IPluokituksia

IPluokituksia refers to IP classifications, the standard system used to rate the protective performance of enclosures against intrusion by solid objects and liquids. The term is commonly discussed in Finnish contexts as IP-luokitukset, and it aligns with international standards such as IEC 60529. These classifications are applied to electrical equipment, housings, and enclosures to indicate suitability for different environments.

The IP code consists of two digits, sometimes followed by a supplementary letter or additional digits in specific variants. The first digit indicates protection against solids, from 0 (no protection) to 6 (dust-tight). The second digit indicates protection against liquids, from 0 (no protection) to 8 (continuous immersion, depth and duration defined by the manufacturer). In some cases a suffix like K is used, as in 9K, to denote high-pressure, high-temperature water jets; IP69K is a commonly cited variant for demanding wash-down conditions.

Examples illustrate how the codes convey meaning. IP54 denotes protection against limited dust ingress and water splashes from any direction. IP65 denotes dust-tight protection and protection against water jets. IP67 indicates dust-tight protection with immersion up to about 1 meter for a short period, while IP68 indicates dust-tight protection with prolonged immersion, the specifics of depth and time defined by the manufacturer.

Limitations include that IP ratings address only enclosure ingress and do not guarantee all aspects of reliability, corrosion resistance, or durability under all real-world conditions. Testing is conducted by accredited laboratories according to IEC 60529, and the exact performance can depend on materials, design, and testing procedures.