A common objective: to certify the level of resistance of a product
The purpose of the protection indices is to determine the level of resistance of an electronic product. Since access control products are often installed outdoors, they are exposed to greater risks. To measure their level of resistance, several criteria are evaluated by the protection indices:
- Mechanical resistance to shocks (anti-vandalism),
- Resistance to particle intrusion,
- Watertightness.
To measure this performance, two indices are used:
- The IK index: mechanical protection index,
- IP rating: waterproofing rating (liquids and solids).
IK : mechanical protection index
The IK protection index reflects the level of mechanical protection of electrical or electronic devices. The protection index IK indicates the resistance to (mechanical) shocks of the envelope of the studied device.
Resistance to mechanical shocks” means the resistance of the product to a series of drops of weight whose mass, distance of launch, and repetition vary according to the IK level to be tested.
Mechanical protection ratings are expressed in the following format:
- Two letters: “IK”,
- Two digits: from 00 to 10.
The higher the numbers, the more resistant the product is to the characteristic studied.
Discover IK index scale
The IK index extends on a scale of 11 levels, from minimum to maximum:
- IK00 : no protection,
- IK01: protection against impacts of 0.15 Joules (shock equivalent to the fall of a mass of 150 g from a height of 10 cm)
- IK02: protection against impacts of 0.2 Joules (shock equivalent to the fall of a mass of 200 g from a height of 10 cm)
- IK03: protection against impacts of 0.35 Joules (shock equivalent to the fall of a mass of 250 g from a height of 15 cm)
- IK04: protection against impacts of 0.5 Joules (shock equivalent to the fall of a 350 g mass from a height of 20 cm)
- IK05: protection against impacts of 0.7 Joules (shock equivalent to the fall of a 350 g mass from a height of 20 cm)
- IK06: protection against impacts of 1 Joule (shock equivalent to the fall of a 250 g mass from a height of 40 cm)
- IK07: protection against impacts of 2 Joules (shock equivalent to the fall of a mass of 0.5 kg from a height of 40 cm)
- IK08 : protection against impacts of 5 Joules (shock equivalent to the fall of a mass of 1.25 kg from a height of 40 cm)
- IK09 : protection against impacts of 10 Joules (shock equivalent to the fall of a 2.5 kg mass from a height of 40 cm)
- IK10: protection against impacts of 20 Joules (shock equivalent to the fall of a 5 kg mass from a height of 40 cm)
IP : protection against liquids and solids
The protection index known as IP (originally “Ingress Protection”) is an international standard of the International Electrotechnical Commission relating to sealing. It measures the level of protection that this material provides against liquids and solids.
The protection indices are expressed in the following format:
- Two letters: “IP”,
- A first number from 0 to 6 designates the resistance to the intrusion of solid bodies (dust),
- A second number from 0 to 8 designating the resistance of the object against water
The higher the numbers, the more resistant the product is to the characteristic studied.
Discover IP index scale
Regarding solid body sealing:
- 0 : no protection.
- 1: protection against solid objects > 50 mm.
- 2: protection against solid objects > 12 mm.
- 3: protection against solid objects > 2,5 mm.
- 4: protection against solid objects > 1 mm.
- 5: protection against dust deposits.
- 6: protection against dust penetration.
Regarding liquid resistance:
- 0 : no protection,
- 1: protection against water drops on a device in normal position,
- 2: protection against water drops with a maximum inclination of 15°,
- 3: protection against rainwater if the latter does not exceed 60°,
- 4: protection against splashes and sprays,
- 5: protection against water jets from a hose,
- 6: protection against powerful water jets from a hose,
- 7: protection during temporary immersion,
- 8: protection during prolonged immersion,
- 9K: protection against steam and high pressure cleaning.
