Classification of IP protection level test equipment
Waterproof test equipment (corresponding to IPX1~IPX8)
Waterproof test equipment is used to simulate the intrusion of liquid water in different scenarios and verify the waterproof ability of the equipment through standardized devices. The specific corresponding grades and functions are as follows:
Drip and rain test device: Specifically designed for IPX1 (vertical dripping) and IPX2 (dripping at a 15° tilt). By precisely controlling the drip volume (e.g., 1 - 3 mm/min), it simulates natural rainfall or the dripping scenario when the equipment is tilted to verify the protection ability under mild water contact.
Swinging pipe rain test device: Covers IPX3 (60° water spraying) and IPX4 (360° water splashing) tests. The core is a swingable pipe with water spray holes. By adjusting the swing angle (from 60° to 180°) and water flow intensity, it simulates scenarios such as cross - wind rainfall and all - round water splashing to verify the equipment's ability to block "directional water flow".
Lotus - shaped water - splashing test device (hand - held nozzle type): As a supplementary test method for IPX3~IPX4, it simulates artificial water spraying (such as equipment flushing and rain splashing) through a hand - held adjustable nozzle, which is closer to the "non - fixed - direction water flow" scenario in daily use.
Strong flushing and showering test device: Corresponding to IPX5 (water jetting) and IPX6 (strong water jetting), it uses high-pressure nozzles (inner diameter 6.3mm/12.5mm) to simulate high-pressure water guns, heavy rain and other strong water flows, and verifies the equipment's protection against "centralized high-speed water flow".
IPX7/X8 water immersion test device: Designed for deep water immersion. For IPX7, a conventional immersion tank (with a water depth of 1 meter) is used, and for IPX8, a customized pressure tank (to simulate deep - water pressure) is required. It verifies the sealing ability of the equipment in an "immersive water environment".
Dust-proof test equipment (corresponding to IP1X~IP6X)
The core equipment for the dust-proof test of IP1X~IP6X is the dust-proof test chamber. Its principle is to place the test sample in a closed chamber and circulate dust (such as talcum powder and quartz sand) through a fan to simulate dust environments with different concentrations (such as factories and deserts). The purpose of the test is to verify:
- Whether the equipment enclosure can prevent solid foreign objects (such as 12.5mm tools and 1mm dust) from entering;
- Whether the amount of dust ingress affects the functions of internal circuits and moving parts (e.g., IP5X allows a small amount of dust but it should not cause malfunctions).
Core definition of IP protection rating (based on EN60529/IEC529 standard)
The IP protection rating is an international evaluation system for the protection ability of equipment enclosures. The core logic is a "combination of two digits":
IP + the first marked number + the second marked number
- The first number: It is responsible for "protection against contact and ingress of foreign objects" - preventing human contact with internal dangerous components (such as live conductors, high - speed motors) and blocking solid foreign objects (such as dust, particles) from entering.
- Second digit: Responsible for "waterproof protection" - blocking the intrusion of liquid water (such as rain, water spray, immersion) to avoid malfunctions like short - circuits and corrosion.
First marking number: Contact protection and protection against foreign objects (Class 0 to 6)
The essence of the number is the "maximum allowable size of solid foreign objects", which needs to be verified by a standard detector (rigid sphere) (detector diameter = critical size of foreign objects, unable to fully pass through the equipment pores):
Level 0: No protection – The enclosure has no barriers. The human body can directly contact the internal components, and foreign objects can enter freely (e.g., an open-type fan).
Level 1: Protection against solids ≥ 50mm —— Blocks fingers and large particles (such as coins). A 50mm sphere cannot fully enter (such as the grille of an outdoor air conditioner unit).
Level 2: Protection against solids ≥ 12.5mm —— Blocks tools and small toys. A 12.5mm sphere cannot fully enter (e.g., the protective door of a socket).
Level 3: Protection against solids ≥ 2.5 mm —— Blocks wires and small metal particles. A 2.5 mm sphere cannot fully enter (e.g., the enclosure of an industrial controller).
Level 4: Protection against solids ≥ 1.0 mm —— Blocks thin wires and dust particles. Spheres of 1.0 mm cannot fully enter (e.g., the dust plug for the charging port of a mobile phone).
Level 5: Dust protection (limited ingress) —— It cannot completely prevent dust from entering, but the amount of dust entering will not affect the function (e.g., mobile phones and watches for daily use).
