that the device should remain intact even in the most difficult circumstances.

To help regulate and explain the water resistance of watches, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has set certain standards that have been adopted by many well-known watch manufacturers. However, most smartwatches and trackers do not adhere to these standards and are therefore not ISO certified. Consumer electronics generally adhere to the IP code, and companies like Garmin, Pebble and Polar independently test their products to determine the maximum pressure they can withstand.

Pressure tests are measured in ATM, which stands for atmosphere, and then converted to water depth to make the measurements easier to understand. Each ATM is equivalent to 10 meters of stratified water pressure. Below is a table that gives a general idea of water resistance levels.

Water pressure

Water content	Protection	Usage
1 ATM	Withstands pressure equivalent to 10 meters depth	Increased resistance to splashes and rain. Not suitable for showering or swimming
3 ATM	Withstands pressure equivalent to 30 meters depth	Rain, splashes, unintentional immersion, showers. Not suitable for swimming
5 ATM	Withstands pressure equivalent to 50 meters depth	Rain, splashing, unintentional immersion, shower, surface swimming, shallow diving
10 ATM	Withstands pressure equivalent to 100 meters depth	Rain, splashing, unintentional immersion, showering, surface swimming, shallow diving. Not suitable for scuba diving and high-speed water sports
20 ATM	Withstands pressure equivalent to 200 meters depth	Rain, splashing, inadvertent immersion, showering, surface swimming, shallow diving, surface diving and water sports. Not suitable for deep sea diving

Since there are no universal testing methods, the practical use of each individual device may vary. For example, Pebble and Garmin Vivoactive have a water resistance rating of 5 ATM. Both companies say the watch can be worn in the shower and in the pool (for surface swimming), and Fitbit recommends Surge users remove the device before swimming, although it has a 5 ATM protection rating.

It should also be remembered that although 5 ATM is rated at a certain depth, it is measured in static water. Water pressure can change quickly when you make certain movements with your arm while swimming. You can be only 3 meters deep, but the pressure created by the movement will be equal to a couple of extra ATMs.

As Garmin writes on its website, even if the device is located above the depth to which it can be submerged, it can suffer from water intrusion if pressure has been built up during certain activities, resulting in the maximum being exceeded.

Before you wear a smartwatch or tracker in the shower or pool, you should check the device's website to see what the company recommends.

On a note

Most water resistance tests are carried out in fresh water. There is no guarantee that the device is salt water resistant unless specifically stated by the manufacturer.
Although showering with IP-certified devices is not recommended, this does not mean that the device will necessarily break if you forget to take it off. It may begin to leak water and deteriorate with prolonged exposure. And water damage, unfortunately, is not covered by the warranty.
Unless otherwise stated, most tests are performed at temperatures between 15° and 35°C. Higher temperatures (in saunas, steam rooms and hot tubs) may damage the device. For example, Pebble was tested in a temperature range from 10° to 60°C.
For obvious reasons, leather straps are not waterproof.
Before submerging your device in water, make sure all openings (such as charging ports) are closed.
Unless otherwise stated, you should avoid pressing buttons on the device underwater. This may allow water to enter the housing and cause damage.

When studying the technical characteristics of a smartphone, you may come across such a characteristic as the degree of protection. In this case, this characteristic will be defined as two letters “IP” followed by two numbers. For example, the characteristics of a smartphone may say: Protection degree IP67 or Protection degree IP68. Obviously, this characteristic is responsible for the smartphone’s resistance to external influences, but what exactly this or that degree of protection indicates, we will talk about this in this article.

The fact is that there is a classification system for the level of protection provided by the electrical equipment enclosure. This system is called Ingress Protection Rating or IP for short. The IP system is standardized by the international standard IEC 60529, the German DIN 40050, and the Russian GOST 14254.

The IP classification system determines what level of intrusion protection a device enclosure can provide. In this case, the degree of protection is determined by two numbers, which are indicated after the letters “IP”. The first number indicates the degree of protection against the penetration of solid objects, and the second the degree of protection against moisture. In this case, one of the numbers may be missing, in which case the letter “X” is indicated instead.

In addition, the degree of protection may include additional letters. For example, the letter "A" means that the device body provides protection against contact with the back of the hand to dangerous parts of the device, the letter "B" means protection against contact with a finger, "C" - with tools, and "D" with wire.

Decoding the degree of protection

In order to make it clearer what exactly each degree of protection in the IP standard means, we will give a detailed explanation. Let's start with the first number, which is responsible for protection against penetration of solid objects into the body.

