What are IP Ratings?
We’re sure it excites you to hear that your phone is water-resistant. let’s talk about IP Ratings
But do you truly know what it means when your phone is described by these terms?
What do manufacturers mean when they use terms like “waterproof” and “water-resistant?”
How is it even measured and why does it matter?
So let’s talk IP Ratings.
The IP rating, which stands for Ingress Protection, is an international standard for how well-sealed a device’s electrical parts are from the elements like dirt, dust, and moisture. It even includes the intrusion of our hands and fingers.
History has it that, IP ratings became necessary as they were a way to ensure sellers sold working products. If these products went through extensive testing before hitting the market, it meant that they wouldn’t quickly become faulty. It became a universal process of ensuring manufacturers didn’t cut corners.
Many engineering safety unions around the world require products to hold an IP rating. These include computers, electric tools, light bulbs, and lab equipment that would be hazardous if not checked on.
When a phone has a certified rating of some sort, a third party has conducted tests to ensure that it can survive conditions like hard falls, dusty shelves, extreme heat, certain kinds of radiation, and deep pools of water.
Phone, tablet, and PC manufacturers measure the ruggedness of devices using two systems of standards: The Ingress Protection (IP) Rating, published by the International Electrotechnical Commission; and the Military Specification or Military Standard (MIL-STD), which is developed by arms of the U.S. Military and Department of Defense.
Her’s a chart below of the ratings and the implications on resistance:
It is worthy to note, that a high IP rating doesn’t necessarily mean dust, water, or debris won’t enter a phone’s enclosure. Rather, it indicates that when dust and water do make their way through a phone’s seams, it won’t enter in sufficient quantities to cause malfunction.
Also, remember this, these tests your phone may go through are different from your everyday use. So, you should not subject your phone to careless use just because your phone boasts of an impressive IP Rating.
So what’s your IP Rating again?
