Structure of the IP code according to DIN EN 60529
The IP code (Ingress Protection) is defined in the international standard IEC 60529, implemented in Germany as DIN EN 60529. It describes how well an electrical enclosure is protected against the ingress of foreign bodies, dust and water. The code follows the scheme:
| Element | Meaning | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Digit | Protection against solid foreign bodies and dust | 0 – 6 |
| 2. Digit | Protection against water | 0 – 9 (+ K) |
| Letter (opt.) | Personal protection: A = back of hand, B = finger, C = tool, D = wire | A / B / C / D |
| Additional letter (opt.) | Special conditions: H = high voltage, M = test during movement, S = test at standstill, W = weather protection | H / M / S / W |
1. Digit: Solids protection (0-6)
| Digit | Degree of protection against foreign bodies / dust |
|---|---|
| 0 | No protection |
| 1 | Protection against solid bodies > 50 mm (e.g. back of hand) |
| 2 | Protection against solid bodies > 12 mm (e.g. fingers) |
| 3 | Protection against solid bodies > 2.5 mm (tools, wires) |
| 4 | Protection against solid bodies > 1 mm (thin wires) |
| 5 | Dust-protected - no harmful dust ingress (not completely sealed) |
| 6 | Dust-tight - no dust penetrates (completely sealed) |
2. Digit: Water protection (0-9K)
| Digit | Degree of protection against water |
|---|---|
| 0 | No protection |
| 1 | Vertical dripping water (1 mm/min for 10 min) |
| 2 | Drip water up to 15° inclination |
| 3 | Spray water up to 60° from the vertical |
| 4 | Splash water from any direction |
| 5 | Jet water (nozzle ø 6.3 mm) from any direction |
| 6 | Strong water jets (nozzle ø 12.5 mm) from any direction |
| 7 | Short-term submersion (1 m depth, 30 min) |
| 8 | Permanent immersion (conditions defined by the manufacturer) |
| 9K | High-pressure steam jet cleaning (DIN 40050-9): 80-100 bar, 80°C, 14-16 l/min |
Key Takeaway: IP54 = First digit 5 (dust-protected, not completely sealed) + second digit 4 (splash water from any direction). IP65 = Dust-tight + water jets. Each higher number includes the requirements of the lower levels.
Reference table IP00-IP69K
All relevant IP combinations at a glance. The table can be filtered and sorted by each column.
| IP code | Solids protection | Water protection | Typical application |
|---|---|---|---|
| IP00 | No protection | No protection | Open transformers, test laboratory |
| IP10 | Protection against body > 50 mm | No protection | Space heaters (open at the top) |
| IP11 | Protection against body > 50 mm | Vertical dripping water | Simple household motors |
| IP12 | Protection against body > 50 mm | Drip water up to 15° inclination | Household appliances, lighting |
| IP13 | Protection against body > 50 mm | Spray water up to 60° | Power tools, hand tools |
| IP20 | Protection against fingers (> 12 mm) | No protection | Enclosure interior components |
| IP21 | Protection against fingers | Vertical dripping water | Office equipment, household electronics |
| IP22 | Protection against fingers | Drip water up to 15° inclination | Indoor systems with slight moisture |
| IP23 | Protection against fingers | Spray water up to 60° | Covered outdoor areas |
| IP24 | Protection against fingers | Splash water from any direction | Simple washing systems |
| IP30 | Protection against tools (> 2.5 mm) | No protection | Control units in dry indoor areas |
| IP40 | Protection against wires (> 1 mm) | No protection | Indoor units without water contact |
| IP41 | Protection against wires | Vertical dripping water | Ceiling lights, fans inside |
| IP42 | Protection against wires | Drip water up to 15° inclination | Electric motors for dry indoor systems |
| IP43 | Protection against wires | Spray water up to 60° | Motors covered outside |
| IP44 | Protection against wires | Splash water from any direction | Compressors, machine interior |
| IP50 | Dust-protected | No protection | Devices without water contact in dusty environments |
