IP65 meaning: the IP protection rating explained

In short: in IP65, the 6 means “fully protected against dust” and the 5 means “protected against water jets from any direction”. The first digit of an IP rating runs from 0 to 6 (solids), the second from 0 to 9 (water). IP66 withstands more powerful jets, IP67 temporary immersion: two different tests, not a simple scale.

The IP65 meaning is read digit by digit: the 6 refers to dust, the 5 to water. This IP protection rating, defined by the international standard IEC 60529 (EN 60529 in Europe), classifies how well the enclosure of an electrical device resists the ingress of solid objects and liquids. It appears on outdoor lights, sockets, smartphones and security cameras. This guide covers the table of digits, how to read a rating, the differences between IP65, IP66 and IP67, then the practical example of outdoor cameras.

The digits of the IP rating in one table

The rating is written IP followed by two digits. The first measures protection against solids, from 0 to 6. The second measures protection against water, from 0 to 9.

A rating is read out digit by digit: IP65 is said “IP six-five”, not “IP sixty-five”. Each digit is read separately: a device can be very well protected against dust and poorly against water, or the other way round.

IP65 meaning: dust and water jets

The first digit, 6, is the highest level against solids: the device is fully protected against dust. No particle may get inside the enclosure, whereas level 5 allows some dust to enter without harmful effect.

The second digit, 5, covers water jets from any direction. The standard defines it with a specific test: a hose fitted with a 6.3 mm nozzle, placed 2.5 to 3 metres from the device, with a flow of 12.5 litres per minute (5% tolerance). Water projected from every direction must have no harmful effect. That comfortably covers rain, even wind-driven rain, and spraying with a garden hose.

IP65 says nothing, however, about immersion. An IP65 device is not designed to be plunged into water or left in a puddle that would cover it. For that use, it is levels 7 and 8 of the second digit that count.

How to read an IP protection rating

The reading always follows the same order: IP, then the solids digit, then the water digit. A few rules complete the table.

The letter X replaces an unclassified digit

When no classification is given for one of the two criteria, the digit is replaced by the letter X. IPX5 states protection against water jets, with no information on dust. IP5X states protection against dust, with no information on water. An X does not mean “zero protection” but “no information”: caution is needed when the missing criterion matters for the intended use.

Letters can follow the digits

The standard provides for additional letters after the two digits. A, B, C and D describe protection of people against access to hazardous parts (with the back of the hand, a finger, a tool or a wire). Other letters specify test conditions, such as M (device moving during the water test) or S (device stationary).

A rating confirms one test, not every lower level

According to the reference article on the protection rating, a rating confirms the level stated, without automatically guaranteeing the lower levels in the same column. An IPX7 device has passed the immersion test, but nothing says it has passed the powerful water jet test. Hence dual markings such as IP66/IP67, when a manufacturer puts the device through both tests.

IP66, IP67, IP68: what changes compared with IP65

All these ratings share the 6 for dust. Only the second digit changes, and with it the nature of the test.

• IP66 follows the same principle as IP65 with much more powerful jets: 12.5 mm nozzle, distance of 2.5 to 3 metres, flow of 100 litres per minute.
• IP67 switches logic: the device is temporarily immersed down to 1 metre for 30 minutes, and water must not get in in harmful quantities.
• IP68 refers to equipment that can be submerged beyond 1 metre, under duration and pressure conditions set by the manufacturer. The spec sheet must therefore be read to know the stated depth and duration.
• IP69 (or IP69K) covers high-pressure, high-temperature cleaning. An IP69 device is not necessarily submersible.

IP66 or IP67: powerful jets or immersion?

The question comes up often, and the answer depends on the use. IP66 addresses the risk of powerful water jets, IP67 the risk of immersion. The two tests simulate different situations: a device can pass one without having been put through the other. For equipment exposed to the weather but never submerged, IP66 is the most meaningful. An IP66/IP67 marking indicates that both tests have been passed.

Which IP rating for an outdoor security camera?

An outdoor camera faces three things: dust, rain, and sometimes a jet of water when a façade or terrace is cleaned. The table of digits helps translate these situations. An intercom door station, mounted on a facade or a pillar, follows the same logic: see how to wire an intercom.

• The first digit: an outdoor camera is exposed to dust, pollen and particles. Level 6, fully protected against dust, protects the lens and electronics.
• The second digit: wind-driven rain arrives from any angle. Level 4 covers splashing from any direction, level 5 water jets, level 6 powerful jets. IP65 and IP66 therefore suit a façade mounting exposed to rain.
• Immersion only makes sense for a device placed at ground level in an area prone to flooding. For a wall-mounted camera, IP67 adds nothing decisive compared with IP66.

A roof overhang reduces exposure without removing the need for a suitable rating: the wind blows rain under the shelter. The cameras in the top 10 outdoor security cameras show their rating on their spec sheet, to be compared with the planned mounting spot.

The location also matters from a legal point of view: in France, an outdoor camera may only film its owner’s property, without the street or the neighbour’s land. The guide on home security camera rules in France details these rules.

What the IP rating does not cover

The IP rating measures two things, and only two: solids and water. Several criteria that matter outdoors fall under other benchmarks.

• Impacts are measured by another rating, the IK rating. It runs from IK00 (no protection) to IK10, which corresponds to an impact energy of 20 joules. A camera within easy reach, exposed to vandalism, benefits from a high IK rating.
• Operating temperature does not appear in the IP rating. It is listed separately on the spec sheet, as a range in degrees when it is given.
• Sunlight and the ageing of plastics are not covered either.

The rating also describes the device as it was when it passed the test. A microSD card cover left loose, a damaged seal or an open cable gland can let water in despite an IP65 on the spec sheet.

Reading the IP rating on a spec sheet: good habits

A few habits avoid unpleasant surprises when comparing two devices.

1. Read the two digits separately: an IP65 and an IP56 do not protect in the same way.
2. Spot the Xs: an IPX6 says nothing about dust.
3. Identify the part concerned: the rating applies to the device named on the spec sheet. A power supply, a solar panel or a bracket supplied separately may have its own rating, or none stated.
4. Look for a dual marking when the device may both face jets and be submerged, such as IP66/IP67.
5. Treat missing information as not specified: without a stated IP rating, nothing allows you to assume any protection.

For the other criteria in choosing an outdoor camera, the security cameras section brings together the site’s guides.