Degrees of protection for electrical equipment - Degrees of protection for electrical equipment by enclosures, covers and similar to IEC/EN 60529 (VDE 0470 part 1)

Degrees of protection for electrical equipment by enclosures, covers and similar to IEC/EN 60529 (VDE 0470 part 1) [t-head1-first]

The designation to indicate degrees of enclosure protection consists of the characteristic letters IP (Ingress Protection) followed by two characteristic numerals. The first numeral indicates the degree of protection of persons against contact with live parts and of equipment against ingress of solid foreign bodies and dust, the second numeral the degree of protection against the ingress of water.

Protection against contact and foreign bodies [t-head1-nnp]


First numeral	Degree of protection
First numeral	Description	Explanation
0	Not protected	No special protection of persons against accidental contact with live or moving parts. No protection of the equipment against ingress of solid foreign bodies.
1	Protection against solid objects ≥ 50 mm	Protection against contact with live parts with back of hand. The access probe, sphere 50 mm diameter, must have enough distance from dangerous parts. The probe, sphere 50 mm diameter, must not fully penetrate.
2	Protection against solid objects ≥ 12,5 mm	Protection against contact with live parts with a finger. The articulated test finger, 12 mm diameter and 80 mm length, must have suffient distance from dangerous parts. The probe, sphere 12,5 mm diameter, must not fully penetrate.