| IP54 | Dust-protected | Splash water from any direction | Standard industrial motors (TEFC) |
| IP55 | Dust-protected | Water jets from any direction | Outdoor installation, covered outdoor areas |
| IP56 | Dust-protected | Strong water jets from any direction | Ship decks, washing areas (light) |
| IP57 | Dust-protected | Short-term immersion (1 m / 30 min) | Agricultural machinery, construction machinery |
| IP65 | Dust-tight (completely) | Water jets from any direction | Food industry, wash-down |
| IP66 | Dustproof | Strong water jets from any direction | Heavy engineering external, offshore |
| IP67 | Dustproof | Submersion up to 1 m / 30 min | Deep-freeze areas, wet rooms, mining |
| IP68 | Dustproof | Permanent immersion (manufacturer's specification) | Submersible pumps, submersible actuators |
| IP69 | Dustproof | High-pressure hot water (general) | Heavy-duty industrial cleaning |
| IP69K | Dustproof | High-pressure steam jet (DIN 40050-9) | Food and pharmaceutical industry (CIP/SIP) |
IP classes highlighted in bold are particularly common in drive technology.
Frequent types of protection in drive technology in detail
Five IP classes are particularly relevant for electric motors, gearboxes and actuators in industrial applications. Here are the most important details for your design decision.
IP54 - Standard industrial motors
IP54 is the most common protection class for enclosed industrial motors (TEFC - Totally Enclosed Fan-Cooled) in accordance with IEC 60034-5. The first digit 5 means dust-protected: Dust can penetrate, but not in harmful quantities. The second digit 4 (splash water) permits use in dry to slightly damp production halls.
Typical for: Standard conveyor technology, fans, pumps in dry halls, machine tools (without coolant contact).
IP55 - outdoor installation
IP55 differs from IP54 only in the second digit: 5 (water jets) instead of 4 (splash water). The dust protection is identical. In practice, the difference is relevant for occasional cleaning with a water hose or when operating outdoors in direct rain.
Typical for: Outdoor installation on roofs or outdoors, cooling towers, covered outdoor storage facilities, waste water treatment.
IP65 - Dust-tight + water jet (wash-down)
IP65 offers complete dust protection (number 6) and protection against water jets (number 5). This is the minimum requirement for drives in food processing, where regular cleaning is carried out with a water hose or low-pressure sprayers. Crucial: The housing must be completely enclosed - no ventilation slots, no open cable glands.
Typical for: Food processing, beverage bottling, pharmaceutical plants, chemical industry (cleaning areas).
IP66 / IP67 - Strong water jets and short-term immersion
IP66 protects against strong water jets (larger nozzle, higher pressure than IP65). IP67 also protects against short-term immersion to a depth of 1 m for 30 minutes. In practice, many planners choose IP67 for applications where occasional flooding due to cleaning water or production moisture may occur - even if regular immersion is not planned.
Typical for: Deep-freeze areas (condensation + condensation water), mining, shipping, pressure spray systems, commercial kitchens.
IP69K - High-pressure steam jet cleaning (DIN 40050-9)
IP69K is the hardest standard protection class and is based on the DIN 40050-9 standard. Test conditions: 80-100 bar water pressure, 80°C water temperature, 14-16 l/min flow rate, nozzle distance 10-15 cm, 30 seconds per side. These conditions occur with industrial high-pressure cleaners and CIP systems (cleaning-in-place).
Important: An IP69K motor requires special shaft seals (double-acting RWDR, PTFE lip), pressure- and temperature-resistant sealing materials, and a gap-free housing geometry. Not every IP65 motor can be upgraded to IP69K by simple additional measures.
Typical for: Slaughterhouses, dairies, breweries, pharmaceutical production, CIP systems, commercial kitchens with daily high-pressure cleaning.
