An IP rating for two-way radios is a standard that measures their ability to resist water, dust, and other environmental elements. Two-way radios are essential communication devices for many industries, including security teams, construction sites, emergency responders, and others, where reliable communication can make the difference between life and death. An IP rating guarantees the reliability of your equipment, no matter what environment it’s operating in. The rating was developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

What Does an IP Rating Measure?

“Ingress Protection rating” (IP rating), sometimes referred to as “International Protection Marking”, classifies how well a two-way radio is protected from solids, dust, and liquids.

The IP rating is a series of numbers that indicates how well a two-way radio is protected from these elements.

• The first numeral refers to the protection against solid objects and is rated on a scale from 0 (no protection) to 6 (no ingress of dust).
• The second numeral rates the protection against liquids, using a scale from 0 (no protection) to 9 (high-pressure hot water from different angles).

For more detailed information, you can read about IP ratings on the IEC’s website.

The First Numeral: Protection Against Solids

The first numeral indicates the level of protection from solid foreign objects as follows:

• 0 – No protection
• 1 – Protected against solid foreign objects of 50mm Æ and greater
• 2 – Protected against solid foreign objects of 12.5mm Æ and greater
• 3 – Protected against solid foreign objects of 2.5mm Æ and greater
• 4 – Protected against solid foreign objects of 1.0mm Æ and greater
• 5 – Dust protected
• 6 – Dust-tight

The Second Numeral: Protection Against Water

The second numeral refers to water protection, as follows:

• 0 – No protection
• 1 – Protected against vertically falling water drops
• 2 – Protected against vertically falling water drops when the enclosure is tilted up to 15°
• 3 – Protected against spraying water
• 4 – Protected against splashing water
• 5 – Protected against water jets
• 6 – Protected against powerful water jets
• 7 – Protected against the effects of temporary immersion in water
• 8 – Protected against the effects of continuous immersion in water
• 9 – Protected against high-pressure and temperature water jets

IP Ratings: What to Consider

The most important thing to know about IP ratings is that they are not related to waterproof ratings or drop ratings. This means that if you buy an IP67-rated radio, it does not mean it will withstand a fall from your hand as well as a radio with an IP7 rating; nor does it mean that your radios can only be used in areas where there’s no rain or dust present at all times!

The IP rating is a measure of how well an item will hold up to dust and water. The number in the rating indicates how many millimetres of dust or water can enter the device over a specified period before it fails.

When considering using a new two-way radio solution, it’s important to think about when and where the radios will be used and the environment in which they’ll operate. This will help you choose the right radio hardware for the job. Some radios are designed specifically for harsh environments, such as Samsung’s Rugged range or Sonim’s ultra-rugged smartphones, while others, like VoCoVo’s wireless team communications, are designed for different settings, such as retail.

An IP rating is a way of measuring how well a product can protect itself from the elements. It’s crucial to understand what you’re working with when selecting a two-way radio, especially if it needs to be used in tough conditions.

The good news is that we work with the leading manufacturers and partners in the industry and take pride in matching each client with the best hardware for their specific needs.

Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you choose the right equipment for your business.