Degree of protection	Diameter of solid objects from which protection is provided	Intrusion protection
0	-	Without protection, any solid objects can penetrate inside the case
1	≥ 50 mm	Protection against penetration of large solid objects. For example, body parts, hands, other large objects.
2	≥ 12.5 mm	Protection against penetration of medium-sized objects. For example, fingers, large instruments.
3	≥ 2.5 mm	Protection against penetration of small objects. For example, most instruments, large cables.
4	≥ 1 mm	Protection against penetration of very small objects. For example, wires, bolts, small tools.
5	Dustproof	Protection against penetration of small particles and dust. However, a small amount of dust may still get inside the case. Reliable protection against contact with humans, tools, and conductors is provided.
6	Dustproof	Complete protection against dust penetration. Reliable protection against contact with humans, tools, and conductors is provided.

Now the decoding of the second digit in the IP standard. The second digit provides protection against penetration of water and moisture into the housing.

Degree of protection	Description of exposure to water and moisture from which protection is provided	Intrusion protection
0	-	Without protection, water can easily penetrate inside the housing.
1	Vertical drops	Protection against vertical drops of water. Water dripping vertically onto the casing should not enter the casing of the device and interfere with its operation.
2	Vertical drops at an angle of up to 15°	Protection against vertical drops of water when the housing is tilted at an angle of up to 15 degrees.
3	Falling splashes	Protection against rain or splashing water that falls vertically or at an angle of up to 60 degrees.
4	Spray	Protection against splashes that fall on the body from any angle.
5	Jets	Protection against jets of water that fall on the housing from any angle.
6	Sea waves	Protection against strong water jets and sea water.
7	Short dive to a depth of 1 m	Protection against water during short-term immersion in water. In this case, constant work in water is not expected.
8	Immersion to a depth of more than 1 m for up to 30 minutes.	Protection against water during short-term immersion in water. The device can operate underwater for up to 30 minutes.
9	Exposure to high temperature water	Protects against water from high-temperature, high-pressure water washing.

Smartphone protection level

As for the degree of protection used by phone and smartphone manufacturers, there are a variety of options. Starting from simple degrees of protection, such as IP54, to maximum ones, such as IP 67 and IP68. For example, let's look at several phones and their degree of protection.

Nokia 3720 classic	IP54, protected against dust and splashing water.
GINZZU R1D IP56 Red	IP56, protection against dust, water jets and waves.
Samsung B2100	IP57, protection from dust and short-term immersion in water to a depth of 1 meter.
CUBOT X10	IP65, fully protected against dust and jets of water
Sony Xperia Go	IP67, fully protected against dust and water for short-term immersion of 1 meter.
Texet X-driver	IP68, fully protected against dust and water when immersed for up to 30 minutes.

It should be noted that in most cases, if the degree of protection of a phone or smartphone is not IP67 or IP68, then the manufacturer simply does not indicate it. Therefore, it is rare to find IP54, IP56, IP57 or IP65 in the characteristics of smartphones.

IPhone moisture protection has long been an important element and competitive advantage. And, most likely, you have already heard about such a moisture protection standard as IPXX, but don't know what exactly this designation means.

Meaning of letters and numbers in IPXX

First of all, this is a system for classifying the degrees of protection of the enclosure of electrical equipment in accordance with the international standard IEC 60529 (DIN 40050, GOST 14254-96).

The IPXX classification has several levels of protection, which indicate that the smartphone is protected from splashes, jets of water, dust, and immersion in water.

Letters IP means “International Protection Marking” or translated as “International Protection Codes”. These letters are followed by two numbers, each of which carries a special meaning.

The first number indicates the level of protection against particulate matter (dust or dirt). There are only six levels:

IP1x - protection against penetration of objects >50 mm (large body surfaces, including hands).

IP2x - protection against penetration of objects >12 mm (fingers and other similar objects).

IP3x - protection against penetration of objects >2.5 mm (tools, cables).

IP4x - protection against penetration of objects >1 mm (wires, bolts, nails).

IP5x - partial protection against dust (a certain amount of dust can penetrate inside the case, which does not interfere with the operation of the device).

IP6x - complete dust protection, does not allow dust to penetrate inside the case.

The second number indicates how many minutes/hours the device can stay underwater:

IPx1 - vertically dripping water must not interfere with the operation of the device.

IPx2 - vertically dripping water should not disrupt the operation of the device, even if it is tilted from its operating position by an angle of up to 15 degrees.

IPx3 - protection from rain or splashes vertically or up to 60 degrees to the vertical.

IPx4 - protection against splashes that fall from any direction.

IPx5 - protection against water jets from any direction.

