What exactly is the difference between IP64, IP65 and IP67?
According to IEC 60529, IP64 means a dust-tight housing and protection against splashing water from any direction. IP65 adds resistance to low pressure water jets (6.3 mm nozzle, 3 m distance, about 12.5 L/min, at least 15 min) on top of dust-tightness. IP67 means dust-tight and resistant to immersion at 1 m depth in still water for 30 minutes.
The first digit of the IP code is solid object protection, the second digit water protection.
- IP64: 6 = dust-tight (full protection), 4 = splashing water from any direction.
- IP65: 6 = dust-tight, 5 = low pressure water jet; 6.3 mm nozzle, 3 m distance, ≈12.5 L/min flow, at least 15 minutes.
- IP67: 6 = dust-tight, 7 = temporary immersion; 1 m depth in still water, 30 minutes.
The most frequent mistake is to think the second digit is cumulative. Immersion tests (IPX7/IPX8) and jet tests (IPX5/IPX6) are different tests. A housing declared IP67 does not automatically mean it withstands high pressure jets; if both are required, a dual rating is declared, for example IP66/IP67.
On AXI products: the LF200 remote (SF100/SF200) is IP64, the LT200 remote (ST100/ST200) is IP67. The ST200 and SF200 receivers are IP67 outdoor types; no protection class is stated in the product records for the in-enclosure LF100R receiver of the SF100/ST100.
Finally, the IP code is the test result for a new product; it does not guarantee that the sealing will last; ageing seals and loosened cover screws reduce the protection.
Full article: Complete guide to IP protection classes