| First letter |
Degree of protection |
Explanation |
| 0 |
No protection |
No special protection. |
| 1 |
Protection against large foreign bodies |
Protection against ingress of solid objects with a diameter more than 50 mm.
No Protection against deliberate access, for example with a hand, but large surfaces of the body are prevented from approach. 1) |
| 2 |
Protection against medium-size objects |
Protection against penetration by solid objects with a diameter of more than 12 mm.
Fingers or similar objects prevented from approach. 1) |
| 3 |
Protection against small foreign bodies |
Protection against ingress of solid objects with a diameter of more than 2.5 mm.
Tools, wires, etc. with a thickness of more than 2.5 mm are prevented from approach. 1) 2) |
| 4 |
Protection against granular objects |
Protection against ingress of solid objects with a diameter of more than 1 mm.Tools,
wires, etc. with a thickness of more than 1 mm are prevented from approach. 1) 2) |
| 5 |
Protection against dust deposits |
Protection against harmful dust deposits. Ingress of dust is not totally prevented
but the dust must not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with satisfactory operation
of the equipment. Complete protection against contact. 3) |
| 6 |
Protection against ingress of dust |
Protection against ingress of dust.
Complete protection against contact. |
| 1) Uniformly or non-uniformly shaped foreign bodies with three mutually perpendicular dimensions
greater than the numerical values given for the diameter are prevented from ingress. 2) The
application for equipment containing drain holes or ventilating openings is the responsibility
of the relevant Technical committee. 3) The application for equipment containing drain holes is
the responsibility of the relevant Technical committee. |
| Second letter |
Degree of protection |
Explanation |
| 0 |
No protection |
No special protection. |
| 1 |
Protection against vertically falling drops |
Protection against dripping water falling vertically.
No harmful effect must be produced. |
| 2 |
Protection against drops falling at an angle |
Protection against dripping water falling vertically. There must be no harmful effect
when the equipment (enclosure) is tilted at an angle up to 15° from its normal. |
| 3 |
Protection against spray water |
Protection against water falling at any angle up to 60° from the vertical.
There must be no harmful effect. |
| 4 |
Protection against splashing water |
Protection against water splashed against the equipment (enclosure) from any direction.
There must be no harmful effect. |
| 5 |
Protection against water jet |
Protection against water projected from a nozzle gainst the equipment (enclosure) from any
direction. There must be no harmful effect. |
| 6 |
Protection against splashing over |
Protection against heavy seas or powerful water jets.
Water must not enter the equipment (enclosure) in harmful quantities. |
| 7 |
Protection against immersion |
Protection against water when the equipment (enclosure) is immersed in
water under defined conditions of pressure and time.
Water must not enter in harmful quantities. |
| 8 |
Protection against submersion |
The equipment (enclosure) is suitable for continuous submersion in water
under conditions which must be water under defined conditions of pressure and time.
Water must not enter in harmful quantities. |
| 8 |
Protection against submersion |
The equipment (enclosure) is suitable for continuous submersion in water
under conditions which must be specified by the manufacturer. 1) |
| 1) With certain types of equipment it can mean that water may enter,
provided it produces no harmful effects. |