IPx6 - protection against water jets or waves from any direction.

IPx7 - protection for short-term immersion in water to a depth of 1 m.

IPx8 - protection for complete immersion in water to a depth of more than 1 m.

Looking at the list above, we can confidently say that a smartphone with an IP67 rating is completely sealed and can withstand up to one meter of water for 30 minutes.

A device with IP68 is also completely sealed, but its reliability and resistance to immersion in water is even higher.

Do you need IPXX protection?

Protection according to the IPXX standard can really protect your smartphone and you can have peace of mind if you suddenly get it wet in the rain or drop it in fresh water. But you shouldn’t rely on your phone’s invulnerability and throw it into water, since different devices have different quality of water protection.

It is also worth noting that you should not immerse your smartphone in salt water; in addition, some manufacturers do not cover moisture protection with a guarantee if the smartphone gets wet. For example, Sony Mobile adheres to this policy.

According to numerous surveys on Western websites, IPXX protection is not a determining factor for consumers; only about 30% of buyers do not want to take a smartphone without protection; for the rest, this is not such an important parameter.

What do you think about IPXX protection? Do smartphones need moisture protection or is this all marketing fluff? Write in the comments!

Typically, the technical characteristics of devices intended for use in aggressive environments contain the letters IPX. Let's figure out what it is, what we should talk about and how it happens.

When you go camping and find yourself in fog or rain, you naturally want to be sure that your GPS devices will work in such weather conditions. This designation exists for your confidence!

The most popular and frequently encountered designation is IPX7. Equipment such as echo sounders, most tourist GPS navigators and marine navigation equipment, as well as marine acoustic systems meet IPX7 requirements for waterproofing - this is a very useful standard for consumer electronics. Devices that meet this standard guarantee their performance in any conditions when used on a bicycle, while jogging, or even when dropped, exposed to rain, etc. Some devices are designed according to the standard IPX6, which is a “weaker” standard compared to IPX7, which does not provide the ability to be immersed in water.

IPxx- this is what the international standard looks like in full format, which was invented for the convenience of assessing the level of dust and moisture protection of devices.

Full decryption of codes

Code IPxx in the IEC international standard system it looks like this:

Alphabetical symbol IP - International Protection
The first digit (from 0 to 6) indicates the degree of protection against penetration of solid foreign objects.
The second digit (from 0 to 8) indicates the degree of protection against water penetration.

Description of the first digit of the code: 0-6

0 (IP0)- The device is not protected

1 (IP1)- Protection against penetration of solid foreign objects with a diameter of 50 mm or more.

Objects with a diameter of 50 mm will not penetrate into the device.

2 (IP2)- Protection against penetration of solid foreign objects with a diameter of 12.5 mm or more.

Objects with a diameter of 12.5 mm will not penetrate into the device.

3 (IP3)- Protection against penetration of solid foreign objects with a diameter of 2.5 mm or more.

Objects with a diameter of 2.5 mm will not penetrate into the device.

4 (IP4)- Protection against penetration of solid foreign objects with a diameter of 1 mm or more.

Objects with a diameter of 1 mm will not penetrate into the device.

5 (IP5)- The device is dustproof.

Dust ingress is not completely eliminated, but dust will not enter the instrument in quantities that would interfere with satisfactory operation of the instrument or impair safe operation.

6 (IP6)- The device is dustproof.

There is absolutely no penetration of dust.

Description of the second digit of the code: 0-8

0 - The device is not protected.

1 - Protection against vertically falling drops of water.

Vertically falling drops will not have a harmful effect on the device.

2 - Protection against vertically falling drops of water when the device body is tilted up to 15°.

Vertically falling drops of water when the device body is tilted up to 15° will not have a harmful effect on the device.

3 - Protection against splashing water.

Water splashes sprayed at an angle of up to 60° to any vertical surfaces of the device will not have a harmful effect on the device.

4 - Protection against water spray.

Spraying water in any direction towards the appliance will not have any harmful effect on the appliance.

5 - Protection against water jets.

Jets of water hitting the device from any angle will not have a harmful effect on the device.

6 - Protection against strong jets of water.

Strong jets of water hitting the device from any angle will not have any harmful effect on the device. During testing, the object is exposed to water from all angles, dispensed through a 12.5 mm nozzle in a volume of 100 liters per minute at a pressure of 100 kN per square meter from a distance of 3 meters. The device should not stop working and not have even weak water penetration.

7 - Protection against temporary immersion in water.

Temporary immersion in water will not have any harmful effects on the device under standard conditions of pressure and duration of immersion.

8 - Protection against prolonged immersion in water.

