What is the Protection Class (IP Protection)?

What is the Protection Class (IP Protection)?

The Ingress Protection (IP) code always consists of the letters IP followed by two digits. It specifies the degree of protection to DIN VDE 0470 (EN60529) provided by enclosures of electrical apparatus.

The first digit applies to protection against electric shock hazard and solid bodies, the second to protection against liquids. A letter indicating protection against access to hazardous parts may follow the last digit.

Which Protection Classes are available?

The individual protection codes are defined in the following table:

The exact definitions from which these generalized descriptions are derived are to be found in DIN EN 60529. Special regulations have to be followed when using solenoids in hazardous areas.