IP code. Degrees of protection provided by shells.
The classification of degrees of protection provided by shells against penetration of solid objects and water is defined in GOST 14254-96 “Degrees of protection provided by shells (IP Code)”.
GOST 14254-96 is authentic to IEC 529-89 and applies to the grouping of products covered by the International Electrotechnical Commission: information technology products, electrical products and instrumentation products), with a voltage of not more than 72.5 kV.
This classification also applies to the protection of people from access to hazardous parts of products and the protection of electrical equipment inside the shell from the ingress of foreign solid objects, the protection of electrical equipment inside the shell from the harmful effects of water penetration.
The degree of protection provided by the shell is indicated by a 5-bit IP code, for example: IP65CH. Where:
IP— letters of the code (International Protection – International Protection);
6 – the first characteristic digit (digits from 0 to 6 or, letter X);
5 – the second characteristic digit (digits from 0 to 8 or, letter X);
C – additional letter if necessary (letters A, B, C, D);
H is an auxiliary letter if necessary (letters H, M, S, W).
The first characteristic figure indicates that the shell provides:
- protecting people from access to dangerous parts by preventing or restricting the penetration of any part of the human body or object in the hands of a person;
- and at the same time protection of the equipment which is in a cover, against penetration of external firm objects;
0 – the equipment is protected from access to dangerous parts by the back of the brush and is not protected from external solid objects.
1 – protected from access to dangerous parts by a finger and protected from external solid objects with a diameter greater than or equal to 50 mm.
2 – protected from access to dangerous parts by a finger and protected from external solid objects with a diameter greater than or equal to 12.5 mm.
3 – protected from access to hazardous parts by the tool and protected from external solid objects with a diameter greater than or equal to 2.5 mm.
4 – protected from access to hazardous parts of the equipment by wire and protected from external solid objects with a diameter greater than or equal to 1.0 mm.
5 – protected from access to dangerous parts of the equipment by a wire and dust-proof.
6 – is protected from access to dangerous parts by a wire and is dustproof.
The second characteristic figure indicates the degree of protection provided by the shells against harmful effects on the equipment as a result of water penetration.
0 – no protection.
1 – protected from vertically falling drops of water.
2 – is protected from vertically falling drops of water when the cover is deflected on an angle to 15 °.
3 – Protected from water falling in the form of rain.
4 – Protected against continuous splashing.
5 – Protected from water jets.
6 – Protected from strong water jets.
7 – is protected from influence at temporary (short-term) immersion in water.
8 – is protected from influence at long immersion in water.
An additional letter indicates the degree of protection of people from access to dangerous parts. Additional letters are used if the actual degree of protection against access to hazardous parts is higher than that indicated by the first characteristic digit.
A – protected from access to dangerous parts by the back of the brush;
B – protected from access to dangerous parts by a finger;
C – protected from access to hazardous parts by the tool;
D – protected from access to hazardous parts of the equipment by wire.
Additional information may be attached to specific product types by means of an auxiliary letter placed after the second characteristic digit or after the additional letter.
H – High voltage equipment.
M – equipment with moving parts (for example, the rotor of a rotating machine), tested for compliance with the degree of protection against harmful effects associated with the penetration of water, with moving parts in motion.
S – equipment with moving parts (for example, the rotor of a rotating machine), tested for compliance of the degree of protection against harmful effects associated with the penetration of water with moving parts in a state of immobility.
W – not currently used.
Example:
IP67 – people holding the wire in their hands are protected from the harmful effects of the equipment; the equipment is dustproof and allows short-term immersion in water.