Prolonged immersion in water will not have any harmful effects on the device under standard conditions.

For example:

The Lowrance HOOK 3x fish finder has an IPX7 dust and water resistance rating. This means that this device is sealed and protected from temporary immersion in water, and can also withstand immersion to a depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes.

If you are going to purchase a GPS navigator for hiking or cycling, fishing, mushroom picking or any other outdoor adventure, then be sure to make sure that the device meets the waterproof standard IPX7. Also, usually, all fish finder echo sounders from normal (Lowrance, Humminbird, Garmin) manufacturers comply with the standard IPX7.

Typically, the technical characteristics of devices intended for use in aggressive environments contain the letters IPX. Let's figure out what it is, what we should talk about and how it happens.

When you go camping and find yourself in fog or rain, you naturally want to be sure that your GPS devices in such weather conditions. This designation exists for your confidence!

The most popular and frequently encountered designation is IPX7. Equipment such as echo sounders, most tourist GPS navigators and marine navigation equipment, as well as marine acoustic systems meet the requirements IPX7 on moisture protection - this is a very useful standard for consumer electronics. Devices that meet this standard guarantee their performance in any conditions when used on a bicycle, while jogging, or even when dropped, exposed to rain, etc. Some devices are designed according to the standard IPX6, which is a “weaker” standard compared to IPX7, which does not provide the possibility of immersion in water.

IPxx- this is what the international standard looks like in full format, which was invented for the convenience of assessing the level of dust and moisture protection of devices.

Full decryption of codes
The IPxx code in the IEC international standard system is as follows:

1. Alphabetic symbol IP- International Protection

2. The first digit (from 0 to 6) indicates the degree of protection against penetration of solid foreign objects.
3. The second digit (from 0 to 8) indicates the degree of protection against water penetration.

Description of the first digit of the code: 0-6
0 (IP0) - The device is not protected
1 (IP1) - Protection against penetration of solid foreign objects with a diameter of 50 mm or more.
Objects with a diameter of 50 mm will not penetrate into the device.
2 (IP2) - Protection against penetration of solid foreign objects with a diameter of 12.5 mm or more.
Objects with a diameter of 12.5 mm will not penetrate into the device.
3 (IP3) - Protection against penetration of solid foreign objects with a diameter of 2.5 mm or more.
Objects with a diameter of 2.5 mm will not penetrate into the device.
4 (IP4) - Protection against penetration of solid foreign objects with a diameter of 1 mm or more.
Objects with a diameter of 1 mm will not penetrate into the device.
5 (IP5) - The device is dustproof.
Dust ingress is not completely eliminated, but dust will not enter the instrument in quantities that would interfere with satisfactory operation of the instrument or impair safe operation.
6 (IP6) - The device is dust-proof.
There is absolutely no penetration of dust.

Description of the second digit of the code: 0-8
0 - The device is not protected.
1 - Protection against vertically falling drops of water.
Vertically falling drops will not have a harmful effect on the device.
2 - Protection against vertically falling drops of water when the device body is tilted up to 15°.
Vertically falling drops of water when the device body is tilted up to 15° will not have a harmful effect on the device.
3 - Protection against splashing water.
Water splashes sprayed at an angle of up to 60° to any vertical surfaces of the device will not have a harmful effect on the device.
4 - Protection against water spray.
Spraying water in any direction towards the appliance will not have any harmful effect on the appliance.
5 - Protection against water jets.
Jets of water hitting the device from any angle will not have a harmful effect on the device.
6 - Protection against strong jets of water.
Strong jets of water hitting the device from any angle will not have any harmful effect on the device. During testing, the object is exposed to water from all angles, dispensed through a 12.5 mm nozzle in a volume of 100 liters per minute at a pressure of 100 kN per square meter from a distance of 3 meters. The device should not stop working and not have even weak water penetration.
7 - Protection against temporary immersion in water.
Temporary immersion in water will not have any harmful effects on the device under standard conditions of pressure and duration of immersion.
8 - Protection against prolonged immersion in water.
Prolonged immersion in water will not have any harmful effects on the device under standard conditions.

For example:
Tourist GPS navigator Garmin Oregon 450 has a degree of dust and water protection IPX7. This means that this device is sealed and protected from temporary immersion in water, and can also withstand immersion to a depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes.

If you are going to purchase a GPS navigator for hiking or cycling trips, fishing, mushroom picking or any other outdoor adventures, be sure to make sure that the device meets the waterproof standard IPX7. Also, usually, all fish finder echo sounders normal (Lowrance, Humminbird, Raymarine) manufacturers meet the standard IPX7.