IP Code

IEC 60529 Introduction

The IP Code, or "Degrees of protection provided by enclosures", is an international standard which defines the protection again water and dust provided by a device design. The normative standard is ANSI/IEC 60529 Ed 2.1:2001, but many countries have their own name/number for an identical standard (e.g. Australian Standard AS 60529—2004).

Protections under the standard are specified by an IP-sw rating, where the first digit of the suffix (s) defines the resistance to solids intrusion, and the second digit of the suffix (w) defines the resistance to water intrusion. There can also be optional letters after the two digits, providing additional information.

Full Standard

The standard is available for free from the following standards organizations:

• NEMA (PDF)
• ANSI (PDF)

Solid Intrusion

The following levels of resistance to intrusion of solids into the device (laptop internals, in our case) are specified. In our case, hazardous parts refers to any active electrical circuit, even thought the voltages present on any XO are all classified as "low voltage" and considered safe.

Level 0 indicates that no protection is provided.

1 - Hand

The device is protected against access to hazardous parts with the back of a hand. A 5 cm diameter sphere shall be unable to access hazardous parts.

2 - Finger

The device is protected against access to hazardous parts with a finger. A 1.2cm diameter, 8cm long test finger shall be unable to access hazardous parts.

3 - Tool

The device is protected against access to hazardous parts with a tool. A 2.5mm diameter test probe shall be unable to access hazardous parts.

4 - Wire

The device is protected against access to hazardous parts with a wire. A 1.0mm diameter test probe shall be unable to access hazardous parts.

5 - Dust Protected

The standard reads: "Ingress of dust is not totally prevented, but dust shall not penetrate in a quantity to interfere with satisfactory operation of the apparatus or to impair safety"

The device is protected against access to hazardous parts with a wire.

6 - Dust Proof

No ingress of dust is allowed. The device is protected against access to hazardous parts with a wire.

Water Intrusion

The following levels of resistance to intrusion of liquids into the device (laptop internals, in our case) are specified.

Level 0 indicates that no protection is provided.

1 - Vertically Falling Drops

Vertically falling drops shall have no harmful effects on the laptop.

2 - Falling Drops

Vertically falling drops shall have no harmful effects when the laptop is tilted at any angle up to 15” on either side of the vertical.

3 - Spraying water

Water sprayed at an angle up to 60° on either side of the vertical shall have no harmful effects.

4 - Splashing water

Water splashed against the laptop from any direction shall have no harmful effects.

5 - Water Jets

Water projected in jets against the laptop from any direction shall have no harmful effects.

6 - Powerful Water Jets

Water projected in powerful jets against the laptop from any direction shall have no harmful effects.

7 - Temporary Immersion

Ingress of water in quantities causing harmful effects shall not be possible when the laptop is temporarily immersed in water (up to 1m deep for up to thirty minutes).

8 - Continuous Immersion

Ingress of water in quantities causing harmful effects shall not be possible when the laptop is continuously immersed in water under conditions which shall be agreed between manufacturer and user but which are more severe than for numeral 7

Additional Information

Degree of protection against access to hazardous parts

This may be optionally specified by a letter:

• A - Protected against access with the back of the hand
• B - Protected against access with a finger
• C - Protected against access with a tool
• D - Protected against access with a wire

Supplementary Letters

• H - High voltage apparatus
• M - Tested for ingress effects when movable parts of the device are under motion
• S - Tested for ingress effects when movable parts of the device are stationary
• W - Suitable for use under specified weather conditions, and provided with additional protection.