IP Ratings & Ingress Protection
Two digits decide whether an enclosure survives its installation — and most specification arguments come down to what those digits actually promise. This page brings together everything we publish on ingress protection: how to choose a rating, how to keep it once you have drilled, glanded and mounted the box, and the test evidence behind it. Start with the workshop films, then work through the articles, case studies, data sheets and short answers — and when you need to take a code apart digit by digit, the interactive decoder is waiting further down the page.
Topic reviewed by Chris Lloyd
Technical Manager, Spelsberg UK
Videos
Watch it done properly
Short workshop films from the Spelsberg bench — sealing, resin casting, cable entries and mounting, filmed on the products themselves.
1 videos in this topic
Articles
Articles on IP ratings
Long-form explanation from the Spelsberg UK technical team — choosing a rating, holding onto it after modification, and what the test standards actually prove.
3 articles in this topic
Guide to IP ratings
Both digits explained in full, the solid-object and water-protection tables side by side, and a checklist to work through before you specify.
Ingress protection techniques explained
Two enclosures can carry the same IP rating and achieve it in very different ways — seals, tooling, gel-filling, cable entries. Why the method matters as much as the number.
IP ratings and what you need to know
What the two digits in an IP code actually mean, why over-specifying an enclosure can cause more problems than it solves, and what IP ratings don't cover.
Downloads
Data sheets, charts and catalogues
Everything here is free and needs no registration. The quick-reference chart is designed to be printed and stuck on the panel shop wall.
1 downloads in this topic
IP ratings and what you need to know
Spelsberg's own guide to the IP code — both digits, the test methods and how to read a data sheet.
Short answers
IP ratings questions, answered
The quick answers in this topic. Each one links through to the full response and the engineer who wrote it.
- Read the full answer →
Can a ventilation system be fitted inside an electrical enclosure?
Yes, a ventilation system can be fitted inside an electrical enclosure, including as a retrofit to an existing installation. Our Air-Technology setup is integrated automatically in our AK range of distributors and is also available for other enclosures. It uses air exchangers that transport condensate out of the enclosure while allowing the interior air to mix constantly with the environmental air. Ventilation elements prevent condensation forming and building up, reduce the risk of overheating, and protect the electrical equipment within, meeting IP65 requirements.
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Do you need a ventilation system in an electrical enclosure?
A ventilation system is worth fitting where an enclosure faces damp conditions, fluctuating temperatures, or houses many components in a small space — all situations that cause condensation or overheating. Promoting air circulation reduces condensation risk while maintaining ingress protection. Our AK range uses registered Air-Technology, which delivers a high air exchange rate with pressure equalisation to prevent condensation and excessive heat, while protecting circuits from water, dust and foreign particles in line with IP65.
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Which enclosures are DNV certified for use on marine vessels?
For marine vessels and other offshore installations, our most suitable solutions are the TK PC, Abox-i PC and Abox-i SL ranges. These are DNV certified, meaning they comply with the world's leading classification society for the maritime industry. They offer up to IP 66 ingress protection, preventing water and dust from entering the system, and they are made of polycarbonate, so they withstand exposure to UV light and extreme weather conditions. They are also highly resistant to mechanical stress.
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Can an enclosure be submerged, and can resin make it watertight?
An enclosure can be submerged if it carries an ingress protection rating of IP68, which means it resists prolonged immersion in at least one metre of water. The most cost-effective and reliable way to achieve this is to fill the enclosure with silicone or resin, which prevents moisture reaching the internals. Our Abox XT junction boxes use this method and withstand submersion in up to 10 metres of water. Each box is supplied with a cast resin bag and a funnel, and has two holes, one to pour the resin in and one to let the air out.
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Can an enclosure be submerged, and does resin sealing make it waterproof?
An enclosure can be submerged if it is rated IP68, which gives resistance to prolonged water immersion at depths of up to 3 metres. Sealing the inside with resin is more cost-effective and reliable than specifying individual water-resistant components, and it protects the internal parts from moisture penetration. Our Abox XT junction boxes use cast resin and comply with DIN EN 60670 and DIN EN 60529. The Abox Pro XT model withstands ambient temperatures from -35°C to 80°C, has an IK08 impact resistance rating, and is available with WAGO screwless clamping technology.