ISO 20653:2013

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 20653
Second edition
2013-02-15
Road vehicles — Degrees of protection
(IP code) — Protection of electrical
equipment against foreign objects,
water and access
Véhicules routiers — Degrés de protection (codes IP) — Protection des
équipements électriques contre les corps étrangers, l’eau et les contacts
Reference number
©
ISO 2013
© ISO 2013
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ii © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Structure and meaning of the IP code . 2
4.1 Structure of the IP code . 2
4.2 Meaning of IP code. 2
4.3 Examples for the use of letters in the IP code . 3
5 Degrees of protection against foreign objects and against access . 4
6 Degrees of protection against water . 5
7 Designation examples . 6
7.1 General . 6
7.2 Example IP34K . 6
7.3 Example IP16KB . 6
7.4 Example IP2X/IP5KX . 7
8 Requirements and testing . 7
8.1 Atmospheric conditions . 7
8.2 Device under test (DUT) . 7
8.3 Requirements and tests for degrees of protection against foreign objects and access . 7
8.4 Requirements and test for degrees of protection against water .13
9 Notes on the assignment of degrees of protection .14
9.1 Assignment of degrees of protection against foreign objects and access .14
9.2 Assignment of degrees of protection against water .14
Bibliography .23
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies
casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 20653 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 22, Road vehicles, Subcommittee SC 3, Electrical
and electronic equipment.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 20653:2006), which has been
technically revised.
iv © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Introduction
The IP codes used in this International Standard are in accordance with IEC 60529, except in the case
of codes “K”, which describe special requirements for road vehicles that are not covered by IEC 60529.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 20653:2013(E)
Road vehicles — Degrees of protection (IP code) —
Protection of electrical equipment against foreign objects,
water and access
1 Scope
This International Standard applies to degrees of protection (IP code) provided by enclosures of the
electrical equipment of road vehicles. It specifies the following:
a) Designations and definitions of types and degrees of protection provided by enclosures of electrical
equipment (IP codes) for the:
— protection of electrical equipment within the enclosure against ingress of foreign objects,
including dust (protection against foreign objects);
— protection of persons against access to hazardous parts inside the enclosure (protection
against access);
— protection of electrical equipment inside the enclosure against effects due to ingress of water
(protection against water).
b) Requirements for each degree of protection.
c) Tests to be carried out in order to confirm that the enclosure complies with requirements of the
relevant degree of protection.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 12103-1, Road vehicles — Test dust for filter evaluation — Part 1: Arizona test dust
IEC 60068-2-68, Environmental testing — Part 2: Tests — Test L: Dust and sand
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
enclosure
part providing protection of equipment against certain external influences and in any direction
against access
3.2
degree of protection
protection provided by an enclosure against access, foreign objects and/or water and verified by
standardized test methods
3.3
International Protection code
IP code
coding system to indicate the degree of protection provided by an enclosure against access, foreign
objects and/or water and to give additional information in connection with such parts
3.4
hazardous part
part that is hazardous to approach or touch
3.5
opening
gap or aperture in an enclosure which exists or may be formed by the application of a test probe at the
specified force
4 Structure and meaning of the IP code
4.1 Structure of the IP code
The structure of the IP code is as follows.
Where no code element is given, the letter “X” shall be substituted (or “XX”, if none of the two code
elements have been indicated).
Additional and/or supplementary letters may be omitted without substitute.
Additional letters following each other directly shall be in alphabetical order.
Wherever the degree of protection of a part of the enclosure or the electrical equipment deviates from
the degree of protection of the remaining part, both degrees of protection shall be indicated.
4.2 Meaning of IP code
Table 1 contains an overview of the IP code elements.
2 © ISO 2013 – All rights reserved

Table 1 — Overview of all IP code elements and meaning
Element IP Meaning for the protection of Meaning for the protection
electrical equipment of persons
First code element Against foreign objects (including dust): Against access:
0 —  not protected —  not protected
1 —  with diameter ≥ 50 mm —  with back of hand
2 —  with diameter ≥ 12,5 mm —  with finger
3 —  with diameter ≥ 2,5 mm —  with tool
4 —  with diameter ≥ 1,0 mm —  with wire
5K —  dust-protected —  with wire
6K —  dust-tight —  with wire
Second code Against water: Not applicable
element
0 —  not protected
1 —  vertical water drips
2 —  water drips (15° inclination)
3 —  water spray
4 —  splash water
4K —  splash water with increased pressure
5 —  high-velocity water
6 —  strong high-velocity water
6K —  strong high-velocity water with increased
pressure
7 —  temporary immersion
8 —  continuous submersion
9K —  high-pressure/steam-jet cleaning
Additional letter Not applicable Against access (unless
(optional) described by first letter)
A —  with back of hand
B —  with finger
C —  with tool
D —  with wire
Supplementary M Movement of moveable parts during water test Not applicable
letter (optional)
S Standstill of moveable parts during water test
4.3 Examples for the use of letters in the IP code
The following examples explain the use and arrangements of letters in the IP code. For more
comprehensive examples, see Clause 7.
IP44 no letters, no options;
IPX5 omitting first code element;
IP2X omitting second code element;
IP20C using additional letter;
IPXXC omitting both code elements, using additional letter;
IPX1C omitting first code element, using additional letter;
IP3XD omitting second code element, using additional letter;
IP23S using supplementary letter;
IP21CM using additional letter and supplementary letter;
IPX5/IPX7 giving two different degrees of protection by an enclosure against both water jets and
temporary immersion for “versatile” application.
5 Degrees of protection against foreign objects and against access
Tables 2 and 3 contain short descriptions of the degrees of protection with the relevant requirements.
If the same degree of protection (identical code element) for protection against foreign objects and
access is required, then both requirements are indicated by the first code element.
If different degrees of protection for both protection types are required, then an additional letter shall
be used. In this case the first code element only defines the protection against foreign objects and the
additional letter indicates the protection against access.
Additional letters may only be used if:
— the degree of protection against access is higher than indicated by the first code element, or
— only the degree of protection against access is to be indicated (first code element substituted by X).
The indication of a degree of protection against access and foreign objects always includes the preceding
degrees of protection.
Table 2 — Degrees of protection against foreign objects
First code Degree of protection
element
Brief description Requirements
0 not protected None
Test probe with diameter 50 mm shall not
1 foreign objects diameter ≥ 50 mm
penetrate completely.
Test probe with diameter 12,5 mm shall not
2 foreign objects diameter ≥ 12,5 mm
penetrate completely.
Test probe with diameter 2,5 mm shall not
3 foreign objects diameter ≥ 2,5 mm
penetrate completely.
Test probe with diameter 1,0 mm shall not
4 foreign objects diameter ≥ 1,0 mm
penetrate completely.
Dust shall only penetrate in quantities which
5K dust
do not impair performance and safety.
6K dust Dust shall not penetrate.
NOTE “Shall not penetrate completely” indicates that the full dia
...