IP Testing Equipment

IP Testing Equipment | IEC 60529 Access and Water Ingress Test Systems

IP testing equipment measures how effectively an enclosure blocks entry to hazardous parts and keeps water out, as defined by IEC 60529. Manufacturers, certification laboratories, and safety engineers rely on these systems to back up the IP rating printed on a product. Qualitest's Quali-IPX™ range includes access probes and test systems for every water level from IPX1 through IPX8. Each system recreates the exact geometry the standard specifies.

An IP code has two parts, and each calls for different hardware. Probes address the first characteristic numeral, which asks whether a hand, finger, tool, or wire can touch something hazardous. Drip, spray, jet, and immersion systems address the second numeral, where water exposure grows more severe at each level. Most laboratories build out their range in stages.

Applications

IP verification is part of nearly every product safety standard that addresses enclosure protection. The sectors below test to IEC 60529 as a requirement for market access.

• Lighting and Luminaires: qualifies indoor, outdoor, and submersible fixtures against the ingress requirements referenced in IEC 60598-1
• Household Appliances: checks wet-area and outdoor appliances against the water and access conditions in IEC 60335-1
• Automotive Components: tests sensors, connectors, control modules, and charging hardware exposed to spray, wash-down, and standing water
• Consumer Electronics and Wearables: supports the immersion claims printed on handsets, watches, and hearables
• Switchgear and Control Panels: confirms that terminals and busbars cannot be reached by fingers or tools through ventilation openings
• Power Tools and Portable Equipment: qualifies hand-held tools under IEC 60745-1 for job-site conditions and hose cleaning
• Food and Beverage Processing: tests control boxes and drive housings that undergo daily sanitation wash-down
• Third-Party Certification Laboratories: creates a single IP code capability that spans both access and water testing

IP Testing Equipment Range

The Quali-IPX™ range is modular, so a laboratory can purchase only the levels it certifies against. Products are grouped by the characteristic numeral they verify.

Access Probes (First Characteristic Numeral)

• Quali-IPX™ TPS IP Test Probe Set: four access probes covering additional letters A through D, including the 12 mm jointed test finger, used to confirm clearance from hazardous parts under Clause 15.2.

Dripping and Spraying Water (IPX1 to IPX4)

• Quali-IPX™ DBT Drip Box Tester: a drip plate with 2,601 nozzles on a 20 mm grid and a tilting turntable, covering vertical drip and the 15° IPX2 sequence.
• Quali-IPX™ OTT Oscillating Tube Tester: a fixed-installation semicircular tube offered in eight radii, sweeping the 120° IPX3 arc and the near-360° IPX4 arc.
• Quali-IPX™ SN Hand-Held Spray Nozzle: the Figure 5 alternative to the tube, with 121 ports and a movable shield, suited to specimens too large for a fixed arc.
• Quali-IPX™ WTC Waterproof Test Chamber: a drip plate and oscillating tube combined in one stainless steel chamber, sized for watches, handsets, and battery packs.

Water Jets (IPX5 and IPX6)

• Quali-IPX™ WJT Water Jet Tester: a dual-pump supply console with PLC flow control that accurately meters both the 12.5 L/min and 100 L/min delivery rates.
• Quali-IPX™ JNS Water Jet Nozzle Set: the 6.3 mm and 12.5 mm nozzles mounted on a gauged jet handle, intended for laboratories that already have a regulated water supply.

Immersion (IPX7 and IPX8)

• Quali-IPX™ WIT Water Immersion Tank: a stainless steel vessel that holds the 1 m water column required for IPX7 and can be pressurized to simulate 30 m, 50 m, or 100 m of depth for IPX8.

Specimen Handling

• Quali-IPX™ WT Waterproof Turntable: a stainless steel carrier rated to 100 kg with 0° to 15° inclination, supporting drip, spray, and jet stations.

How to Choose the Right IP Testing Equipment

• Starting an IP capability: begin with the Quali-IPX™ TPS probe set, because access verification applies to every first-numeral declaration.
• Indoor and lightly exposed products: the Quali-IPX™ DBT handles the IPX1 and IPX2 drip levels that most enclosures claim.
• Outdoor luminaires and appliances: the Quali-IPX™ OTT covers routine IPX3 and IPX4 testing as fixed plant equipment.
• Large or awkward specimens: the Quali-IPX™ SN and JNS can reach cabinets and installed equipment that will not fit in a chamber.
• Small electronics with limited floor space: the Quali-IPX™ WTC brings all four lower water levels together in a single chamber.
• Wash-down and pressure-cleaned products: the Quali-IPX™ WJT supplies the jet rates that IPX5 and IPX6 require.
• Wearables, handsets, and sealed components: the Quali-IPX™ WIT covers both immersion levels in one vessel.
• Any station that rotates or tilts a specimen: add the Quali-IPX™ WT turntable.

Why Choose Qualitest for Your IP Testing Equipment

Qualitest provides testing and measurement equipment to laboratories and manufacturers throughout North America and around the world, supported by responsive technical assistance and calibration service. Our IP testing equipment is designed for dependable, standards-based results, so you can rely on a single supplier as your testing needs expand. Our team will help you match the right configuration to your samples, applicable standards, and throughput, and will support you through installation and beyond.

Request a Quote

Let us know which IP code you need to certify against, the size of your specimens, and whether you are launching a new capability or expanding an existing one. Contact the Qualitest team for pricing, lead times, and configuration advice.