IP stands for Ingress Protection (also called International Protection Rating). It is an international standard (IEC 60529 / GB/T 4208) that defines the level of protection an electrical equipment enclosure provides against:
· Solid objects (dust, tools, fingers, etc.)
· Liquids (water, moisture, etc.)
The IP rating consists of two digits: IP _ _
|
Position |
Meaning |
Range |
|
First Digit |
Dust Protection (Solid Object Protection) |
0 – 6 |
|
Second Digit |
Water Protection (Liquid Ingress Protection) |
0 – 8 |
Note: Higher numbers = better protection. IP6X means fully dust-tight; IPX8 means continuous water immersion protection.
|
IP Code |
Protection Level |
Description |
|
IP0X |
No Protection |
No special protection against solid objects |
|
IP1X |
≥50mm |
Prevents large solid objects (e.g., hand) from entering |
|
IP2X |
≥12mm |
Prevents fingers from touching internal parts |
|
IP3X |
≥2.5mm |
Prevents tools, wires, and small objects from entering |
|
IP4X |
≥1.0mm |
Prevents insects,and small debris from entering |
|
IP5X |
Dust-Protected |
Dust may enter but not in quantities that affect normal operation |
|
IP6X |
Dust-Tight |
Completely prevents dust ingress |
|
IP Code |
Protection Level |
Description |
|
IPX0 |
No Protection |
No protection against water |
|
IPX1 |
Vertical Dripping |
Prevents vertically dripping water |
|
IPX2 |
15° Dripping |
Prevents dripping water at 15° angle |
|
IPX3 |
Spraying (60°) |
Prevents water spray at up to 60° angle |
|
IPX4 |
Splashing |
Prevents water splashing from any direction |
|
IPX5 |
Water Jet |
Prevents low-pressure water jets from any direction |
|
IPX6 |
Strong Water Jet |
Prevents powerful water jets |
|
IPX7 |
Immersion |
Can be submerged in water (up to 1m) for limited time |
|
IPX8 |
Continuous Immersion |
Can be submerged continuously under specified conditions |
|
IPX9K |
High-Pressure/Hot Water |
Withstands high-pressure hot water washing (100bar, 80°C) |
|
IP Rating |
Application |
Typical Use Case |
|
IP23 |
Indoor, dry environments |
Light industrial use, office environments |
|
IP44 |
Indoor electrical cabinets |
Control panels, indoor compressors |
|
IP54 |
Indoor/Outdoor general use |
Most common for standard air compressors |
|
IP55 |
Outdoor, harsh environments |
Common for industrial compressors |
|
IP65 |
Dust-tight + water jet resistant |
Outdoor, construction sites, mining |
|
IP66 |
Dust-tight + strong water jet |
Heavy-duty outdoor applications |
|
IP67 |
Dust-tight + short-term immersion |
Special applications requiring water resistance |
|
IP68 |
Dust-tight + continuous immersion |
Submersible or extreme environments |
|
IP69K |
High-pressure hot water wash |
Food & beverage, pharmaceutical, washing facilities |
Most common for industrial air compressors: IP54, IP55, IP65
|
Parameter |
Meaning |
|
IP55 |
First digit 5 = Dust-protected (dust may enter but not affect operation) |
|
|
Second digit 5 = Protected against water jets from any direction |
|
Application |
Suitable for outdoor use, construction sites, and harsh industrial environments |
|
Example |
De-nai 280kW variable frequency air compressor has IP55 protection |
|
Point |
Explanation |
|
IP67/IP68 ≠ Working underwater |
These ratings ensure the device works after being removed from water, not while submerged and operating |
|
IP69K ≠ IP67/IP68 |
IP69K protects against high-pressure washing but is not suitable for continuous immersion |
|
IP69K applications |
Food factories, car washes, breweries where equipment is frequently washed |
|
Testing standard |
GB/T 4208-2017 (China) / IEC 60529 (International) |
|
IK rating |
Separate from IP; measures mechanical impact protection (e.g., IK08, IK10) |
IP Rating (Ingress Protection Rating) is an international standard that indicates the level of protection an air compressor's enclosure provides against dust and water ingress.
The IP code consists of two digits:
- First digit (0-6): Dust protection level
- Second digit (0-8): Water protection level
For example:
• IP55 = Dust-protected + Protected against water jets
• IP65 = Dust-tight + Protected against water jets
• IP69K = Dust-tight + Protected against high-pressure hot water washing
Most industrial air compressors have IP54 or IP55 rating, suitable for outdoor and harsh industrial environments. Welcome to contact us to get more information!
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