IP65 / IP67 / NEMA 4X
IP65, IP67, IP68 protection ratings explained with NEMA equivalents. Choose the right rating for outdoor enclosures, control panels and industrial use.
Every IP rating uses two digits. The first describes protection against solid objects and dust; the second describes protection against liquids. A higher digit means stricter protection.
| 0 | No protection |
| 1 | Objects larger than 50 mm (back of hand) |
| 2 | Objects larger than 12.5 mm (fingers) |
| 3 | Objects larger than 2.5 mm (tools, thick wires) |
| 4 | Objects larger than 1 mm (thin wires) |
| 5 | Dust-protected, limited ingress with no harmful effect |
| 6 | Dust-tight, no ingress |
| 0 | No protection |
| 1 | Vertically dripping water |
| 2 | Dripping water at up to 15 degrees of tilt |
| 3 | Spraying water up to 60 degrees from vertical |
| 4 | Splashing water from any direction |
| 5 | Low-pressure water jets, 6.3 mm nozzle |
| 6 | Powerful water jets, 12.5 mm nozzle |
| 7 | Temporary immersion up to 1 m for 30 minutes |
| 8 | Continuous immersion, manufacturer-specified depth |
| 9 | High-pressure, high-temperature jets (steam cleaning) |
An X replaces a digit when that aspect of protection has not been tested. IPX5 means tested for water jets but not certified for solids ingress.
Pick the lowest rating that meets your real environment. Higher ratings cost more in seals, gaskets, and assembly time, and can be over-specified for indoor use.
NEMA ratings (North America) and IP ratings (international) describe similar protection. The chart maps the most common equivalents and what each protects against.
It depends on where you are. In Europe and Asia, IP ratings determine ingress protection. In North America, NEMA is more common, although IP is increasingly used as a global standard. NEMA also adds requirements that IP does not cover, such as corrosion resistance.
| IP RATING EQUIVALENT | NEMA RATING | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| IP10 | NEMA 1 | Indoor use. Protects against falling dirt. |
| IP11 | NEMA 2 | Indoor use. Protects against falling dirt and dripping water. |
| IP14 | NEMA 3 | Outdoor use. Protects against rain, sleet, and windblown dust. Also protects against damage from ice formation on the outside of the panel. |
| IP14 | NEMA 3R | Outdoor use. Protects against rain and sleet. Also protects against damage from ice formation on the outside of the panel. |
| IP14 | NEMA 3S | Indoor and outdoor use. Protects against rain, sleet, and windblown dust. External mechanisms are also ready to operate despite ice deposits. |
| IP52 | NEMA 12 | Indoor use. Protects against falling dirt, airborne dust, and dripping non-corrosive liquids. |
| IP54 | NEMA 13 | Indoor use. Protects against dust, falling dirt, spraying water, oil, and non-corrosive coolants. |
| IP66 | NEMA 4 | Indoor or outdoor use. Protects against windblown dust, rain, splashing water, and hose-directed water. Also protects against damage from ice formation on the outside of the panel. |
| IP66 | NEMA 4X | Indoor or outdoor use. Protects against windblown dust, rain, splashing water, hose-directed water, and corrosion. Also protects against damage from ice formation on the outside of the panel. |
| IP66 | NEMA 5 | Indoor use. Protects against falling dirt, settling airborne dust, and dripping non-corrosive liquids. |
| IP67 | NEMA 6 | Indoor and outdoor use. Protects against falling dirt, hose-directed water, and water ingress during occasional temporary submersion at a limited depth. Also protects against damage from ice formation on the outside of the panel. |
| IP67 | NEMA 6P | Indoor and outdoor use. Protects against hose-directed water and water ingress during prolonged submersion at a limited depth. Also protects against damage from ice formation on the outside of the panel. |
Our engineering team helps match the right IP rating to your environment, certifications, and budget, without overspecifying.
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