Degrees of protection provided by enclosures against access, foreign objects and water (IP Code).
The standard classifies degrees of protection provided by enclosures for electrical equipment with rated voltage up to 72.5 kV in three respects: protection of persons against access to hazardous parts, protection against ingress of solid foreign objects, and protection against ingress of water.
It defines the IP Code (first numeral 0–6, second 0–9, including 9K for high-pressure/high-temperature water jets; additional letters A–D) and test methods. It does not cover resistance to mechanical impact, corrosion, fungi, solar radiation or icing - these aspects are left to product committees.
The IP Code according to IEC 60529 allows an enclosure or encoder to be selected for the installation location (underframe, roof, trackside room) based on tested resistance to dust and water; it does not replace mechanical-impact (IK code) or corrosion tests.
