Not to be confused by the more commonly known Internet Protocol address, IP in this case stands for Ingress Protection, or International Protection, which is a rating system that defines how well an enclosure protects its internal electric equipment, such as the internal hardware of a camera, access points, against environmental factors such as dust and rain. The IP rating system was developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission, and is defined in the IEC 60529 standard. The rating consists of numerical values, with each digit defining a different aspect and level of protection afforded by the enclosure. When there is no protection with regards to one of the criteria, the digit is replaced with an X.
The first digit
The first digit refers to protection against solid objects, ranging from 1 (protection against accidental touches by hand) to 6 (complete protection against dust). Solid objects can refer to anything, including fingers, tools, wires, small wires, and dust. Check out the table below for the detailed explanation of each number.
| Rating | Protection |
| 0 | No special protection |
| 1 | Protection against solid objects greater than 50mm in diameter, such as a hand |
| 2 | Protection against solid objects greater than 12.5mm in diameter, such as fingers |
| 3 | Protection against solid objects greater than 2.5mm in diameter, such as screwdrivers and other tools |
| 4 | Protection against solid objects greater than 1mm in diameter, such as wires |
| 5 | Limited protection against dust, that is, no harmful deposit |
| 6 | Complete protection of dust |
The second digit
The second digit refers to protection against water intrusion, and ranges from 1 (protection against condensation) to 8 (immersion below 1m and under pressure). Once again, check out the table below for each rating number and the level of protection provided.
| Rating | Protection |
| 0 | No protection |
| 1 | Protection against vertically falling drops and condensation |
| 2 | Protection against direct sprays of water, up to 15 degrees from vertical |
| 3 | Protection against direct sprays of water, up to 60 degrees from vertical |
| 4 | Protection against direct sprays of water from all directions. Limited ingress permitted |
| 5 | Protection against low-pressure jets of water from all directions. Limited ingress permitted |
| 6 | Protection against strong jets of water from all directions. Limited ingress permitted |
| 7 | Protection against temporary immersion between 15cm and 1m for 30 minutes |
| 8 | Protection against long periods of immersion over 1m and under pressure |
As International Electrotechnical Commission, The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) is the association of electrical equipment and medical imaging manufacturers in the United States defines standards for various grades of electrical enclosures typically used in industrial applications.
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