IP digits: the first digit rates dust and foreign objects, the second rates water
IP65, IP67 and IP68: low-pressure jets, temporary immersion and continuous immersion
Selection criteria: IP65 or higher outdoors, a water digit of 5 or 6 for hose washdown, IP67 for temporary immersion and IP68 for permanent submersion
Explosion-proof: a requirement separate from the IP rating
Inquiry details: installation environment, valve type and torque, power supply, control method and quantity
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The IP rating of an electric actuator (a drive unit that opens and closes a valve with an electric motor) is chosen according to how far water and dust can reach at the installation site. For outdoor locations exposed to rain, check IP65 or higher, and for places washed with a hose, check ratings whose water digit is 5 or 6 (IP65, IP66). For places that may be temporarily submerged check IP67, and for places that stay submerged check IP68, and the IP rating is separate from explosion protection.
When fitting an electric actuator on outdoor piping, a washdown line or a poorly drained pit, it is hard to decide which of IP65, IP67 and IP68 on the specification sheet is needed. Some people also wonder whether a higher rating means the unit is explosion-proof too.
This article is organized around the values stated in catalogs and product specifications. Even products from the same manufacturer have different ratings by model, so the final value follows each model's specification sheet.
Of the two digits after IP, the first rates dust and foreign objects and the second rates water. IP65 withstands low-pressure water jets with dust protection, IP67 withstands temporary immersion with complete dust-tightness, and IP68 withstands continuous immersion with complete dust-tightness.
IP is the notation of IEC 60529 (the international standard that defines protection ratings for electrical enclosures). The table below covers only the digits 5, 6, 7 and 8 used in this article.
| Code | Dust (first digit) | Water (second digit) |
|---|---|---|
| IP65 | 5: dust protected; some dust may enter but not in a harmful amount | 5: low-pressure water jets from any direction |
| IP67 | 6: no dust ingress (dust-tight) | 7: temporary immersion; per the catalog, 30 minutes at a depth of 15 cm to 1 m |
| IP68 | 6: no dust ingress (dust-tight) | 8: continuous immersion; depth and time are specified by the manufacturer in the specification sheet |
Broken down by rating, it reads as follows.
IP65: dust protection (some dust may enter but not in a harmful amount) and low-pressure water jets from any direction
IP67: dust-tight and temporary immersion (per the catalog, 30 minutes at a depth of 15 cm to 1 m)
IP68: dust-tight and continuous immersion (depth and time are specified by the manufacturer in the specification sheet)
Even for the same IP68, the depth and time differ by model. The difference between dust digits 5 and 6 lies in whether any dust gets inside at all, so look for 6 in equipment with a lot of dust.
A conceptual diagram: on the left, dust particles remain only outside the box (the first digit); on the right, the box is submerged in water (the second digit). The number of particles and the depth are not actual values
Dust is the first digit, water is the second digit
Check IP65 or higher outdoors where rain falls, a water digit of 5 or 6 on hose washdown lines, IP67 or higher for pits at risk of temporary immersion, and IP68 for permanent submersion.
Food plants wash their lines often, and some materials call for IP65 or higher; the digit to check differs depending on whether washing uses a hose or a high-pressure washer.
| Installation environment | Code to check first | Also check |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor | IP65 or higher | Outside air temperature, internal condensation |
| Hose washdown | IP65 or IP66 | Strong jets call for a water digit of 6 |
| Temporary immersion | IP67 or higher | How long the immersion lasts |
| Permanent submersion | IP68 | Whether the installation depth and duration are within the specification values |
Broken down by environment, it reads as follows.
Outdoor: a place reached by rain and dust; check IP65 or higher first, along with the outside air temperature and internal condensation
Hose washdown: check a code with a water digit of 5 or 6 (IP65, IP66) first, and if there are strong jets, check that 6 is stated
Temporary immersion: a place that is briefly submerged, such as a pit where water collects; check IP67 or higher, along with the immersion time
Permanent submersion: check IP68 and compare the installation depth and immersion period against the specification values
Even a sealed enclosure can form water droplets inside when the outside air temperature changes sharply, so for outdoor or refrigerated environments also check whether options such as a built-in heater are available.
From the left: an outdoor site reached by rain, washing with a hose spray, and an enclosure submerged in a water-filled pit. The rain and the water stream do not indicate actual volume or pressure
No. IP is a rating for keeping water and dust from entering the enclosure, while explosion protection is a separate requirement so that equipment does not become an ignition source in places with flammable gas or dust.
Even an IP68 actuator without an explosion-proof marking is not grounds for installation in a hazardous area, and even an explosion-proof actuator needs its IP rating checked separately if there is immersion or spray washing.
Electric actuators use a motor, so models with explosion-proof certification are separate, and for a location that needs explosion protection you must first confirm the type of gas or dust and the hazardous area classification.
