Ingress Protection Testing for Electronics

Ingress Protection Testing: Electronics in Water and Dust

Ingress testing, also known as IP testing, is the best way to find out whether your products are able to withstand sand, dirt, dust and water.

Useful for all sorts of commercial and industrial products, IP testing is standard for the kind of electronics that consumers love. From TVs able to operate in dusty homes to portable speakers designed to be taken out on a muddy hike, ingress testing makes it possible.

What is IP testing?

To find out how successfully a product can withstand the ingress of gas or solids, it is tested in line with IP ratings. Also known as Ingress Protection ratings, these criteria are set by the International Electrotechnical Commission and are used to determine the level of protection a device has.

What does ingress testing measure?

Ingress testing is designed to measure two major elements:

• Infiltration of water
• Infiltration of dust

In an IP rating, you will first see the letter ‘IP’ and then two digits. The first indicates the level of protection against the ingress of solids, like dust, and the second shows protection against water.

For a breakdown of ingress protection ratings and how they work, be sure to check out our IP Ratings Chart.

What products are suitable for ingress testing?

There are a number of ways to test the ingress of your products, with the more traditional being immersion in water. At Industrial Physics, our years of expertise have led us to the fact that air leak testing is a cost-saving and highly efficient method of ingress testing.

Why do we recommend air? Because it:

• Has low density and viscosity and can penetrate leak paths 25 times faster than water
• Is non-destructive allowing for rework or repair of the device
• Reduces testing time to seconds per unit using high resolution instruments
• Allows test systems to be arranged in a way that allows multiple part testing configurations

Our recommended products are the:

TME Solution: Leak or Leak Flow Test System

An easy-to-use machine that provides a complete turnkey solution to your leak and flow testing needs, especially when used in conjunction with the custom fixtures, accessories, and engineering support we can provide.

The Smart TME WORKER Integra

An intelligent leak flow testing instrument with a small internal volume, which contributes to high sensitivity, repeatability, and reliability. Thanks to the icon-based touchscreen, it’s also nice and easy to control the test parameters, examine statistical analysis of results or download data files.

Looking for some support with your ingress testing solution?

Our years of experience in a wide range of industries, from medical equipment to electronics, means we’re the perfect people to help you with your testing products and procedures. Whether you’re still at the research and development stage or you have a legacy product that needs a new testing solution, we’ll support you every step of the way. To find out more, just get in touch.