The IP56 Housing Standing For Outside Gear

IP 56 is just a rating for enclosures that are subject to a variety of weather conditions. This can be a standard developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and is a worldwide standard. In the U.S., the National Electrical Manufacturers ASsociation (NEMA) sets similar standards.IEC Ingress Protection StandardsThe IEC features a printed standard 60529, which defines Ingress Protection using a two digit code. This standard has all the information about assessment and applications.The first digit indicates the protection against usage of harmful portions and whether solid materials could get to the encolosure. In other words, how difficult is it to stay your finger inside and cause some trouble.The second digit indicates the quantity of protection against water.Here are the designations for the first digit - Hazardous Parts:0 - Non-protected1 - Protected against access with the back of the hand (50mm size thing )2 - Protected against access with jointed finger (12 mm x 80 mm )3 - Protected against acess with something (2.5 mm )4, 5, 6 - Protected against access with a cord (1 jack wolfskin neumuenster.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 name for the second digit - Ingress of Liquids0 - Non-protected1 - Water dripping vertically2 - Water dripping, enclosure fished around 15d3 - Spraying water, upt to 60d position from vertical4 - Splashing water, any direction5 - Jetting water, any direction6 - Powerful jetting water, any direction7 - Temporary immersion in water8 - Continuous immersion in waterYou can see that an IP56 ranked enclosure is protected against dirt (and other little particles) and is water tight against jetting water from any direction.