What Is IP?
IP protection class test is the test group in which the protection of the enclosure against solid foreign objects (first digit) and its protection against water (second digit) are verified by the tests defined in IEC 60529.
Purpose of IP
The purpose is to verify that the enclosure actually provides the declared IP code.
Which Products Is IP Applied To?
- Marine and outdoor enclosures
- Electrical panels and junction boxes
- Lighting fixtures
- Portable and wearable devices
In Which Sectors Is IP Used?
Standards Related to IP
- IEC 60529degree of protection provided by enclosures (IP code) test
- EN 60529
- IEC 60945 (marine equipment requirements)
- IEC 60945maritime navigational and radio communications equipment test
- Marine Equipment DirectiveEU ship equipment directive test
- IMO RequirementsInternational Maritime Organization requirements test
- SOLAS EquipmentEquipment covered by the safety of life at sea convention test
IP Conditions
- Birinci rakam
- Solid object protection; IP0X–IP6X (IP5X partial for dust, IP6X full dust seal)
- second digit
- Water protection; IPX1–IPX9K (drip, spray, splash, jet, immersion, pressurized water)
- Deney parametreleri
- Flow rate, pressure, time and distance are defined in the standard for each number.
- Assessment
- Effect of water or dust ingress on the function and safety of equipment
Equipment for IP
- Powder chamber (talcum powder) and vacuum setup
- Drip, spray, jet and immersion test setups
- Flow and pressure measurement system
- Function and insulation measuring equipment
Sample Requirements for IP
- The sample must be in final containment and seal order
- Cable entries and glands must represent the actual installation
- Visual and functional status should be recorded before the experiment.
- The declared IP code must be notified in advance
Duration of IP
Typically 1–2 weeks depending on code and number of experiments.
IP Procedure
- 1Beyan edilen IP kodu belirlenir.
- 2Solid object/powder test is applied.
- 3The water test is applied according to the relevant figure.
- 4The sample is opened and the entrance is examined.
- 5Function and insulation are tested.
- 6The result is reported as IP code.
IP Acceptance Criteria
The acceptance criterion is defined for each figure in IEC 60529: no input or remaining at a level that does not affect function and safety.
Evaluation of Results
IP figures are not hierarchical: an enclosure that passes IPX7 (immersion) does not have to pass IPX5 (jet); If both are desired, both tests must be performed and the code must be declared in IPX5/IPX7 format. The IP code also does not provide information about corrosion or mechanical strength.
IP Report
- Standard applied
- Beyan edilen IP kodu
- Experiment parameters (flow rate, pressure, time, distance)
- Entry findings
- Function and insulation results
Accreditation
EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.
Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Scope and authorisationsRelated Regulations
- Low Voltage Directive and product standards
- Ship Equipment Directive 2014/90/EU (MED)
Denizcilik Testleri — What Does This Testing Field Cover?
The section below describes the field that the IP test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Marine testing shows that equipment used on board withstands the marine environment and shipboard operating conditions. The character of the environment is decisive: continuous salt-laden humidity, rolling and pitching, engine-borne vibration, limited opportunity for maintenance and the difficulty of evacuation in the event of a failure.
The most distinctive aspect of the field is the CONSEQUENCE OF FAILURE. A device that fails ashore is replaced; a navigation device that fails at sea means the ship does not know its position. Durability expectations and the certification burden for marine equipment are therefore markedly higher than for comparable equipment ashore.
Navigation and communication equipment is assessed under IEC 60945; this standard carries environmental durability, EMC and functional requirements together and distinguishes categories according to where the equipment will be mounted on board: protected, exposed deck and submerged categories are subject to different requirements.
On the digital interface side the IEC 61162 series is used. This is the body of protocols enabling devices on the bridge to talk to one another; in integrated bridge systems it must be shown that data exchange between devices works correctly.
On the shipboard electrical installation side the IEC 60092 series applies: cable types, installation rules, protection coordination and fire behaviour. Flame spread and halogen-free construction carry particular weight for cables on board, because smoke in an enclosed space directly obstructs evacuation.
On the shock side, naval vessels carry their own regime: the MIL-S-901 high-impact shock test simulates the effect of an underwater explosion. Testing at this scale is not required for civil ships, but vibration and inclination/roll tests are standard.
On the regulatory side the Marine Equipment Directive (MED) is decisive: equipment within scope carries the "wheelmark" and this is a regime SEPARATE from CE. Behind the requirements stand the SOLAS convention and International Maritime Organization resolutions; the scope list is updated regularly.
Classification societies add a second layer. DNV, Lloyd's Register, ABS, Bureau Veritas and similar bodies issue their own type approvals; a shipyard usually requires both the wheelmark and the relevant class approval. The two processes do not substitute for one another.
Method groups in this field
Environmental durability
Temperature, humidity, salt fog, vibration, rain and immersion under IEC 60945; levels according to the mounting category.
Electromagnetic compatibility
The EMC sections of IEC 60945; emission and immunity requirements specific to the shipboard environment.
Mechanical
Vibration, shock, inclination and roll tests; MIL-S-901 high-impact shock for naval vessels.
Electrical installation
Cable and installation requirements under the IEC 60092 series; cable fire behaviour and halogen-free construction.
Digital interface
Data interface conformity under the IEC 61162 series and integrated bridge system compatibility.
Fire safety
Reaction to fire, smoke and toxicity for shipboard interior materials; fire resistance for hoses and penetrations.
Commonly confused in this field
- The wheelmark is not the CE marking; it is a different regulatory regime with its own scope list.
- MED approval and classification society type approval do not substitute for one another; a shipyard usually requires both.
- The IEC 60945 category selection depends on the mounting location; an approval obtained for a protected area is not valid for an exposed deck.
- An approval obtained for a civil ship does not satisfy naval shock requirements.
- An onshore EMC report is not sufficient for marine use; IEC 60945 defines its own limits and set-ups.
- Scope lists are updated; equipment once outside the scope may later fall within it.
Which decisions these results support
- Marine equipment type approval and the wheelmark
- Classification society type approval
- Compliance with shipbuilding and shipyard procurement specifications
- Shock qualification in naval programmes
- Verification of integrated bridge system compatibility
Related Tests
Frequently Asked Questions About IP
If a product passes IPX7, does it also pass IPX5?
It is not mandatory. Water experiments test different mechanisms: immersion applies static pressure, jet applies dynamic pressure. If both protections are desired, both tests are performed and the code is written as IPX5/IPX7.