Understanding Ingress Protection

Learn more about the importance of ensuring your equipment can perform the IP rating specified. 

IP (or Ingress Protection) classification indicates the capacity of the enclosure to resist ingress of objects, dust or water.

Our Fan Filters are IP54 as standard when provided with G3 filter media and IP55 as an option. For those with IP55 protection level, G4 filter media is supplied but please note that airflow rates are reduced through using thicker superior ingress protected filter media. IP56 can be achieved by adding a stainless steel filter cover designed for outdoor or food industry applications.

Roof Fans, dependent on the model are IP23, IP54 or IP55 rated. Please check each individual item for the specific ingress protection rating. 

Our ATEX, EC & IP68 frame axial fans are ingress protected to IP68 due to their fully encapsulated motor, making them both dust and liquid tight for full emersion up to 8 hours under pressure. For more information on the IP rating required for your application or the specific product line, contact us on 01782 349 430.

Objects, dust, or water may enter the motor providing they cannot have any detrimental effect upon its operation, therefore, we always suggest you choose the correct IP Rating for your application prior to operation. 

The first step of knowing if your cabinet fan filter units’ IP rating is up to scratch, is knowing exactly what degree of protection your cabinet needs based on its surroundings. An ingress protection rating (IP) is usually followed by 2 numbers. The first represents solid ingress, the second water. The maximum IP rating is IP68 and signifies a 100% dust tight product that is also 100% waterproof even when immersed underwater for long periods. 

The standard IP rating for an enclosure is IP55/54. Axair fan filter units are IP54 as standard but are available in IP55 on request.

Axair’s Italian supplier partner Fandis conducted in house tests on our standard IP54 fan filters versus some of our leading competitor fan filters. As expected, our fan filters performed exactly as the Ingress Protection Rating states but some of our competitors did not perform their stated IP rating. The water ingress rating experiment was performed in accordance with EN60529 and the aim was to test the water tightness. Filters were mounted in a light box and placed in the middle of an oscillating tube. During the test the fan is supplied at 50 Hz (or DV voltage). If there is no water penetration, the test is passed, otherwise, the quantity of water is measured and it is checked where the penetration occurs. If water sprays onto the internal side of the enclosure, the test is not passed. Moreover, if it leaks onto the base box, water must be less than 3 ml in order to pass the test. Whilst our fan filter unit stayed completely dry inside, our competitors did not.

Making sure your equipment can perform the IP rating specified is essential. The results of the IP failing could cause irreparable damage to the equipment inside and unforeseen downtime both of which are an additional unplanned cost.

To buy or browse our range of fan filter units, components and accessories for enclosures please click here.