The IP56 Enclosure Ranking For Outside Equipment

IP 56 can be a score for enclosures which can be subject to many different weather conditions. This can be a standard developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and is a global standard. In the U.S., the National Electrical Manufacturers ASsociation (NEMA) sets related standards.IEC Ingress Protection StandardsThe IEC features a printed standard 60529, which specifies Ingress Protection utilizing a two digit code. That standard has all the information about screening and applications.The first digit indicates the protection against use of dangerous areas and whether solid materials could possibly get into the encolosure outdoor kiel. In other words, how hard is it to stay your finger inside and cause some trouble.The second digit shows the total amount of protection against water.Here are the designations for the first digit - Hazardous Parts:0 - Non-protected1 - Protected against access with the trunk of the hand (50mm size thing )2 - Protected against access with jointed finger (12 mm x 80 mm )3 - Protected against acess with a tool (2.5 mm )4, 5, 6 - Protected against access with a line (1.0 mm )Here are the designations for the first digit - Solid Foreign Objects:0 - Non-protected1 - Objects greater than 50mm2 - Objects greater than 12.5 mm3 - Objects greater than 2.54 - Objects greater than or equal to 1mm5 - Dust protected6 - Dust tightProtection status for the second digit - Ingress of Liquids0 - Non-protected1 - Water dripping vertically2 - Water dripping, enclosure fished up to 15d3 - Spraying water, upt to 60d angle from vertical4 - Splashing water, any direction5 - Jetting water, any direction6 - Powerful jetting water, any direction7 - Temporary immersion in water8 - Continuous immersion in waterYou can easily see that an IP56 ranked enclosure is protected against dust (and other little particles) and is water tight against jetting water from any direction.