I.P. Ratings Explained
IP rating is also known as Ingress Protection or International Protection ratings which are defined to the international standard of EN 60529 (British BS EN 60529:1992, European IEC 60509:1989).
The rating consists of the letters IP followed by 2 digits, the first digit stands for the level of protection that the enclosure provides against solid bodies, the second digit describes the degree of protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against water.
Below is an easy to follow chart to help you decide which IP rating you may require for your electrical hose reel.
| IP.. | First digit: Ingress of solid objects |
Second digit: Ingress of liquids |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No protection | No protection |
| 1 | Protected against solid objects over 50mm e.g. hands, large tools. | Protected against vertically falling drops of water or condensation. |
| 2 | Protected against solid objects over 12.5mm e.g. hands, large tools. | Protected against falling drops of water, if the case is disposed up to 15 from vertical. |
| 3 | Protected against solid objects over 2.5mm e.g. wire, small tools. | Protected against sprays of water from any direction, even if the case is disposed up to 60from vertical. |
| 4 | Protected against solid objects over 1.0mm e.g. wires. | Protected against splash water from any direction. |
| 5 | Limited protection against dust ingress. (no harmful deposit) |
Protected against low pressure water jets from any direction. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 6 | Totally protected against dust ingress. | Protected against high pressure water jets from any direction. Limited ingress permitted. |
| 7 | N/A | Protected against short periods of immersion in water. |
| 8 | N/A | Protected against long, durable periods of immersion in water. |
| 9k | N/A | Protected against close-range high pressure, high temperature spray downs. |