Ingress Protection: Water Jets and Powerful Water Jets Certification Testing (IPX5 & IPX6)

Ingress protection testing tests the level of protection an enclosure provides against intrusions. Two such sets of ingress protection tests involve exposing the equipment under test (EUT), to water jets and powerful water jets.

These tests are numbered IPX5 and IPX6. The first digit, represented by the “X”, ranges from 0 to 6 and specifies the protection from solid particles. The second digit, in the case of water jets, would always be a 5, and in the case of powerful water jets, would always be a 6. Therefore, IP55 vs IP56 differ because one uses water jets and the other uses powerful water jets.

Below is a brief description of IPX5 and IPX6 testing as detailed in IEC 60529:

IPX5 Water Jet Testing:

• Defined as water projected by a nozzle (6.3mm).
• The requirement is that the equipment under test (EUT), shall experience no harmful effects from the water being sprayed against the enclosure from any direction.
• The test details include a test duration of at least three minutes, water volume of 12.5 liters per minute and pressure of 30 kN/m² at distance of three meters.

IPX6 Powerful Water Jet Testing:

• Defined as water projected by a nozzle (12.5mm).
• The requirement is that the equipment under test (EUT), shall experience no harmful effects from the water being sprayed against the enclosure from any direction.
• The test details include a test duration of at least three minutes, water volume of 100 liters per minute and pressure of 100 kN/m² at distance of three meters.

For a complete list of all of the possible IPX5 and IPX6 ingress protection code combinations from IEC 60529, please see the chart at the bottom of this page.

IPX5 Water Jets and IPX6 Powerful Water Jets IP Code Testing Procedures

IPX5 Water Jet Testing

1. Test Setup: IPX5 testing necessitates the use of a nozzle with an internal diameter of 6.3 mm to project water. The distance from the nozzle to the enclosure surface should be within the range of 2.5 to 3 meters.
2. Water Application: During the test, the water pressure should be adjusted to provide a constant flow rate of 12.5 liters per minute.
3. Test Time: The test duration should be at least one minute per square meter of the enclosure’s surface area. However, IPX5 requires a minimum test duration of three minutes.
4. Evaluation: Once the testing is complete, the unit is dried externally, and then the enclosure is opened for inspection. A technician will carefully examine the interior of the enclosure to identify any signs of water penetration. If any water ingress is found, it will be reported to the manufacturer for a determination of whether the unit has passed or failed the test.

IPX6 Powerful Water Jet Testing

1. Test Setup: The enclosure is placed on the testing table in the spray room. The water pressure is adjusted to achieve a delivery rate of approximately 100 liters per minute. Note that this pressure should remain constant throughout the test. The internal diameter of the nozzle is 120 millimeters.
2. Water Application: The distance from the nozzle to the enclosure should be between 2.5 and 3 meters. High-pressure water jets are then directed at it from different angles.
3. Test Time: The test lasts for a duration of one minute per square meter of the enclosure surface area likely to be sprayed. The minimum test duration is three minutes.
4. Evaluation: Once testing is completed, the unit is externally dried and then the enclosure is opened. A technician will then inspect the inside of the enclosure to search for any signs of water penetration. Any water ingress is reported to the manufacturer for a determination of the pass/fail criteria.

Products That Require IPX5 and IPX6 Water Jet Testing

Industries that require IPX5 and IPX6 testing typically involve products or equipment that might be exposed to water jets or powerful water spray in their regular operation or usage. Some of the industries that may require IPX5 and IPX6 testing include:

• Automotive Industry: Components and parts used in vehicles, such as headlights, taillights, and exterior sensors, may need IPX5 and IPX6 testing to ensure water resistance during car washing or driving in heavy rain.
• Aerospace Industry: Certain aircraft components, such as external sensors, antennas, or communication equipment, may undergo IPX5 and IPX6 testing to assess their resistance to water exposure during flight or maintenance.
• Industrial Machinery: Equipment used in industrial settings, especially those that operate outdoors or in wet environments, may require IPX5 and IPX6 testing to ensure they can handle water jets during cleaning processes.
• Electronics and Consumer Devices: Certain electronic devices, such as rugged smartphones, waterproof speakers, and outdoor cameras, may need IPX5 and IPX6 testing to demonstrate water resistance to potential customers.
• Medical Equipment: Medical devices designed for use in environments where water exposure is possible, such as hospitals or clinics, may undergo IPX5 and IPX6 testing to ensure they can be safely cleaned and maintained.

Expert IPX5 and IPX6 Certification Testing Facility

What sets Keystone Compliance’s IPX5 water jet and IPX6 powerful water jet testing apart is our experience in helping manufacturers determine ingress points in their products and also identifying potential solutions. We also have significant expertise in interpreting the standards, which often provides manufacturers with flexibility in determining acceptable amounts of ingress.

Our thorough understanding of the standards allows for a more nuanced evaluation of the test results, providing manufacturers with comprehensive insights into the equipment’s overall performance and compliance.

Why is Keystone Compliance the right IP Code lab to complete your ingress testing? Our customers enjoy our short lead times, ability to explain the process and testing requirements, consultative engineering support when failures occur and affordable pricing. It is what has made us one of the fastest growing companies in the country and most respected test labs in the region.

Contact us to receive a quote for ingress protection testing and see why we are the only ingress protection lab for so many manufacturers from around the country.

Below is a list of all of the IPX5 and IPX6 IP Code combinations along with a brief description of each test: