IPX Waterproof Rating Guide

The IPX standard gives you a clearer picture of how water resistant the item is, compared to vague marketing terms such as 'waterproof'.

The IP Code (or Ingress Protection Rating, sometimes also interpreted as International Protection Rating) consists of the letters IP followed by two digits or one digit and one letter and an optional letter.

As defined in international standard IEC 60529, IP Code classifies and rates the degrees of protection provided against the intrusion of solid objects (including body parts like hands and fingers), dust, accidental contact, and water in mechanical casings and with electrical enclosures.

The digits (characteristic numerals) indicate conformity with the conditions summarized in the tables below. Where there is no protection rating with regard to one of the criteria, the digit is replaced with the letter X. IPX-7 rating is more than enough for outdoor sporting requirements.

The top ratings

Both ratings ensure complete protection against solids.

Due to this they are both fully covered against dust, sand and dirt. Furthermore, both IP67 and IP68 ratings offer excellent protection against splashes.

On the other hand, what defines the difference between the two, it’s the submersion in water.

The resistance to water is defined by the manufacturer that set the conditions for IP67 and IP68.

RugGear devices with IP67 rating can be fully submerged in fresh water to a depth of 0.5 m, for 30 minutes.

So with the higher IP68 rating, the device has even more protection, allowing it to be submerged to a depth of 1.5 m for up to one hour.

Note that this guarantee applies only to non-corrosive liquids, such as fresh water and salt water. A key benefit of this is the increased strength of the phones, able to survive the most challenging situations.