IP Ratings Explained – What Are They, What’s The Difference, And What Do They Mean?

Ingress Protection ratings (IP ratings) are used to describe how resistant a product is to ingress damage. The U.S. military uses these ratings to protect soldiers from harm when using their gear in battle.

So why would you care about these ratings? Well, if your headphones or other audio equipment becomes damaged by a water spill, dust cloud, or other physical elements, it could affect your ability to work with it.

If you’re like me, you probably don’t want that to happen. It’s also important to note that a water spill can’t always be avoided. This is why you’ll see these ratings on products you buy.

In this blog post, we will cover the term “Ingress Protection” (IP), how to calculate IP ratings, what to look for, and what the difference is between the various IP ratings.

Is it Dustproof? (IP) – The First Letter

The first number of IP ratings means how the device is protected against the ingress of dust, sand, and solid structures.

Rating	Object size	Protect against
IP0X	0	No protection against contact and ingress of objects
IP1X	>50mm	Any large surface of the body, such as the back of a hand, but no protection against deliberate contact with a body part
IP2X	>12.5mm	Fingers or similar objects
IP3X	>2.5mm	Tools, thick wires, etc.
IP4X	>1mm	Most wires, screws, etc. but not sand
IP5X	Dust protected	Withstands the ingression of sand and dust; complete protection against contact.
IP6X	Dust-tight	Completely sealed and dustproof; complete protection against contact.

Is it Waterproof? – The Second Letter

The second number of the IPX Rating means how the device is protected against the ingress of water and immersion.

Rating	Level	Effective against
IPX0	Not protected	No water/moisture protection
IPX1	Dripping water	Dripping water (vertically falling drops) shall have no unsafe effect. Water equivalent to 1 mm (0.039 in) rainfall per minute.
IPX2	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. Water equivalent to 3 mm (0.12 in) rainfall per minute.
IPX3	Spraying water	Water falling as a spray at any angle up to 60° from the vertical shall have no harmful effect. Water volume: 10 liters per minute.
IPX4	Splashing of water	Water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect.
IPX5	Water jets	Water projected by a nozzle against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects. Water volume: 12.5 liters per minute.
IPX6	Powerful water jets	Water projected in powerful jets against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects. Water volume: 100 liters per minute.
IPX7	Immersion, up to 1 meter (3 ft 3 in) depth	Waterproof against immersion limited by time and pressure (30min, 1m in depth)
IPX8	Immersion, 1 meter (3 ft 3 in) or more depth	The equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water under conditions that shall be specified by the manufacturer. Depth specified by the manufacturer, generally up to 3 meters (9.8 ft)
IPX9	Powerful high-temperature water jets	Completely water-sealed even at high pressure and temperature

IP Rating Chart (Downloadable PDF)

I designed the following chart to guide you through the process of selecting the right IP ratings.

Download in PDF format

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The Most Common IP Codes on Headphones and Bluetooth Speakers

IP44 – It means that the product is protected against small solid particles larger than 1mm, but not sand, and that it is also protected against splashing water from any direction. The IP code does not mean that the product is waterproof.

IP55 – It means that the product is protected against dust. However, it is not fully dustproof but enough to protect against malfunction. It is also protected against water jets from any direction.

IP67 – Complete protection against dust, so it is dustproof. And it is also waterproof up to 1 meter (3 ft 3 in) of submersion for 30min.

IPX4 – No data about protection against solid particles but it is protected against splashing water from any direction.

IPX5 – No data about the protection of solid particles but it is protected from jet water from any direction.

IPX6 – No data on the protection against solid particles, however, it is protected from powerful water jets.

IPX7 – No data about the ingress of solid particles, but it is waterproof when immersed up to 1 meter (3 ft 3 in) of submersion for 30min.

IPX8 – No solid particle protection data is available, but it is waterproof up to 3 meters (9 ft 9 in) for 30min.

IPX9K – Maybe it is not protected against solid particles but is fully protected against powerful high-temperature water jets.

Why are Ingress Protection Ratings Important?

An IP rating is a measurement of how much water and dust can penetrate the enclosure. It’s a rating for headphones, Bluetooth speakers, and other audio devices. Ingress protection ratings are important because they give us an idea of how much water is likely to seep through the walls of a device enclosure.

How do Ingress Protection Ratings Affect How Well Your Headphones Are Rated?

Ingress protection ratings are a key factor in the effectiveness of your headphones. A lot of people don’t think much about what makes headphones protected against ingress. Some of the most common things to protect against are noise-canceling headphones getting wet, dirty, or dusty and the possibility of being dropped.

But even something like that could potentially damage the circuitry inside the headphones and cause them to fail, especially if they’re a high-end pair. Even the slightest amount of moisture can destroy your headphones.

To prevent this from happening, manufacturers have devised ways to protect headphones in the most extreme environments. They’ve put in waterproofing, dustproofing, and EIS (Electro-Infective Shielding).

FAQs

Conclusion

In conclusion, the ratings reflect the level of protection offered by any outdoor audio equipment against penetration by water and solid particles. The higher the rating, the more resistant the panel is to these substances.

References

1. IEC 60529, “Degrees of Protection Provided by Enclosures (IP Codes),” Ed. 2.1 (Geneva: International Electrotechnical Commission, 2011)

2. Wikipedia

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