Level 6: Dust-tight — When the inside of the equipment maintains a low pressure of 20 millibars (e.g., when the equipment is sucking air or there is external negative pressure), no dust enters (e.g., sensors used in coal mines, motors in cement plants).
Second marking number: Waterproof protection (Class 0 to 8)
The essence of the numbers is "the severity of the water flow", increasing in a gradient from "light dripping" to "deep diving":
Level 0: No protection - Water can enter freely, and the equipment will malfunction when exposed to water (e.g., ordinary table lamp).
Level 1: Protection against vertical dripping water —— Vertical dripping water (such as light rain) will not cause damage (e.g., indoor lighting fixtures).
Level 2: Protection against dripping water when tilted 15° — When the equipment is tilted 15° in any direction, vertical dripping water will not penetrate (e.g., a small table fan).
Level 3: Protection against splashing water at 60° — Water splashing from within 60° on either side of the vertical line (such as side - winded rain) will not cause damage (e.g., outdoor street lights).
Level 4: All-round water spray protection - Water spray from any direction (such as heavy rain, splashing water) will not penetrate (e.g., the control panel of a washing machine).
Level 5: Water jet protection - High-pressure water jets (such as car wash guns) sprayed from any direction will not cause damage (e.g., car rearview mirrors).
Level 6: Strong water jet protection — The stronger high-pressure water flow (such as industrial flushing, typhoon and heavy rain) will not intrude (e.g., the cab of an engineering vehicle).
Level 7: Protection against short-term immersion - Immersed in water 1 meter deep for 30 minutes with no harmful amount of water intrusion (e.g., mobile phones with IP67 rating).
Level 8: Continuous diving protection – more severe depth/time conditions than IPX7 (e.g., 1 hour at a depth of 50 meters). The specific conditions are to be agreed upon by the supplier and the demander (e.g., professional diving watches, underwater robots).
Detailed technical requirements for waterproof test (IPX1~IPX8)
IPX1: Vertical dripping water test
Test scenario: Simulate the "vertical dripping water" in natural rainfall (such as getting rained on the head without an umbrella).
Equipment: Dripping test device (with a showerhead-type dripping tray and adjustable dripping volume).
Sample placement: Fix the sample on a rotating table with a speed of 1 r/min according to the normal working position of the equipment (ensure that the top is evenly covered with water droplets). The distance between the top of the sample and the water dripping port shall be ≤ 200 mm (ensure that the impact force of water droplets is consistent).
Test conditions: Water dripping rate is 1 ± 0.5 mm/min (about 60 L per hour, equivalent to light rainfall).
Duration: 10 minutes (covering short-term contact in normal rainfall).
IPX2: 15° inclined drip test
Test scenario: Simulate dripping when the device is tilted (e.g., when holding a mobile phone at an angle or placing the device on a slope).
Equipment: The same as IPX1, but a specimen tilting mechanism (capable of fixing at a 15° angle) needs to be added.
Sample placement: Place one side of the equipment at an angle of 15° with the vertical line, and the distance between the top and the water dripping opening should be ≤ 200 mm. Rotate the equipment by 90° after testing each side, and a total of 4 sides (front, back, left, and right) shall be tested.
Test conditions: Water dripping rate is 3 ± 0.5 mm/min (about 180 L/hour, equivalent to moderate rain).
Duration: 2.5 minutes for each side, with a total duration of 10 minutes.
IPX3: Water spraying test (dual modes of swinging pipe and nozzle)
Test scenario: Simulate crosswind and rainfall or short - distance water spraying (such as rainwater not fully blocked by an umbrella and splashes on the roadside).
Equipment:
1. Swing tube water spraying device (core): It is equipped with a swing tube with an adjustable radius (the tube body has evenly distributed water spraying holes), and the water spraying range is controlled through the swing angle.
2. Handheld sprinkler device (supplementary): A sprinkler with pressure adjustment to simulate manual water spraying.
Sample placement:
- Pendulum tube type: The test specimen is fixed at the center of the semi - circle of the pendulum tube. The distance between the top of the specimen and the water spray nozzle is ≤ 200 mm, and the sample stage does not rotate (focusing on "directional water spraying").
