Why is IP rating important for Outdoor Electronics?

Electronics and outdoor electronics manufacturers use descriptive terms like waterproof, dustproof, water-repellent, and dust-resistant to promote their products’ ability to protect themselves from dust and water ingress.

However, misunderstandings may occur when a manufacturer’s interpretation of terms like water repellent dust resistant does not align with the expectations or needs of the customer. Ingress Protection ratings (IP Ratings) have been introduced to establish standardization.

Ingress protection ratings, or IP ratings, refer to the level of protection offered by an electrical enclosure against solids and liquids. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) defines them under the international standard IEC 60529, which classifies and provides a guideline for the degree of protection provided by mechanical casings and electrical enclosures against intrusion, dust, accidental contact, and water.

To obtain an IP rating, a manufacturer must have their product tested by a standard, accredited laboratory. The product is given a numerical IP Rating Certification to indicate how well it guards against liquid and solid penetration. Manufacturers can confidently make claims about the level of protection their products offer when they have a certified IP Rating. It gives the product legitimacy and gives the buyer the trust and confidence to decide whether a product suits their demands.

An IP Rating usually has two numbers. The first number represents the level of protection from solid materials like dust, and the second number represents the level of protection from liquids like water.

Protection against solids

The first digit of an IP Rating is a number that describes the object’s protection against solids, with 0 offering no protection and 6 offering the most protection.

0 – No protection/ No test required

1 – Protected against objects greater than 50mm diameter

2 – Protected against objects greater than 12.5mm diameter, such as a finger

3 – Protected against objects greater than 2.5mm

4 – Protected against objects greater than 1.0mm such as wire

5 – Ingress of dust is not totally prevented but dust does not enter in harmful quantities to interfere with the correct operation or impair safety

6 – No ingress of dust permitted

Protection against liquids

The second digit of an IP rating describes the level of protection against liquids, with 0 offering no protection and 9K offering the most protection.

In an environment where dust or water could damage electronic components, a sealed enclosure is used to prevent such ingress and safe house the electronics.

0 – No protection / No test required

1 – Protected against falling drops of water

2 – Protected against drops falling at 15° in 4 fixed positions

3 – Low pressure spray – similar to shower head at up to 60° from vertical tested using an oscillating tube with an arc of 60° for ten minutes

4 – Low pressure spray – similar to shower head – as per numeral 3 but 180° for 10 minutes

5 – Medium pressure jet – 6.3mm diameter, similar to garden hose – from any angle for 3 minutes at a distance of 2.5-3 metres.

6 – High pressure jet – 12.5mm diameter, similar to fire hose – from any angle for 3 minutes at a distance of 2.5-3 meters.

7 – Immersion – for temporary immersion in water under set conditions – 1 metre for 30 minutes

8 – Protected against the effects of continuous immersion in water, ingress of water in quantities causing harmful effects shall not be possible. Conditions should be more severe than for numeral 7.

9 – Steam clean, high pressure, high temp jet wash to DIN40050 (German Std), extends BS EN 60529:1992

PorVent® Ingress Protection (IP) Vents 

PorVent® IP vents are made from breathable PTFE membranes that keep water and dust out of electronics while equalizing air pressure as the temperature fluctuates. Our PTFE membrane’s microporous structure and natural hydrophobicity ensure that liquids and dust particles are repelled. We can also customize PTFE membrane configurations to allow for customized airflow properties and repellence to oils and other aggressive liquids.

PorVent® IP vents are designed to protect outdoor electronics by

• Preventing water ingress – PorVent® IP Vents are IP64/65/66/67/68/6K9K rated and are available with Hydrophobic as well as Oleophobic properties. sPTFE membranes have been proven to have superior hydrophobic protection.
• Protecting from dust and debris – IP vents are made up of sPTFE membrane, which has the ability to protect from dust entirely, leaving no residue, providing an added level of protection. It’s an effective barrier against the solid particles.
• Rapid pressure equalization – Outdoor electronic enclosures must withstand harsh environments while ensuring performance and durability. PorVent® IP vents help establish constant pressure equalization.
• Reducing condensation – With each warming-up recycling, damp air that can build up inside the housing is allowed to escape through continuous venting, which helps prevent potential internal condensation problems.
• Reducing costs by optimizing enclosure design – Our IP vents can extend outdoor electronics’ service life and reduce outdoor electronic equipment maintenance costs.
• Easily integrates into existing systems – PorVent® designs and manufactures screw in vents, snap fit vents, and protective adhesive vents that can be easily integrated into existing systems. They provide a solution to protect sensitive equipment from environmental contaminants while allowing for the necessary airflow. 

Conclusion

PorVent® is one of the leading solutions to overcome the challenge of combining breathability with ingress protection. It allows the pressure and heat to escape, thereby enhancing functionality and durability. PorVent® Ingress Protection (IP) vents protect all your outdoor electronics from harsh environmental conditions and meet IP standards that ensure protection and safety.