IP rating (Ingress Protection) is the level of protection effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from solid particles and water.
First digit: Solid particle protection
| Level | Object Size | Protection |
| 0 | N/A | No protection against contact and ingress of objects. |
| 1 | >50 mm | Any large surface of the body, such as the back of a hand, but no protection against deliberate contact with a body part |
| 2 | >12.5 mm | Fingers or similar sized objects. |
| 3 | >2.5 mm | Tools, thick wires, etc. |
| 4 | >1 mm | Most wires, slender screws, large ants etc. |
| 5 | Dust protected | Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with the satisfactory operation of the equipment. |
| 6 | Dust tight | No ingress of dust; complete protection against contact (dust tight). A vacuum must be applied. Test duration of up to 8 hours based on air flow. |
Second digit: Water ingress protection
| Level | Protection | Test Condition |
| 0 | No Protection | N/A |
| 1 | Dripping Water | Dripping water (vertically falling drops) shall have no harmful effect on the specimen when mounted in an upright position onto a turntable and rotated at 1 RPM. |
| 2 | Dripping water when tilted at 15° |
Vertically dripping water shall have no harmful effect when the enclosure is tilted at an angle of 15° from its normal position. A total of four positions are tested within two axes. |
| 3 | Spraying Water |
Water falling as a spray at any angle up to 60° from the vertical shall have no harmful effect, utilizing either: a) an oscillating fixture, or b) A spray nozzle with a counterbalanced shield. |
| 4 | Splashing Water | Water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect, utilizing either an oscillating fixture or a spray nozzle with no shield. |
| 5 | Water Jets | Water projected by a nozzle (6.3 mm) against enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects. |
| 6 | Powerful water Jets | Water projected in powerful jets (12.5 mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects. |
| 7 | Immersion up to 1 m | Ingress of water in harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time (up to 1 m of submersion). |
| 8 | Immersion, 1 m or deeper |
The equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water under conditions which shall be specified by the manufacturer. |
| 9 | Powerful high temperature water jets |
Protected against close-range high pressure, high temperature spray downs. |