Ingress means coming inside. Yes, I’m talking about IP Rating. And it’s going to be a fun, interesting, and knowledgeable blog! By the end of this blog, you’ll know all the different numbers of IP Ratings – IP67, IP68, IPX8, IP53, ATM, 5ATM, etc. I’ll talk about them all in simple language. It’s an important topic, so read carefully till the end!

What is IP Rating?

We talk about IP Ratings in every flagship smartphone. It’s often mentioned that a device is IP67/IP68 certified. Even with TWS earphones, they might be IPX8 certified or IP53 certified. So, what is it? IP stands for Ingress Protection as I already mentioned. But these numbers are very important!

Understanding the Numbers

The 1st number, e.g., 6 in IP67, is for solids, meaning dust particles. The 2nd number, e.g., 7, is for liquids. But what are these solids & liquids? They help us understand whether the solids & liquids can ingress and what the protection level is.

Solids Protection (First Number)

• Level 1: Protection against objects bigger than 50mm. Eg) Your hand/finger cannot enter the device, making it IP1 certified.
• Level 2: Protection against objects bigger than 12mm solids.
• Level 3: Protection against objects bigger than 2.5mm.
• Level 4: Protection against objects bigger than 1mm.
• Level 5: Dust protection where small dust particles might enter, but not all. It’s not completely dust proof.
• Level 6: The highest level of dust protection, meaning no dust particles can enter the device.

Liquids Protection (Second Number)

• Level 1: Protection against falling droplets of water.
• Level 2: Protection if water is sprayed from a 15-degree angle.
• Level 3: Protection if water sprays from a 60-degree angle.
• Level 4: Protection even if water comes from any direction (360 degrees).
• Level 5: Protection if pressurized water is sprayed from all directions (360 degrees).
• Level 6: Protection against powerful jets of water from all angles (360 degrees).
• Level 7: Protection when the device is immersed in water between 15cm to 1m for up to 30 minutes.
• Level 8: Protection for long periods, even if the device is immersed 2-3 meters deep for 2-3 days.

Specific Examples

• IP67: Level 6 solid protection & Level 7 liquid protection.
• IP53: Level 5 solid protection (not dust proof) & Level 3 liquid protection (safe against splashes of water from 60 degrees).

X in IPX7/IPX8

The “X” means no certification against solids. IPX7 means there’s no protection against dust but has liquid protection.

Important Considerations

• Fresh Water vs. Salt Water: IP ratings are for fresh water. Salt water/sea has different chemical properties and can corrode the device.
• Repeated Exposure: The IP rating diminishes with repeated exposure. If a device falls multiple times, its resistance decreases over time.

ATM Rating

There’s another rating called ATM, used in smartwatches. It measures atmospheric pressure. The ATM rating is older and simpler than the IP rating.

Different Levels of ATM Protection

• 1ATM: Not water resistant.
• 3ATM: Protection against splashes, not complete immersion.
• 5ATM: Safe for swimming, not prolonged immersion.
• 10ATM: Suitable for sea diving/snorkeling.
• 20ATM: Suitable for Jet Ski where water pressure is high.

Conclusion

I hope you now understand the meaning of IP ratings & ATM ratings. If you have any questions, then do COMMENT down below. And hit LIKE if you enjoyed the blog!

Ingress means coming inside. Yes, I’m talking about IP Rating. And it’s going to be a fun, interesting, and knowledgeable blog! By the end of this blog, you’ll know all the different numbers of IP Ratings – IP67, IP68, IPX8, IP53, ATM, 5ATM, etc. I’ll talk about them all in simple language. It’s an important topic, so read carefully till the end!

What is IP Rating?

We talk about IP Ratings in every flagship smartphone. It’s often mentioned that a device is IP67/IP68 certified. Even with TWS earphones, they might be IPX8 certified or IP53 certified. So, what is it? IP stands for Ingress Protection as I already mentioned. But these numbers are very important!

Understanding the Numbers

The 1st number, e.g., 6 in IP67, is for solids, meaning dust particles. The 2nd number, e.g., 7, is for liquids. But what are these solids & liquids? They help us understand whether the solids & liquids can ingress and what the protection level is.

Solids Protection (First Number)

• Level 1: Protection against objects bigger than 50mm. Eg) Your hand/finger cannot enter the device, making it IP1 certified.
• Level 2: Protection against objects bigger than 12mm solids.
• Level 3: Protection against objects bigger than 2.5mm.
• Level 4: Protection against objects bigger than 1mm.
• Level 5: Dust protection where small dust particles might enter, but not all. It’s not completely dust proof.
• Level 6: The highest level of dust protection, meaning no dust particles can enter the device.

Liquids Protection (Second Number)

• Level 1: Protection against falling droplets of water.
• Level 2: Protection if water is sprayed from a 15-degree angle.
• Level 3: Protection if water sprays from a 60-degree angle.
• Level 4: Protection even if water comes from any direction (360 degrees).
• Level 5: Protection if pressurized water is sprayed from all directions (360 degrees).
• Level 6: Protection against powerful jets of water from all angles (360 degrees).
• Level 7: Protection when the device is immersed in water between 15cm to 1m for up to 30 minutes.
• Level 8: Protection for long periods, even if the device is immersed 2-3 meters deep for 2-3 days.

Specific Examples

• IP67: Level 6 solid protection & Level 7 liquid protection.
• IP53: Level 5 solid protection (not dust proof) & Level 3 liquid protection (safe against splashes of water from 60 degrees).

X in IPX7/IPX8

The “X” means no certification against solids. IPX7 means there’s no protection against dust but has liquid protection.

Important Considerations

• Fresh Water vs. Salt Water: IP ratings are for fresh water. Salt water/sea has different chemical properties and can corrode the device.
• Repeated Exposure: The IP rating diminishes with repeated exposure. If a device falls multiple times, its resistance decreases over time.

ATM Rating

There’s another rating called ATM, used in smartwatches. It measures atmospheric pressure. The ATM rating is older and simpler than the IP rating.

Different Levels of ATM Protection

• 1ATM: Not water resistant.
• 3ATM: Protection against splashes, not complete immersion.
• 5ATM: Safe for swimming, not prolonged immersion.
• 10ATM: Suitable for sea diving/snorkeling.
• 20ATM: Suitable for Jet Ski where water pressure is high.

Conclusion

I hope you now understand the meaning of IP ratings & ATM ratings. If you have any questions, then do COMMENT down below. And hit LIKE if you enjoyed the blog!