There is an IP rating on most devices. Thanks to this blog article, you will learn to read the protections ratings yourself, learn the difference between IP67 and IP68, the practical aspects of the IP68 rating and selected devices that have this level of resistance.
"IP" is understood as "International Protection Rating", which means "Degree of Protection". Sometimes it is also translated as "Ingress Protection", which means protection against ingress. The second name most accurately captures the essence of what IP protection types are. These ratings are, simply put, part of a system that describes whether a device is protected against the ingress of particles, dust or water.
The IP degree of protection consists of a fixed letter designation in the form of the IP symbol and two characteristic digits. Optionally, there may be two letters at the end of the code - additional and supplementary. If the characteristic digit is not required, it should be replaced by the letter X.
The supplementary letter is used when the protection against access to hazardous parts is higher than the first characteristic numeral would indicate. The supplementary letter indicates protection in specific cases, e.g. under certain weather conditions or with high voltage equipment.
level of protection against contact with solids
Protection against water ingress
Two IP code classification standards are used:
These standards differ in some details, so you should refer to the appropriate one in each case.
IP67 means maximum protection against dust, sand and other solid objects and a high degree of protection against the effects of water ingress. This is the lowest level of protection that should be considered by someone for whom waterproofness is important in a device.
The IP68 standard guarantees complete protection against the ingress of dust. In addition, unless otherwise specified in the user manual, an IP68 device is resistant to splashes, rain and deliberate total immersion.
For devices that are covered by the IP68 standard, it is not top-down specified to what depth they can be submerged. This is one of the few IP degrees that are only described in IEC 60529 and not specified by specific numbers. As a result, both those that can be submerged to a depth of 3 metres and those that can be used to explore the ocean floor - up to 300 metres - can meet the standard. This means that with the same degree of protection, the immersion depth of a probe or pressure transducer will vary depending on the application. Therefore, the manufacturer and user must agree on the exact IP 68 specification.
Waterproof tells us that the device is impervious to water. Water resistance means that the device can withstand the harmful effects of water. Devices with an IP68 rating have both. This means that they will not stop working under water, nor will water find its way inside the instruments.
IP67 is the lowest degree of protection that should be considered by someone for whom waterproofness is important in a device, as the possibility of immersion in water is possible from level 7. However, it should be taken into account that this waterproof class guarantees resistance to short-term immersion for up to 30 minutes. If the device is to be exposed to prolonged immersion, or you prefer to be more confident, IP68 is always a better choice.
Contact JUMO - we will help you select the right equipment for your application.
My name is Saskia van der Laan, I have been working for JUMO for over 33 years. Since 2012 I have been working with great enthusiasm in the marketing department. It is my passion to use written text to translate technology into practice with the aim of informing and inspiring the reader.