On the left, water droplets are stopped at the enclosure wall, the direction of IP (from outside to inside); on the right, a flame inside cannot get out to the gas outside the thick wall, the direction of explosion protection (from inside to outside). The bars mark the point where it is blocked
Water and dust are IP, explosion risk is explosion protection
VALVEPARK listens to the installation environment and conditions and suggests a matching product from electric actuators whose protection ratings range from IP54 to IP68.
| Submersion, multi-turn | Rotork IQ3 IP66/IP68 (depth 20 m, 10 days), three-phase power |
| Submersion, quarter-turn | Rotork ROM IP68 (depth 10 m, 100 hours), four communication options |
| Temporary immersion, quarter-turn | EBRO E50-E210 IP67, 6 to 180 seconds for 90 degrees |
| Linear control valve | HORA electric linear MC IP54 as standard, IP65 optional, built-in heater |
| Hygienic line, ball valve | Sanitary SVE-14 3PC electric ball valve, proportional control and explosion-proof options |
The IQ3 is an intelligent multi-turn (opening and closing by turning the shaft several revolutions) electric actuator that uses three-phase power with local and remote control. Its product specification states IP66/IP68 (depth 20 m, 10 days), and it follows the EN 15714-2 and ISA SP96.02 standards.
Rotork ROM: quarter-turn drive where submersion is a concern
The ROM is a compact quarter-turn electric actuator for valves that turn 90 degrees, and its product specification states IP68 (depth 10 m, 100 hours). The communication options are Pakscan, Profibus, Modbus and Foundation Fieldbus.
Power supply: 12/24 VDC, 110, 220, 380 and 440 VAC single-phase and three-phase, 50/60 Hz
Rotork IQ3 on the left, Rotork ROM on the right
EBRO E50-E210: quarter-turn drive for temporary immersion and outdoor use
The E50-E210 is an electric quarter-turn actuator with an EN ISO 5211 (actuator mounting interface standard) mounting face. Its specification sheet states IP67 per EN IEC 60529. The modular E65-E210 models from the same EBRO (nominal torque 100 to 4000 Nm) are also rated IP67.
Operating time: 6 to 180 seconds for 90 degrees (by model), operating temperature -20 to +70 ℃
Power supply: 230 VAC, 400 VAC, 24 VDC (by model), handwheel for emergency manual operation
HORA electric linear MC series: drive for linear control valves
VALVEPARK is an authorized distributor of HORA of Germany and handles specification consultation and quotations for HORA products. The MC series is a microcontroller-controlled linear actuator with a thrust of 4 to 15 kN, and its specification sheet states the protection rating as IP54 as standard and IP65 as an option.
IP54 means dust protection with water splashes from any direction, so for a line with hose spray washdown, check whether it is the optional IP65 specification.
Thrust: MC403 4 kN, MC503 5 kN, MC1003 10 kN, MC1503 15 kN
Ambient temperature: -10 to +60 ℃ (up to +50 ℃ for the MC1503)
Built-in: automatic control heater, safe position signal for freeze protection
EBRO E50-E210 on the left, HORA electric linear actuator (MC series) on the right
Sanitary SVE-14: electric ball valve for food and hygienic lines
The SVE-14 is a Sanitary electric ball valve that combines an electric actuator with a 3PC ball valve with a SUS316 precision-cast body. It is used on remote control and sequence control lines in food and beverage, pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical and secondary battery processes, and its protection rating is checked against the specification of the actuator applied.
Body: SUS316 precision casting, 3PC construction, ISO 5211 direct-mount pad
Options: 4 to 20 mA proportional control specification, explosion-proof actuator specification, small-bore high-speed open-close specification of about 1 second
Sanitary SVE-14 3PC electric ball valve
Q. Is high-pressure washing acceptable with IP67?
IP67 alone does not settle it. The 7 is a temporary immersion rating, while spray (5, 6) and high-pressure, high-temperature water jets (9) are separate digits, so the specification sheet must state the relevant digit to serve as grounds for spray washing. High-pressure washing in food plants can reach 25 to 100 bar, so first check the washing pressure and temperature.
Q. With IP68, how deep and for how long can it be submerged?
The depth and time must be within the values in the model's specification sheet, so compare the installation depth and the period of immersion against those values.
Q. What does it mean when a specification sheet lists two ratings, such as IP66/IP68?
It is a notation that lists both water digits, meaning that 6 is met for strong jets and 8 is met for continuous immersion. It is the notation to look for in environments that have both spray washing and immersion.
If you send the information below, we can start a review to check the protection rating suited to the installation environment and suggest an electric actuator.
1️⃣ Installation environment: indoor or outdoor, washing method (hose or high pressure), and the possibility of immersion (depth and duration)
2️⃣ Valve type, size and required torque
3️⃣ Supply voltage
4️⃣ Control method: ON/OFF or proportional
5️⃣ Quantity
Please contact us if you need a specification sheet or detailed materials.
▸ View product: Rotork IQ3 multi-turn electric actuator
▸ See also: HORA electric linear actuator MC series
Purchase and Inquiries
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