What is an IP Rating

The IP Code (or International Protection marking) rates the degree of protection a product has against intrusion by both solid and liquid particles. 

The format of the rating is IPxx. The first digit relates to the amount of protection from solid particles and the second is for liquid particles. 

In both cases ingress may be permitted but only in a way that won't affect the operation of the device or equipment.

First number (protection against solid objects)	Protection	Second number (protection against liquids)	Definition
0	No protection	0	No protection
1	Objects greater than 50mm e.g. back of a hand	1	Vertically falling drops
2	Objects greater than 12.5mm e.g. fingers or small objects	2	Direct sprays of water up to 15º from vertical
3	Objects greater than 2.5mm e.g. tools or thick wires	3	Direct sprays of water up to 60º from vertical
4	Objects greater than 1mm e.g. thin wires or small tools	4	Direct sprays of water from all directions, limited ingress permitted
5	Protected against dust with limited ingress	5	Low pressure jets of water from all directions, limited ingress permitted
6	Totally protected against dust	6	Strong jets of water from all directions, limited ingress permitted
		7	Temporary immersion up to 1m depth
		8	Continuous immersion in water deeper than 1m as per the manufacturers specification