IP vs. NEMA Type: Comparison table
In North America, the NEMA system (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) is used. The following table shows approximate equivalents between NEMA type and IP class.
| NEMA Type | IP equivalent (approx.) | Field of application |
|---|---|---|
| NEMA 1 | IP10 | Interior, general basic protection |
| NEMA 3 | IP54 | Outdoor, weather and dust protection |
| NEMA 3R | IP14 | Outside, rain protection without dust protection |
| NEMA 4 | IP56 | Indoor/outdoor, water jets |
| NEMA 4X | IP56 + corrosion protection | Like NEMA 4 + stainless steel or GRP, for aggressive media |
| NEMA 6 | IP67 | Short-term immersion |
| NEMA 6P | IP68 | Permanent immersion |
| NEMA 12 | IP54 | Inside, protection against dust and oil drops |
| NEMA 13 | IP54 | Interior, oil and dust protection, water spray |
Note: NEMA ≠ IEC. The equivalences are technical approximations - not normative one-to-one equivalents. NEMA types and IP classes differ in test methods, test conditions and depth of requirements. For international projects, always test both standards separately.
Practical selection aid: Industry → recommended IP class
The following matrix provides recommendations for minimum IP classes according to sector and ambient conditions. The actual class required depends on the specific installation situation, cleaning regime and normative requirements of the respective sector.
| Industry / Environment | Minimum IP | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical engineering, dry production hall | IP54 | Standard TEFC motor sufficient |
| Outdoor installation in general | IP55 | Weather protection + anti-corrosion coating |
| Food processing (wash-down) | IP65 | Dust-tight, no splash water in the housing |
| High-pressure cleaning / CIP / SIP | IP69K | Explicitly prescribe DIN 40050-9 |
| Pharma / Cleanroom | IP65 | Also observe Hygienic Design (EHEDG) |
| Machine tool with coolant | IP65-IP67 | Observe coolant pressure and chemistry |
| Mining / Underground mining | IP67 | Additionally check ATEX/IECEx explosion protection |
| Ship / offshore application | IP56-IP67 | Saltwater corrosion: stainless steel / special coating |
Common mistakes and misunderstandings
Error 1: IP class ≠ Protection of bearings and shaft seals
The IP class describes the protection of the motor housing - not that of the bearings or shaft seals. An IP65 motor can still leak oil from the shaft outlet if the rotary shaft seal (RWDR) is not suitable for the prevailing conditions (speed, temperature, medium). Bearings and shaft seals must always be specified separately.
Error 2: IP65 instead of IP69K for high-pressure cleaning
A common and expensive mistake: IP65 motors are installed in systems where high-pressure cleaners (80+ bar) are used on a daily basis. Standard IP65 motors are designed for low-pressure water jets (≤ 30 bar). Under high-pressure conditions, seals can fail, water can penetrate and winding damage can occur. Always specify IP69K explicitly - do not consider it a subheading of IP65.
Mistake 3: Equating IP class and hygienic design
An IP69K motor made of galvanized cast steel with grease nipples and cooling fins is unsuitable for the food industry - regardless of its IP class. Hygienic design also requires: smooth, gap-free external surfaces (no germ hiding places), corrosion-resistant materials (stainless steel 304/316L, FDA-compliant polymers), food-grade NSF-H1 lubricants and self-draining. IP class and hygienic design are orthogonal requirements.
Error 4: Cable entries as the weakest link
An IP67 motor with an IP54 cable gland on the terminal box effectively only has IP54. The overall system is as tight as its weakest link. Make sure that cable glands, connectors, blanking plugs and conduit seals have at least the same IP class as the motor housing - if in doubt, one class higher, as mechanical stress due to vibration and temperature changes can reduce the sealing effect during operation.
IP class uncertain? Our application engineers can help.
Whether IP54 standard motor or IP69K special version for the food industry - TEA Hamburg advises you on the right motor selection and supplies the right components from a single source.
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