IP69

IP69 stands for a very high level of protection against water, dust and mechanical stress, making it ideal for use in demanding environments such as industrial machinery, vehicle lighting and electronic devices.

Meaning IP69

Application areas include:

• In agriculture, machines are often exposed to mud, lots of water.
• Food industry: Equipment must withstand high-pressure cleaning and/or high temperatures.
• Automotive sector: Vehicle lighting and electronic components must be water- and dust-resistant. So here IP69 is not a luxury.
• Maritime applications: Equipment on board ships must withstand salty environments and provide waterproofing.

IP69 can withstand high pressure, but it cannot withstand long-term immersion like IP68 can. TIP: if both are important, choose a product with IP68 + IP69 / IP69K.

IP69 falls under IEC 60529 standard

The official body responsible for standardising IP ratings, including IP69, is the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The IEC publishes the standard IEC 60529, which defines degrees of protection (IP code). This international standard specifies the degrees of protection provided by enclosures of electrical material against access to hazardous parts, the ingress of solid objects, dust and water.

IP69 vs IP69K

Both are IP ratings that indicate that a product can withstand powerful and hot jets of water. However, the difference between them lies in the test methods and criteria applied.

IP69 falls under the IEC 60529. This is an international standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). This commission defines IP (Ingress Protection) classifications, which indicate how well housings of electrical equipment are protected. These classifications indicate how much protection there is against the ingress of solid objects (such as dust) and liquids (such as water).

The IP69K standard has a more specific and stringent test procedure and simulates conditions typical of car environments, such as high-pressure hoses being washed off from all sides. More on the IP69K.

A complete overview of all ratings can be found in the blog: IP ratings