European IP ratings.
The European standard is based on
IEC 60529 and we intend to give the correct
comparison
between European stands (IP rating) and The USA NEMA standards.
Let us firstly explain, IP stands for
Ingress Protection, this is the amount of dust
or fluid an
electronic enclosure will allow into the unit that could damage the
electronic devices inside.
The
first number indicates what size of foreign body will enter the
enclosure,
that could
possibly damage the device inside.
5
- Protection from
dust ingress, this is not entirely
prevented, but it must
not enter in
sufficient quantity to
interfere with the satisfactory operation
of the equipment;
complete
protection against contact .
contact.
The Second
number
indicates the level of protection from fluid or water on the
equipment
inside the
enclosure.
4 - Splashing water against the enclosure
from any direction will have no
harmful effect.
5 - Water
projected by a nozzle against the enclosure from any direction
shall
have no
harmful effects.
6 - High pressure water jets directed
against the enclosure from any direction
shall have
no harmful
effects.
So for example if you had an LCD
display on a factory floor that was very dusty,
you would be
looking for an IP54 solution. Compared with if the production area
was
washed down at the
end of every shift, you would be looking for an IP65 solution
at a
minimum.
European IP rating USA NEMA Standard
IP54 = Type 4
IP65/66 = Type 4X
