The degree of protection of electronic devices from dust and moisture is indicated by IP certification (from the English. Ingress Protection, i.e. “protection against ingress”). The standard was introduced by the International Electrotechnical Commission and is written as two numbers after the prefix IP: the first determines the degree of protection against dust and microparticles, the second - the level of protection against the ingress of liquids.

IP Certification

IP certification is assigned to tested gadgets during independent testing by accredited agents. For tests, dust chambers with talcum powder, spray guns and water tanks are used. According to the results of the experiments, the devices receive a certificate with a two-digit number after the IP prefix. The first digit in it says about the resistance to the penetration of dust and microparticles:

  • IP 0 X - no protection against dust is provided;
  • IP 1 X - protection against penetration into the structure of solid objects larger than 50 mm;
  • IP 2 X - protection against solid objects with a diameter of more than 12 mm;
  • IP 3 X - objects with a diameter of more than 2.5 mm cannot enter the structure;
  • IP 4 X - the design does not allow the ingress of objects with a diameter of more than 1 mm;
  • IP 5 X - reduced probability of dust penetration into the structure (it can get there in small quantities, but will not harm the device);
  • IP 6 X - absolute dust tightness.
With IP68 protection, you can safely swim in the pool.

The second digit in the IP marking has much more weight - it is it that describes the waterproofness of the device under test:

  • IPX 0 - there is no water protection;
  • IPX 1 - protection against vertically falling water droplets;
  • IPX 2 - splash proof up to 15° vertically;
  • IPX 3 splash proof up to 60° vertically;
  • IPX 4 - protection against water splashes from any direction;
  • IPX 5 - protection against water flows from any direction;
  • IPX 6 - protection against the effects of powerful water jets;
  • IPX 7 - protection against full or partial short-term immersion under water (to a depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes);
  • IPX 8 - protection against prolonged immersion under water to a depth of more than 1 meter.
Important! If the device passes the test for only one parameter, one of the numbers in the certification is not indicated - instead of it, the symbol "X" is put. Hence the entries in the form of IPX7.
IP68 Smartphones

Electronic devices with a seven or eight on the “tip of the tail” of the IP prefix are considered completely waterproof. In fact, it is often assumed that gadgets marked IP67 are not afraid of short-term immersions, and those marked IP68 can withstand long-term immersion to greater depths. Specific restrictions on the depth and duration of stay under water should be specified in the official documentation for the device.

A separate story in this marking is the IP69K label. It is assigned to cases of products that can withstand high-temperature pressure washing. Those. hot jets of water under strong pressure. In practice, such capabilities can be useful to people whose activities are associated with extreme conditions - rescuers, firefighters, military personnel, etc. But for ordinary underwater use, it hardly makes sense to purchase such a device - for this, the IP68 protection level is quite enough.

The procedure for obtaining the IP69K certification involves high-temperature washing of the tested gadget under pressure.

IP dust and moisture resistance index is assigned to smartphones, smartwatches and fitness trackers, portable audio speakers, laptops, action cameras and other electronics.

IP69 mobile phones

American military standard MIL-STD-810 and its variants

Today, in the specifications of smartphones and other electronic devices, certification according to the MIL-STD-810 standard (with the letters G and H at the end) is increasingly common. It establishes certain levels of protection of electrical equipment from environmental factors. Initially, the tests for stress resistance were those devices that were supplied to the US Army. Hence the strict requirements for the equipment under test.

The first version of the standard was introduced by the US Department of Defense in 1962. It has undergone many changes over the years. Each new version of the standard is indicated by a letter of the Latin alphabet at the end. And the further the letter in the alphabet, the more modern version of the certificate. So, since the end of 2008, the MIL-STD-810G specification has been in effect, and in 2019, the version of the MIL-STD-810H standard was approved.

Initially, equipment for the US Army was tested according to the MIL-STD-810 standard.

The equipment is tested to US military protection standards to simulate real-life challenges that you might encounter. The level of resistance of the product to shocks during falls and shakes is checked, vibration tests are carried out, the operation of the device is tested in a wide temperature range, in rain, in fog, under the influence of sand, dust, etc. The MIL-STD-810 standard and its specifications cover the most comprehensive set of environmental tests.

MIL-STD-810 Smartphones

In most cases, the MIL-STD-810G / H tab is received by gadgets with shockproof properties. In the G version, they are dropped at different angles and from different heights onto a sheet of plywood placed on a concrete floor. Specification H replaced the plywood with an inch-thick steel plate that also rests on the "bare" concrete. In addition, options such as falling from a truck and helicopter, while unloading a ship or dropping with a parachute are considered. Those. the requirements of the new edition of the standard for the devices under test have become tougher.

Since 2019, a new edition of the American military standard MIL-STD-810 has been used with the Latin letter H at the end.

The issue of certification according to the American military standard was not without pitfalls. Since obtaining the MIL-STD-810 badge is not strictly regulated, some cunning vendors conduct tests literally on one or two points of the programme. For example, for exposure to extreme temperatures or the explosiveness of the gadget (tests are carried out in a special chamber). Neither resistance to falls, nor dust and water protection in this case is out of the question. But the stigma "MIL-STD-810 Certified" is assigned to the device. Therefore, it is important to pay attention not only to its presence, but also to the ways in which certification was carried out.

Manufacturers often decide for themselves which items to test the device for compliance with the MIL-STD-810G / H standard.

Finally, about the main thing. Remember that the presence of IP67 / 68 or MIL-STD-810G / H tabs does not guarantee anything 100% and does not oblige the manufacturer to replace the device if it suddenly cracked after a fall or “choked” with water. However, the chance to survive with all sorts of negative environmental influences for gadgets certified according to various protection standards is still much higher than for ordinary “classmates”.