Dust Protected and Dust Tight (IP5X & IP6X)

Ingress protection testing tests the level of protection an enclosure provides against intrusions. Intrusions can mean water or solids. The smallest solid tested is dust ingress testing. Dust testing labs must use calibrated material to complete the IP Code dust testing.

The degree of dust protection is specified by the IP Code. The Ingress Protection IP testing provides two numbers. The first number is the protection from solids. The second number is the protection from liquids. 

The IP Codes derived from dust testing are IP5X and IP6X. The X could be zero through nine depending on the enclosure’s water resistance. If an enclosure is dust protected, the first number will always be a 5. If a case is dust tight, the first number will always be a 6.

IP5X Dust Protected Enclosure

IEC 60529 provides the IP5X meaning and is considered the IP5X standard. A dust protected enclosure is an enclosure where the ingress of dust is not entirely prevented. The IP rating for these enclosures are IP 5X dust protected.

It is important to note that  the IP5X test procedure requires additional clarification. To be considered IP 5X test protected, dust must not enter in a sufficient quantity to interfere with the satisfactory operation of the equipment. Therefore, the IP5X dust test requires an assessment of the equipment operations to claim IP5X protection.

IP6X Dust Tight

A dust tight enclosure is defined as having a degree of protection where no ingress of dust. The ingress protection ratings for these enclosures are IP 6X dust tight. Unlike IP 5X dust testing, the IP 6X test requires no additional assessment as the presence of any dust in the enclosure is considered unacceptable.

The enclosures have an IP Code of IP6X meaning it is dust tight and can have various degrees of water protection.

IP Dust and Water Resistance Evaluations

As previously mentioned, enclosures are evaluated on their protection against solid objects and liquid. An example would be water and dust resistant IP68. In this case, the enclosure is dust tight. It also met the requirements for immersion beyond one meter. 

Another example is an enclosure that is IP67 water and dust resistant. The six represents dust tight. The seven represents immersion in water up to one meter. For a complete list of all of the possible IP5X ratings and IP6X ingress protection code combinations from IEC 60529, please see the chart at the bottom of this page.

Products that Require Dust Testing

Most military products require dust testing. These products are often exposed to falling dirt, blowing sand or other fine particles. Mining and construction equipment typically operate in harsh environments. Dust testing is required for those items.

Many medical devices and consumer electronics must be tested. Even though they operate in clean environments, the presence of dust can impact operations. Opening in enclosures such as fans and vents can attract buildups of material. Over time, this buildup can impact operations.

In a worst case scenario, dust explosions can occur. Combustible dust can accumulate and create hazardous locations. Mitigating this potentially dangerous situation is extremely important.

Why Is Keystone Compliance a Great Ingress Protection Dust Lab

What sets Keystone Compliance’s IP5X dust protected and IP6X dust tight testing apart is our experience. We thoroughly understand the test standards. Our approach ensures accurate testing. 

If the unit that requires testing is too large to move, no problem. We have experience completing ingress protection testing at the customer’s facilities. Our largest dust chamber ever built was approximately 15 foot cubed!

Why is Keystone Compliance the right IP Code lab to complete your ingress testing? Our customers enjoy our short lead times on scheduling. We have a team of report writers that complete reports quickly. 

In addition to the speed and accuracy, customers enjoy our ability to explain the process and testing requirements. Our consultative engineering support when failures occur is important. We are here to help. Lastly, we also offer affordable pricing and volume discounts. 

This combination of services is what has made us one of the fastest growing companies in the country. We have an ISO-17025 accreditation, which ensures our test reports are accepted around the world. 

Contact us to receive a quote for ingress protection testing. You will see why we are the only ingress protection lab for so many manufacturers.

Below is a list of all of the IP5X and IP6X IP Code combinations along with a brief description of each test: