Waterproof Handheld devices and IP Ratings

Waterproof devices

Waterproof, weatherproof, weatherized, water-resistant, IP rating…what does it all mean?

Why do we use an IP rating system?

A universal IP rating (or Ingress Protection) system gives customers confidenence about how safe it is to use electrical devices in specific environments and applications.

A waterproof or weatherproof IP rating is one of the most frequent examples people look for in a wide range of everyday products. It’s worth knowing that terms like waterproof when discussing IP ratings can actually be somewhat self-defeating. The very reason IP ratings exist, in fact, is to more clearly define the exact parameters of potentially vague marketing claims. The second digit in a typical IP code indicates a precise level of protection against moisture ingress under specific test scenarios.

IP ratings

IP ratings are defined in international standard IEC 60529. They are used to define levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies (tools, dirt, etc.) and moisture.

The numbers that follow IP each have a specific meaning.

The first indicates the degree of protection from foreign bodies (i.e., dirt).
The second defines the protection level from forms of moisture (i.e., water).

All of the Handheld devices have a rating of 6 as the first digit. This means that the device is totally dust-tight and offers full protection against dust and other particulates.

All of the Handheld devices also have a rating of at least 5 as the second digit. This means the device has protection against low-pressure jets of direct water from any angle, indicating that it is waterproof to a higher degree.