Understanding IP Ratings for Food Inspection Equipment
2 Feb 2021
All LOMA inspection systems are designed with IP ratings in mind, to ensure the right protection for your production environment. This guide helps ensure you know what IP ratings are and the protection each offer.
What are IP Ratings
"International Protection Rating” or “Ingress Protection Rating" is an international standard. An IP rating is a two-digit grading system used to define levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against moisture, solid items, tools and dirt.
What do the numbers in the IP Rating mean?
IP ratings are made up of two numbers, with the first referring to the ease of solids getting into the product and the second referring to moisture protection.
First Figure
The first figure refers to protection from solid particles, the below chart provides examples of the scale.
| Level | Effective Against | Description |
| 0 | - | No protection |
| 1 | > 50mm | Protection from a large part of the body such as a hand and solid objects greater than 50mm in diameter |
| 2 | > 12.5mm | Protection against fingers or other small objects |
| 3 | > 2.5mm | Protection from entry by tools, thick wires, etc. |
| 4 | > 1mm | Protection against most wires, screws, large insects, etc. |
| 5 | Dust protected | Protection against dust that may harm or interfere with satisfactory equipment operation |
| 6 | Dust tight |
No ingress of dust; complete protection against contact - |
Second Figure
The second figure relates to protection against liquids and moisture with the table below showing protection increases the higher the number.
| Level |
Effective |
Description |
| 0 | - | No protection |
| 1 | Dripping water | Protection against condensation and vertically falling drops |
| 2 | Dripping water when tilted at 15° | Protection against water droplets deflected up to 15° from vertical |
| 3 | Spraying water | Protection against water falling as a spray up to 60° from vertical |
| 4 | Splashing of water | Protection against water spray from all directions |
| 5 | Water jets | Protection against low pressure water jets (6.3mm nozzle) from all directions |
| 6 | Powerful water jets | Protection against strong water jets (12.5mm nozzle) from all directions - A minimum on ALL Loma inspection equipment |
| 6K |
Powerful water jets |
Protection against strong water jets (6.3mm nozzle) under elevated pressure from all directions |
| 7 | Immersion, up to 1m depth | Protection against ingress of water in harmful quantity when immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time |
| 8 | Immersion, up to 1m or more depth | Protection against ingress of water in harmful quantity when immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time |
| 9 | Powerful high temperature water jets | Protection against close-range high pressure, high temperature spray downs - Available on the latest 'RUN-WET' Metal Detector Conveyor and CW3 RUN-WET Checkweigher or CW3 RUN-WET Combo Systems |
A Word of Caution with IP Ratings
The criteria for awarding IP ratings is potentially open to misinterpretation as testing processes are not all the same. For example, with IP65 and IP66 the test stipulates water is sprayed from 3-metres, however in reality factories are likely to spray at a much closer distance.
Loma IP Ratings to suit any applications
Loma inspection systems are IP66 rated as standard. For high-care, harsh washdown environments that are wet or dusty, then IP69 RUN-WET equipment is available. Speak to one of our expert advisors to choose the right IP rating for your production application, safety needs and cleaning requirements.