Understanding IP Ratings                                               

IP (International Protection Rating) codes are defined by an international standard.

They indicate levels of effectiveness for sealing electrical enclosures against intrusion from solids and liquids.

Each number of an IP rating has a specific meaning based on its position in the string

The first number in the string indicates the protection against solids

The second number indicates the protection against liquids

For TME’s instruments and handheld thermometers the numbers of interest are:

First Number – Solids –

6 – Totally protected against dust

Second Number – Liquids –

5 – Protected against low pressure jets of water from all directions – limited ingress permitted

7 – Protected against the effects of temporary immersion between 15cm and 1m. Duration of test 30 minutes

All of our IP ratings have ‘6’ as the first number in the string, so all are totally protected against dust. That means it is the second number we really need to look at. 

For example our MM2008 Handheld – this is rated IP67 so it is:

Totally protected against dust

and

Protected against the effects of temporary immersion between 15cm and 1m. Duration of test 30 minutes.