Ability to use enclosures with higher IP codes in environments that require lower IP codes
Question: does intrusion protection in enclosures with higher IP codes always allow them to be used in environments that require lower IP codes?
Brief answer: No, IPX7 DOES NOT COVER IPX6. according to IEC 60529-Edition 2.2 for the second code (protection against ingress of water), the product’s compliance with all lower codes is only valid up to IPX6.
Answer in detail
Many manufacturers or even users, assume that having an enclosure with IPX7, is sufficient to make it suitable for use in environments that require IPX6 and below.
They say that since IPX7(or X8) is a larger code, it covers lower codes such as IPX6 (or X5).
However, according to IEC 60529-Edition 2.2 for the second code (protection against ingress of water), the product’s compliance with all lower codes is only valid up to IPX6.
Reference: IEC 60529 Edition 2.2 - clause 6
"up to and including second characteristic numeral 6, the designation implies compliance also with the requirements for all lower characteristic numerals. However, the tests establishing compliance with any one of the lower degrees of protection need not necessarily be carried out provided that these tests obviously would be met if applied."
Conclusion: Therefore, equipment that has been tested and approved only according to IPX7(X8 and X9) is not suitable for environments that require IPX6 and below.
Practically:
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It is important to note that the IP code should be selected based on the type of water exposure:
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IPX7 & X8 are suitable for equipment that may be partially or fully immersed in water; and
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IPX5 & X6 are suitable for environments where there is a high probability of splashing (in the form of water jets or heavy rain).
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IPX9 is suitable for specific environments where water with high temperature and pressure may be presented (such as the food and pharmaceutical industries) and does not provide protection against immersion (IPX7 & 8) and water jets (IPX5 & 6) alone.
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Manufacturers who want to meet both the requirements for immersion (IPX7 or X8) or for specific condition (IPX9) and also include lower codes (IPX6 and below) must use combined codes (such as IPX6/IPX7 or IPX5/IPX7/IPX9), in which case the laboratory must test all codes separately.
IEC 60529 Edition 2.2 -clause 6
in above table:
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enclosures for “versatile” application indicated in the last column shall meet requirements for exposure to both water jets and temporary or continuous immersion.
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enclosures for “restricted” application indicated in the last column are considered suitable only for the conditions to which they were tested.