- Sprinkler type: The parallel distance between the top of the test specimen and the sprinkler is 300 - 500 mm (simulating the conventional distance for hand-held flushing).
Test conditions:
- Pendulum tube type: The water flow rate per hole is 0.07 L/min. The pendulum tube swings 60° on each side of the vertical line (total angle of 120°), and each swing takes about 4 seconds (simulating the "reciprocating water spraying" in crosswinds).
- Sprinkler type: Install a balance baffle (to prevent water from directly spraying on the equipment), with a water flow rate of 10 L/min.
Duration:
- Pendulum tube type: Continuously spray water for 10 minutes.
- Sprayer type: Calculate based on the surface area of the equipment's outer shell (excluding the mounting surface), with 1 minute per square meter, and a minimum of 5 minutes (for example, if the surface area of a mobile phone is 0.05㎡, the test lasts for 5 minutes).
IPX4: Splashing water test (Dual modes of oscillating tube/spray nozzle)
Test scenario: Simulate all-round water splashing (such as being drenched in the rain during a downpour or water contact in a water-throwing game), with a protection level higher than IPX3.
Equipment: The same as IPX3, but the swing angle of the oscillating tube is increased (from 60° to 90°), and the baffle of the nozzle is removed (to simulate more direct splashing water).
Sample placement: The same as IPX3.
Test conditions:
- Pendulum tube type: The pendulum tube swings 90° on each side of the vertical line (total angle of 180°, covering all directions). Each swing takes about 12 seconds (a slower swing speed ensures sufficient contact with the water flow).
- Sprinkler type: Remove the balance baffle and spray water directly (simulating "unobstructed water splashing").
Duration: The same as IPX3 (10 minutes for the swinging tube method, calculated by area for the nozzle method).
IPX5: Water jet test
Test scenario: Simulate high-pressure water jet (such as a car wash gun or strong water flow during a rainstorm).
Equipment: A high-pressure nozzle with an inner diameter of 6.3 mm (simulating the caliber of a conventional car wash gun).
Sample placement: The distance between the sample and the nozzle is 2.5 - 3 m (simulating the "safe distance" during car washing).
Test conditions: Water flow rate is 12.5 L/min (about 750 L/hour, equivalent to the water flow intensity of high-pressure car washing).
Duration: Calculate based on the surface area of the shell, 1 minute per square meter, with a minimum of 3 minutes (for example, if the surface area of a car rearview mirror is 0.1㎡, the test lasts for 3 minutes).
IPX6: Intense water jet test
Test scenario: Simulate extremely strong water jetting (such as industrial flushing, heavy rain in a typhoon), with a protection level higher than IPX5.
Equipment: A large-flow nozzle with an inner diameter of 12.5 mm (simulating the caliber of an industrial flushing gun).
Sample placement: The same as IPX5 (distance: 2.5 - 3 m).
Test conditions: Water flow rate is 100 L/min (approximately 6000 L/hour, equivalent to the water flow intensity of a fire hose).
Duration: The same as IPX5 (calculated by area, at least 3 minutes).
IPX7: Short-term immersion test
Test scenario: Simulate accidental water immersion (e.g., a mobile phone falling into a swimming pool or outdoor equipment being submerged by rainwater).
Equipment: Customized immersion tank (it needs to meet the "water depth requirement").
Sample placement: The distance from the bottom of the sample to the water surface should be ≥ 1 m (simulating the actual water - entry depth), and the distance from the top of the sample to the water surface should be ≥ 0.15 m (ensuring complete immersion).
Test conditions: Normal temperature and pressure (simulating a natural water environment without additional water pressure).
Duration: 30 minutes (covering the rescue time window after an accidental fall into the water).
IPX8: Continuous immersion test
Test scenario: Simulate a long-term deep-water environment (such as the deep-sea operation of diving watches and the mission environment of underwater robots), with a severity higher than IPX7.
Equipment: Pressure tank (capable of simulating deep - water hydraulic pressure) or deep - water pool (such as a professional diving test pool).
Test conditions: The depth, water pressure, and time shall be agreed upon by the supplier and the demander (e.g., 50 meters deep for 1 hour, or 100 meters deep for 2 hours) —— The core requirement is "more severe than IPX7".
Acceptance criteria: After the test, the equipment shall function normally and there shall be no signs of water ingress inside (e.g., no deformation of the sealing ring and no corrosion of the circuit).