The IP rating system is an enclosure protection classification system developed by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) and adopted globally. In an IP code, the first digit indicates protection against solid foreign objects (including dust), ranging from 0 to 6; the second digit denotes protection against liquids (water), ranging from 0 to 9K.

Definition of IP68

▶ "6" = Dust-tight: No dust ingress into the enclosure. 

▶ "8" = Protection against continuous immersion: The enclosure can withstand continuous immersion under conditions agreed between the manufacturer and user. Such conditions shall be more stringent than those for IP67. (IP67 requirement: Immersion at a depth of 1 m for 30 minutes.)

It should be particularly noted that unlike IP67 with fixed test conditions, IEC 60529 does not specify a unified immersion depth and duration for IPX8 (the "8" water protection class). The specific test parameters (e.g., 1.5 m depth / 30 min, 3 m depth / 1 h) must be clearly defined by the manufacturer in the product specification and recorded truthfully in the test report. Therefore, the IP68 protection performance of different products cannot be directly compared horizontally without reviewing the agreed test conditions.

IP68 testing verifies the enclosure’s protection against dust and liquid ingress by conducting a full dust test and continuous immersion test in accordance with the above standard. 

Reference: IEC 60529:1989+A1:1999+A2:2013, Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code)

Typical Products Requiring IP68 Testing

Any product claiming IP68 protection shall be verified via third-party testing. Typical product categories include:

▶ Consumer Electronics: Smartphones, tablets, smartwatches/bands, TWS earbuds and charging cases, action cameras. 

▶ Industrial & Outdoor Equipment: Industrial sensors, outdoor electrical junction boxes, rugged handheld industrial terminals, underwater inspection instruments. 

▶ Automotive Electronics: Vehicle cameras, tyre pressure sensors, new energy vehicle charging connector assemblies, ECU controllers. 

▶ Medical Devices: Portable patient monitors, handheld diagnostic devices, handheld medical terminals. 

▶ Security & Communication Equipment: Outdoor surveillance cameras, outdoor communication junction boxes, street light controllers. 

▶ IoT & Smart Hardware: Smart water/gas meter acquisition terminals, outdoor smart locks, wireless sensor nodes.

IP68 Test Standards, Test Methods and Pass Criteria

Equivalent technical content for the two standards below

IP68 testing consists of two independent test items:

IP6X Dust-tightness Test

▶ Place the sample inside a dust chamber. Use talcum powder with particle size ≤75 μm as test dust, maintain dust concentration at 2 kg/m³ for 8 hours. For sealed enclosures, apply a pressure differential of approximately 2 kPa between the interior and exterior of the enclosure via a vacuum pump to simulate adverse conditions that may drive dust ingress. 

▶ Pass Criterion: No dust enters the enclosure upon test completion.

IPX8 Continuous Immersion Test

▶ Fully submerge the sample in fresh water for the agreed depth and duration defined in the product specification. The standard requires agreed conditions to be no less stringent than IP67 (1 m depth, 30 minutes immersion). Common commercial agreed conditions include 1.5 m /30 min, 3 m /30 min. The client (manufacturer) shall specify parameters prior to testing, which will be documented in the test report. The temperature difference between water and sample shall not exceed 5 K during testing. After the test, inspect the enclosure for harmful water ingress. 

▶ Pass Criterion: No harmful water ingress; the amount of water entering shall not impair normal product operation or safety.

Note: An IP68 test report must clearly state the agreed test depth and duration. Reports only marked "IP68 passed" without test conditions contain incomplete information and may be challenged during customer audits or platform qualification reviews.

FAQ

What is the difference between IP68 and IP67?

IP67 requires immersion at 1 m depth for 30 minutes with fixed standard test conditions. The test depth and duration for IP68 are not fixed by the standard but defined by the manufacturer in product specifications, and must be more stringent than IP67. Therefore IP68 represents a higher level of water resistance than IP67. However, IP68 ratings of different products cannot be directly compared unless their agreed test conditions are specified.

What is the difference between IP68 and IP69K?

They address different application scenarios and are not simply ranked by severity. IP68 targets continuous immersion scenarios; IP69K (per DIN 40050-9 / ISO 20653) targets high-pressure high-temperature spray (water approx. 80°C, pressure 80–100 bar), commonly used for automotive and industrial washdown environments. Passing IP69K does not imply passing IP68, and vice versa. Separate tests are required if both protections are needed.

Do I need to define immersion depth and duration before commissioning IP68 testing?

Yes, this is mandatory. IEC 60529 does not set unified test conditions for IPX8. The immersion depth and duration must be specified by the manufacturer prior to sample submission and recorded as agreed conditions in the test report. If you have not yet defined them, our engineers can assist in setting reasonable parameters according to your product’s actual application scenario.

Can the IP68 test report be used for Amazon cross-border e-commerce platforms?

CNAS-accredited English test reports issued in compliance with IEC 60529 are recognised under the ILAC-MRA mutual recognition framework across major global markets and generally satisfy qualification review requirements of mainstream cross-border e-commerce platforms. However, platform rules are subject to change; confirmation against the latest platform requirements is recommended.

Email：Kobe@xinwei-test.com