This standard applies to the classification of degrees of protection provided by enclosures for electrical equipment with a rated voltage not exceeding 72.5 kV.
The object of this standard is to give:
a) Definitions for degrees of protection provided by enclosures of electrical equipment as regards:
1) protection of persons against access to hazardous parts inside the enclosure;
2) protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against ingress of solid foreign objects;
3) protection of the equipment inside the enclosure against harmful effects due to the ingress of water.
b) Designations for these degrees of protection.
c) Requirements for each designation.
d) Tests to be performed to verify that the enclosure meets the requirements of this standard.
It will remain the responsibility of product standard to decide on the extent and manner and to define "enclosure" as it applies to their equipment. However, the test for specific classification shall meet the provisions in this standard. If necessary, complementary requirements may be included in the relevant product standard. A guide for the details to be specified in relevant product standards is given in annex B.
For a particular type of equipment, a product standard may specify different requirements provided that at least the same level of safety is ensured.
This standard deals only with enclosures that are in all other respects suitable for their intended use as specified in the relevant product standard and which from the point of view of materials and workmanship ensure that the claimed degrees of protection are maintained under the normal conditions of use.
This standard is also applicable to empty enclosures provided that the general test requirements are met and that the selected degree of protection is suitable for the type of equipment to be protected.
Measures to protect both the enclosure and the equipment inside the enclosure against external influences or conditions such as mechanical impacts, corrosion, -corrosive solvents (for example, cutting liquids), fungus, vermin, solar radiation, icing, moisture (for example, produced by condensation) explosive atmospheres, and the protection against contact with hazardous moving parts external to the enclosure (such as fans), are matters for the relevant product standard to be protected.
Barriers external to the enclosure and not attached to it and obstacles which have been provided solely for the safety of personnel are not considered as a part of the enclosure and are not dealt with in this standard.
1 Scope and Object
2 Normative Documents
3 Terms and Definitions
4 Designation
5 Degrees of protection against access to hazardous parts and against solid foreign objects indicated by the first characteristic numeral
6 Degrees of protection against ingress of water indicated by the second characteristic numeral
7 Degrees of protection against access to hazardous parts indicated by the additional letter
8 Supplementary Letters
9 Examples of designations with the IP Code
10 Marking
11 General requirements for tests
11.1 Atmospheric conditions for water or dust tests
11.2 Test samples
11.3 Application of test requirements and interpretation of test results
11.4 Combination of test conditions for the first characteristic numeral
11.5 Empty enclosures
12 Tests for protection against access to hazardous parts indicated by the first characteristic numeral
13 Tests for protection against solid foreign objects indicated by the first characteristic numeral
14 Tests for protection against water indicated by the second characteristic numeral
15 Tests for protection against access to hazardous parts indicated by the additional letter
Annex A
Annex B
