What does protection level mean?
In our daily life, we often hear the term "protection level", especially in the fields of electronic products, industrial equipment, and outdoor products. So, what exactly does protection level mean? What specific function does it have? This article will explain in detail the meaning, classification and application scenarios of protection levels.
1. Definition of protection level

Protection level, usually expressed as "IP" plus two digits (such as IP67), is a standard set by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to evaluate the ability of equipment or products to protect against external solid foreign objects (such as dust) and liquids (such as water). Among them, IP is the abbreviation of "Ingress Protection", which means "ingress protection".
The two numbers of the protection level represent different protection capabilities:
| numbers | Protection object | specific meaning |
|---|---|---|
| first digit | solid foreign object protection | Level 0-6, the larger the number, the stronger the protection ability. |
| second digit | liquid protection | Level 0-9, the larger the number, the stronger the protection ability. |
2. Specific classification of protection levels
The following is the specific meaning of the first digit (solid protection) and the second digit (liquid protection) in the protection level:
| First digit (solid protection) | Protective ability |
|---|---|
| 0 | No protection |
| 1 | Protect against solid foreign objects with diameter ≥50mm |
| 2 | Protect against solid foreign objects with diameter ≥12.5mm |
| 3 | Protect against solid foreign objects with diameter ≥2.5mm |
| 4 | Protect against solid foreign objects with diameter ≥1mm |
| 5 | Dustproof (not completely prevent dust from entering, but will not affect the operation of the equipment) |
| 6 | Completely dustproof |
| Second digit (liquid protection) | Protective ability |
|---|---|
| 0 | No protection |
| 1 | Protection against vertical dripping water |
| 2 | Protection against dripping water at an angle of 15° |
| 3 | Protective spray |
| 4 | Protection against splashing water |
| 5 | Protection against water jets |
| 6 | Protection against powerful water jets |
| 7 | Protection against short-term immersion in water (1 meter deep, 30 minutes) |
| 8 | Protection against long-term immersion in water (more than 1 meter of water depth, continuous immersion) |
| 9 | Protection against high pressure and high temperature water jets |
3. Application scenarios of protection level
Protection levels are widely used in many fields. Here are some common application scenarios:
1. Electronic products
The protection level of electronic products such as smartphones and smart watches is usually IP67 or IP68, which means they have strong dust-proof and waterproof capabilities. For example, an IP68-rated mobile phone can be immersed in 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes without damage.
2. Industrial equipment
Industrial equipment such as motors, control cabinets, etc. usually require a higher protection level (such as IP65 or IP66) to ensure normal operation in harsh environments.
3. Outdoor products
Equipment such as outdoor lamps and cameras usually have a higher protection level (such as IP65 or IP67) to cope with the challenges of wind, rain, dust and other natural environments.
4. How to choose the appropriate protection level?
When selecting products or equipment, the required protection level should be determined based on the actual use environment. Here are some suggestions:
1.indoor environment: Usually choosing IP20 or IP30 can meet the needs.
2.outdoor environment: It is recommended to choose IP65 or higher to cope with rain and dust.
3.underwater environment: For diving equipment, IP68 or higher must be selected.
5. Summary
Protection level is an important criterion for measuring the ability of equipment or products to protect against external foreign objects and liquids. By understanding the specific meaning and classification of protection levels, we can better select suitable products to ensure their reliability and durability in specific environments. Whether it is electronic products, industrial equipment or outdoor products, protection level is a key indicator that cannot be ignored.
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