What is IP (degree of protection). Explanation of symbols.

When buying a product, people first of all look at its technical characteristics. Most consider themselves experts in one area or another, but few people understand the secondary characteristics of devices. For example, a novice photographer can understand the quality of the lens, the resolution and the functionality of the camera, but do not understand what it means to decode the IP67 code in the technical documentation.

Definition

What is IP (degree of protection)? The interpretation of this concept is in no way connected with computer programs and network technologies. It's about the physical shell of any technical device and even the ability to block the penetration of foreign objects into the frame. The degree of IP protection is a classification system that determines, according to international standards, how safe a mechanism is in circulation.

In IP (protection degree), the decoding consists of three points. Typically, the technical specifications indicate two digits, as well as an additional letter if necessary. Let's look at the designation IPXX for details.

The first figure

What can mean the inscription in the technical specifications - IP6X. What does the notorious "six" mean? In IP (degree of protection), deciphering the first sign means the ability of the shell to prevent intrusion of solid objects.

• 0 - the absence of any protection. For example, bare wires.
• 1 - items larger than 5 centimeters. Lack of protection from informed intervention.
• 2 - objects with a diameter of about 1.25 centimeters (fingers, pencils).
• 3 - more than 2.5 millimeters (thick cables, tools).
• 4 - more than 1 millimeter (wire).
• 5 - the device is protected from contact with foreign objects, however, a small amount of dust can enter into the device.
• 6 - complete isolation from penetration.

As you can see, nothing complicated. What else does IP protection answer? Decoding (GOST 14254-96) of the next value is not much more difficult. The main thing, remember the basic principle of the indicator of protection - the higher the figure, the better the device is shielded from external influences.

The second figure

The next value of the IP indicator is responsible for its resistance to "water procedures". This is a fairly important parameter for those devices and devices that must be installed on the street.

• 0 - no protection against liquid.
• 1 - protection against vertical drops.
• 2 - similar to the previous version, only the device can be tilted 15 degrees.
• 3 - the device is protected from light rain (water drops at an angle of up to 60 degrees).
• 4 - full protection against rain. The device can be put by either side to a spray.
• 5 - jets of liquid are not capable to cause serious harm to the device.
• 6 - waves. You can pour the device out of the bucket, but the liquid trapped inside it can not harm the device.
• 7 - temporary immersion. The device is able to withstand water pressure at a depth of up to one meter. However, permanent operation under water is not guaranteed.
• 8 - the device can operate under water at a depth of more than 1 meter for at least 30 minutes.

Now you know what IP is (the degree of protection). To better understand what is at stake, let's give a concrete example. Recently announced iPhone has a degree of protection IP67. This means that even if you drop it into the bath, but immediately get it, the device will continue to work fine. In addition, users of new gadgets can not worry about cleaning their chips from dust, as often happens in other phones.

Additional designations

In addition to numbers, sometimes there are additional letter marks, which indicate special conditions for the protection of the device. They can be divided into two groups. The first is a category where you can include devices that have a degree of protection above the declared one, as well as without specifying the first digit.

• A - the device is protected from access by the back of the hand.
• В - protection from fingers.
• C - similar to figure 3.
• D - full protection from attempts to "dig" with wire.

The second block of letters has a more versatile direction, expanding the IP values (the degree of protection). The decoding of the letters will be as follows:

• H means that you are dealing with high-voltage equipment.
• M - the device was included in the tests of protection against water.
• S - the appliance did not work when tested with water.
• W - a performance test was carried out under different weather conditions.

Thus, to decipher the degree of protection of the device it is enough to simply compare the figures with the data of the tables. Also it is worth remembering that in many cases one of the indicators affects the other. For example, if you are holding an instrument with IPX7 in your hand, complete protection against water also ensures the impermeability of the dust box frame.

In addition, there is a German standard of protection IP69K, which was developed specifically for high-temperature cleaning with high pressure. Simply put, for washing cars. However, at present it is also used in various branches of heavy and light industry.