Dear Paul,

The ingress protection (IP) rating is based on section 60529 of the International Electrical Code, referred to as IEC 60529, and it defines the sealing effectiveness of an electrical enclosure. This gives an overview of how well protected the solution is against external influences. Thus, the level needed for a specific application depends on the environmental conditions where the electrical enclosure is installed.

Offering maximum resistance to dust and immersion in water, IP68 solutions are typically considered the most robust. However, over-specifying an enclosure, i.e. selecting waterproof, IP68 components by default may actually be counterproductive. In effect, these products tend to be more expensive than alternatives with lower IP ratings and generally require longer installation times.
Since most applications are not required to withstand submersion in water, businesses can often opt for lower IP ratings safely, without compromising the integrity of the electrical system. If effect, these enclosures offer an excellent choice for many installations, both indoor and outdoor.

Therefore, the best recommendation to determine what type of ingress protection you require is to look at where your system will be positioned. To help you identify the right solution, you can use our guide: https://www.spelsberg.co.uk/service/technical-information/technical-information/overview-of-the-installation-areas-and-the-recommended-els-installation-systems/
Spelsberg offers a wide range of enclosures with different levels of protection, from IP00 all the way to IP69k. Hence, we can cater for any applications with reliable, rugged products that address your needs and requirements. To check our offering, please use our product finder: https://www.spelsberg.co.uk/product-finder/
If you have additional questions on our range of enclosures and IP ratings or specific requests for your intended application, please feel free to send me a private message to discuss them.

Kind Regards,

Chris