EN 60529 Certification
EN 60529 refers to the “Degrees of Protection Provided By Enclosures (IP Code)”, an international standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission.
EN 60529 defines a system for classifying and rating the degrees of protection provided by mechanical casings and electrical enclosures. This can be against weather conditions such as intrusion, dust, solid particles, accidental contact with corrosive solvents, and water.
EN 60529 IP Code Classification
EN 60529 divides protection levels for electrical enclosures into ” degrees of protection provided by enclosures ” (IP Code), with IP codes ranging from IP00 to IP68. The letters “IP” stand for “ingress protection” or “international protection”.
EN 60529 consists of two digits: The first digit indicates the degree of protection that the enclosure provides against access to hazardous parts (ingress protection or solid foreign object protection). The second digit indicates the degree of protection that the enclosure provides against harmful ingress of water (water protection).
| IP00 – no protection | IP00 – no protection |
| IP1x – protected against solid foreign objects larger than 50 mm (2.0 in) | IPx1 – protected against low pressure, low-temperature spray downs |
| IP2x – protected against solid foreign objects larger than 12.5 mm (0.49 in) | IPx2 – protected against dripping water when tilted up to 15° from its normal position |
| IP3x – protected against solid foreign objects larger than 2.5 mm (0.098 in) | IPx3 – protected against spraying water 60° from its normal position |
| IP4x – protected against solid foreign objects larger than 1.0 mm (0.039 in) | IPx4 – protected against spraying water coming from any position |
| IP5x – protected against dust; limited ingress (no harmful deposit) | IPx5 – protected against low-pressure water jets from any direction with limited ingress permitted |
| IP6x – protected against dust; limited ingress (no harmful deposit) with complete protection against contact | IPx6 – protected against powerful high-pressure, high-temperature spray downs from any direction with limited ingress permitted |
| IPx7 – protected against the effects of temporary immersion between 15 cm (5.9 in) and 1 m (3.3 ft) with limited ingress permitted | |
| IPx8 – protected against the effects of temporary immersion between 1 m (3.3 ft) and 3 m (9.8 ft) with limited ingress permitted |
IP for Lithium Battery Electrical Equipment
EN 60529 does not define specific degrees of protection or IP code for lithium electrical equipment. However, it is important for all lithium battery electrical equipment to attain the highest IP rating possible to ensure the safety of the user and the equipment. The following lists the maximum IP code for some common types of lithium batteries:
Type of Battery – Maximum IP Rating
Lithium-ion – IP67
Lithium-polymer – IP68
Lithium-iron phosphate – IP69K
These measures are necessary to protect people from coming into contact with the battery’s electrical terminals, which could result in an electric shock.
It is important to note that the EN60529 standard does not cover mechanical impact or ingress of objects other than water and dust. For example, the standard does not offer degrees of protection against drops or intentional damage.
IP67
IP67 means that the battery is dust-tight and can withstand being submerged in water for up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter. IP67 lithium batteries are typically used in applications where the battery may be exposed to dust or water like dump trucks, such as in outdoor equipment or in marine environments.
IP68
IP68means that the battery is dust-tight and can withstand being submerged in water for up to 30 minutes at a depth of 3 meters. IP68 lithium batteries are in equipment, such as underwater equipment or car washes. This means that you can get IP68 degrees of protection for your lithium batteries by placing them in a watertight container.
IP69K
IP69K is the highest possible complete protection against high-pressure, high-temperature water sprays. This level of protection is typically only required for products that will be used in very hostile environments, such as in-car washes. The battery may be exposed to a high-water flow rate.
The common IP codes include:
IP44; IP54; IP55; IP65; IP66; IP67; IP68; IP69K
IP Ratings on LEV Lithium-ion Batteries
The ever-increasing manufacturing and use of LEVs have made the EN60529 standard more relevant than ever. EN60529 defines four specific degrees of protection that are relevant to LEVs:
IP64 – Dust-tight and Protected against spraying water coming from any position
IP65 – Dust-tight and Protected against vertically falling drops of water to withstand high-pressure
IP66 – Dust-tight and Protected against heavy seas or powerful and regular intensive cleaning from all directions
IP67 – Dust-tight and Protected against immersion in water
The EN 60529 standard is important for all LEVs to ensure the safety of the user and the equipment against the degrees of protection provided.
At Tritek, we ensure that all the LEV batteries that we manufacture attain the EN60529 standard. This is to make sure that our products are of the highest quality and meet all the safety regulations. All our LEV batteries will have a label with IP Code stating the EN60529 standard that they have met.
Our team of engineers is always working to improve the IP rating of our batteries. We are constantly striving to provide our customers with the best products possible.
Your e-bike, e-motorcycle, e-scooter, e-moped, e-cargo bike, etc. pass EN60529 certification minimum for IPx4 and IPx5 for all our lithium-ion batteries. For example, our inner tube battery has IP67 as a plus. And of course, if you have your own design for a battery our specialists will provide any desired protection from water and solid objects.
If you have any questions about EN60529 or any of our other products, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Importance of Ingress Protection Rating for Lithium Battery Products
Degrees of protection are important for any electrical equipment that contain lithium batteries. The higher the Ingress Protection rating, the better the protection against harmful effects of water and dust.
If a lithium battery is damaged by external influences either by water or dust, it can short circuit and catch fire. This is why it is so important to ensure that products containing lithium batteries have a high IP rating.
Some of the benefits include:
- It protects consumers from electric shock
- It helps to ensure the safety of the product
- It increases the lifespan of the electrical equipment
- It reduces the need for repairs and replacements
Requirements for EN60529 certification
Manufacturers of lithium-based products must follow the following:
- Submit a Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
- Submit a Technical Construction File (TCF)
They must also present a piece of the lithium product that will be used for the EN60529 Ingress Protection Code test.
The EN60529 certification test duration is 2 weeks before the manufacturer can get EN60529 certification for their products.
EN 60529:2017 includes several new requirements that were not in previous versions of the standard.
IP EN 60529 Certification Process
In order to obtain the EN 60529 Certification, products must go through a rigorous testing process. This process is designed to ensure that electrical equipment meets the highest typical minimum requirements of the standard, safety, and quality.
The EN 60529 Certification process includes the following steps:
- Testing: Products must be tested to ensure that they meet the standard.
- Certification: Products that pass the EN60529 standard are then certified by an accredited certification body.
- Marking: Products that are certified must be marked with the appropriate certification mark.
- Testing and certification is an ongoing process, and products must be retested and recertified on a regular basis to ensure that they continue to meet the EN60529 standards.
The EN 60529 Certification is a mandatory certification for all products to attain EN60529 certified symbol. We ensure that all our products go through EN 60529 certified process minimum for IPx4 and IPx5.
Tritek battery has ensured that all our lithium products adhere to this international safety standard and have EN 60529 certification. We maintain IP67 for many of our products.
This is the most recent (and therefore highest) IP class that applies to our products, as it was only introduced in 2013. EN 60529:2017 is the European Norm that defines an IP rating system. The standard is also used internationally, and the ratings are often referred to as IP Codes.
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