IP protection degrees for HMI control elements.
Frequently asked questions.
Know-how.
Reliable operation – even in dusty, wet environments and when subjected to high-pressure cleaning
Whether in mechanical engineering, the food industry, commercial vehicles or rail applications: control elements must be suited to their environment. The IP protection degree indicates how well an HMI is protected against the ingress of foreign objects and water. EAO offers HMI control elements for a variety of operating conditions. From frontside sealing in mechanical engineering to enclosures for wet areas and vehicle cleaning. The protection degree depends on the Series, version and terminals.
IP protection degree explained simply
The IP protection degree indicates the types of hazards against which a housing is protected. It helps you select a control element for the correct operating environment. The IP protection degree consists of two digits. The first describes protection against contact and foreign bodies such as dust. The second digit describes protection against water and humidity. An ‘X’ means that the characteristic has not been tested. IEC 60529, adopted in Germany as DIN EN 60529, regulates the protection degree. For road vehicles, ISO 20653 supplements the requirements with its own codes such as IP6K7 and IP6K9K.
IP65, IP67 or IP69K?
Protection degree | Protection against | Typical application |
IP65 | Dust and water jets from all directions | Mechanical engineering, outdoor use |
IP67 | Temporary submersion to a depth of 1 m for 30 minutes | Wet areas, sheltered installation locations |
IP69K | High-pressure and high-temperature water from a short space | Food industry, cleaning systems |
IP6K7 | Dust protection in accordance with stringent vehicle testing standards, combined with submersion protection equivalent to IP67 | Commercial vehicles |
IP6K9K | High-pressure and hot-water cleaning in accordance with ISO 20653 | Vehicle wash systems, special-purpose vehicles |
Important: IP67 does not automatically include IP65. Immersion and water jets are different tests. If both requirements apply, you must specify dual marking such as IP65/IP67 or IP66/IP67.
Which protection degree is suitable?
Mechanical engineering
For dry industrial environments, frontside sealing to IP54 or IP65 is sufficient, depending on the installation situation. The rear remains accessible for cabling and servicing.
Outdoor use
For control elements in sheltered outdoor areas, IP65 is a typical minimum rating. The housing is protected against dust and is resistant to water jets from all directions.
Commercial vehicles
For vehicles subject to intensive cleaning, IP6K7 and IP6K9K in accordance with ISO 20653 are particularly important. These tests require higher pressures and shorter spaces from the water source than the standard tests in accordance with IEC 60529.
Food industry
Where high-pressure cleaning is carried out regularly, a front seal alone is usually insufficient. Depending on the cleaning process, IP67 or IP69K may be required. Other criteria include the housing, rear panel and connectors.
Frontside sealing or full enclosure?
An HMI is not always as fully protected as the front-panel protection degree might suggest. Many control elements only achieve their high IP protection degree on the frontside. The rear and connectors often have a lower protection degree. Full encapsulation is required for submersion applications and high-pressure cleaning. However, a tighter enclosure makes heat dissipation more difficult. For illuminated buttons, keypads and other electronic control elements, thermal design is a key factor in product selection. The connector must also be suitable for and tested to the required protection degree.
EAO approaches protection as a system
EAO considers the IP protection degree with the entire system in mind. The front bezel and seal must harmonise just as well as the housing and mounting cut-out, the control element and electronics, and the connectors and connection concept. EAO offers HMI Solutions tailored to a wide range of operating environments. For machinery, commercial vehicles, railway applications and wet areas.
What protection degree do you require?
- Dust and occasional splashing water: IP54 or IP65.
- Water jets from various directions: IP65 or IP66.
- Temporary submersion: IP67.
- High-pressure and hot water cleaning: IP69K or, for vehicle applications, IP6K9K.
- Multiple exposures: check the combined rating.
Are you looking for an HMI to meet a specific IP rating?
Compare suitable EAO control elements in the product configurator or download the technical data for the relevant Series.
Disclaimer: This text is based on EAO’s 80 years of experience and is intended to help you find the right product for your application. Please regard it as a guide, not as a binding recommendation. The applicable standards and regulations always take precedence.
Frequently asked questions.
What does the IP protection degree mean?
According to IEC 60529, the IP protection degree denotes the standardised degree of protection provided by a housing against the ingress of foreign bodies and humidity. Two digits provide the description of dust and waterproof protection. The letter ‘X’ indicates a characteristic that has not been tested.
