•When determining many standards for instruments and meters, we often encounter the standard of protection level IP. So what is protection level and what does the number behind it represent?What is explosion-proof instrumentation?

•Protection level system IP (INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION) is drafted and formulated by the IEC organization.

•This system classifies instruments according to their dust-proof, moisture-proof and other characteristics.

The IP protection level is composed of two numbers. The first number indicates the level of dust and foreign object intrusion of instruments and electrical appliances. The second number indicates the degree of sealing of instruments and electrical appliances against moisture and waterproof intrusion. The larger the number, the higher the protection level.

1st number:  
0 - indicates no protection and no special protection for people or objects outside.  
1 means preventing the intrusion of solid objects >50mm, preventing the human body (palm) from accidentally contacting the internal parts of the appliance, and preventing the intrusion of foreign objects >50mm.  
2- means preventing the intrusion of solid objects >12mm, preventing the human body (fingers) from accidentally contacting the internal parts of the appliance; preventing the intrusion of foreign objects >12mm.

3- means preventing the intrusion of solid objects >2.5mm and preventing small foreign objects >2.5mm from contacting the internal parts of the appliance.  
4- means preventing the intrusion of solid objects >1.0mm and preventing tiny foreign objects >1.0mm from contacting the internal parts of the appliance. 
A rating of 5 means dust-proof, completely preventing the intrusion of foreign objects, and the amount of dust intrusion will not affect the normal operation of the appliance.  
A rating of 6 means dust-proof, completely preventing the intrusion of foreign objects and completely preventing the intrusion of dust.

2nd number:  
0 - means no protection.  
A value of 1-means that dripping water is prevented from intruding, and vertical water droplets will not cause harmful effects on electrical appliances.  
A value of 2- means that dripping water can still be prevented from intruding when tilted by 15. When instruments and electrical appliances are tilted by 15, dripping water will not cause harmful effects to the electrical appliances.  
3- means to prevent the intrusion of sprayed water, rain, or to prevent the intrusion of water sprayed in a vertical direction <60° from causing damage to instruments, instruments and electrical appliances.  
4- means preventing splashing water from intruding and preventing splashing water from all directions from intruding into instruments, instruments and electrical appliances and causing damage.

5- means preventing the intrusion of sprayed water and preventing the intrusion of water sprayed from all directions into the instrument and causing damage.  
6- means preventing the intrusion of large waves and causing damage to instruments and electrical appliances installed on the deck.  
7- means to prevent water intrusion when immersed in water. If instruments and electrical appliances are immersed in water for a certain period of time or under a certain standard of water pressure, it can ensure that the instruments, meters and electrical appliances are not damaged by water intrusion.  
8- means to prevent the intrusion of water during sinking. Instruments and electrical appliances can be sunk indefinitely under a certain standard of water pressure to ensure that the instruments and instruments are not damaged by water intrusion.