What does the first digit of the protection degree mean?
The first digit provides the description of protection against solid foreign objects and contact.
Digit | Meaning |
0 | No protection |
1 | Protection against foreign objects larger than 50 mm |
2 | Protection against foreign objects larger than 12.5 mm |
3 | Protection against foreign objects larger than 2.5 mm |
4 | Protection against foreign objects larger than 1 mm |
5 | Dust-protected |
6 | Dust-tight |
What does the second digit of the protection degree mean?
The second digit provides the description of the level of protection against humidity.
Digit | Meaning |
0 | No protection |
4 | Protection against splashing water from all directions |
5 | Protection against water jets from any direction |
6 | Protection against powerful water jets from any direction |
7 | Protection against temporary submersion to a depth of 1 m for 30 minutes |
9 | Protection against high-pressure and high-temperature water from close space |
What is the difference between IP65, IP67 and IP69K?
IP65 provides protection against water jets from any direction. IP67 provides protection against temporary submersion to a depth of 1 metre for 30 minutes. IP69K provides protection against high-pressure water up to 100 bar at 80 °C from a short space. The three tests are not cumulative; each tests a separate scenario.
Does IP67 include the protection provided by IP65?
No. IEC 60529 treats water jets (clauses 5 and 6) and immersion (clauses 7 and 8) as separate tests. A housing with an IP67 rating is not automatically considered water-jet protected without additional testing. Anyone requiring both characteristics must specify a dual rating such as IP65/IP67.
How do IP67 and IP69K differ from IP6K7 and IP6K9K?
IP67 and the high-pressure water digit 9 are defined in accordance with IEC 60529. The letter K originates from ISO 20653, formerly DIN 40050-9, the test standard for road vehicles. IP6K7 and IP6K9K require more stringent test conditions with higher pressure and a closer test distance, as encountered in vehicle washing systems.
Which protection degree is suitable for food processing facilities?
Food businesses usually clean their equipment with hot, high-pressure water. Frontside IP65 sealing is not sufficient for this. For high-pressure and hot-water cleaning, a suitable high-pressure protection degree is generally required, such as IP69K. IP67, on the other hand, primarily provides the description of protection against temporary submersion. The required protection degree depends on the specific cleaning process and the complete installation system.
Why is a higher IP rating not always the best choice?
A more tightly sealed housing dissipates heat less effectively. For control elements with their own electronics, such as illuminated buttons or keypads, full encapsulation complicates the thermal design. The operating environment determines the appropriate protection degree, not the highest possible value.
What is the difference between the protection degree and a NEMA type?
The IP protection degree according to IEC 60529 provides a description of how well a housing protects against dust and water. The NEMA type rating according to NEMA 250 assesses additional characteristics not covered by the IP protection degree: corrosion resistance, icing and mechanical robustness. In North America, regulations such as the National Electrical Code therefore often require a NEMA type rating rather than an IP protection degree.
What does UL 50E mean for HMI control elements?
UL 50E is the American testing and certification standard for electrical housings, published by Underwriters Laboratories. It specifies the conditions under which a housing may bear a particular NEMA type. For the US market, UL 50E thus fulfils the same function as IEC 60529 does in Europe, but uses its own test values for pressure and water volume.
Does a protection degree automatically correspond to a NEMA type?
No. IP and NEMA use different testing methods; any comparison is only an approximation. NEMA itself publishes an overview showing which NEMA type meets at least which IP protection degree. The reverse is not true: an IP-tested housing does not automatically have NEMA approval.
Why is an IP rating often not sufficient for the US market?
American regulations, such as the National Electrical Code, require a tested NEMA type but not an IP protection degree. A housing may be technically comparable in terms of sealing, but without UL certification, the required proof for mounting in the US is still lacking. In this case, the assessment and provision of evidence for the use of an HMIS at the customer’s site lie with the customer. In cases of uncertainty, it is advisable to carry out tests under the expected conditions.
Is there a NEMA equivalent to IP69K for high-pressure and hot-water cleaning?
There is no clear equivalent. NEMA 4X covers hosing down, but not the combination of high pressure and high water temperature as tested under IP69K. For applications involving high-pressure cleaning, it is therefore necessary to clarify separately which test is actually required.
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