IP (Ingress Protection) testing is a fundamental process for evaluating the effectiveness of enclosures in protecting electronic devices from the ingress of external agents, such as dust and water. Ensuring an adequate degree of protection is essential to guarantee the operational durability, reliability, and electrical safety of components intended for civil, industrial, or harsh environments.
INTEK S.p.A., an independent testing and measurement laboratory founded in 1994, supports companies in validating their products through rigorous test protocols and state-of-the-art instrumentation. Thanks to its ACCREDIA accreditation (No. 00855) and extensive technical expertise, INTEK serves as a strategic partner for manufacturers and designers, providing the reliable and traceable measurements necessary for accessing international markets and complying with European directives.
The INTEK laboratory performs compliance testing for all levels of protection required by standards, using state-of-the-art automated equipment.
Validating protection ratings requires rigorous management of physical variables to accurately replicate environmental stresses. The video illustrates INTEK’s metrological approach to conducting exposure tests involving water jets and dust particles:
Water Flow Management: precise adjustment of flow rate (L/min) and impact pressure based on the distance of the nozzle from the sample, ensuring full compliance with the parameters prescribed by the EN 60529 standard.
Accuracy of Exposure: use of automated rotating platforms and goniometric targeting systems to ensure that every critical point of the device—from cable glands to user interfaces—is subjected to the stress.
Monitoring of Critical Parameters: continuous recording of water temperature (essential for IPX9 high-pressure tests) and exposure duration, with data acquisition for final compliance validation.
The verification procedures conducted in the laboratory follow international standards that define the technical requirements and test methods for the classification of enclosures.
Details of the automated instrumentation and technical installations used to ensure the highest metrological rigor in the verification of protection ratings.
INTEK’s approach is not limited to simple passive verification. In various industrial contexts, IP sealing tests are used as an analytical tool during the product development phase. Thanks to the technical team’s expertise, INTEK offers support to identify structural weaknesses in enclosures, suggesting improvements to optimize weather resistance and reduce the risk of field failures, transforming the test into a true investment in product reliability.
INTEK provides a comprehensive compliance verification service for the entire range of IP protection ratings, ensuring precise, repeatable measurements that fully meet the requirements of international standards. Our laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art automated systems specifically designed to perform the IPX9 test (protection against high-pressure, high-temperature water jets).
As part of an integrated approach to durability and safety validation, INTEK also supports manufacturers in evaluating the corrosion resistance of materials and surface treatments through salt spray testing, offering multidisciplinary technical support for the certification of products operating in industrial, marine, or harsh environments.
The first digit (0 to 6) indicates the degree of protection against the ingress of solids and access to hazardous parts; the second (0 to 9) indicates resistance to the ingress of liquids.
It is a fundamental requirement for devices intended for use in industrial, outdoor, or marine environments to ensure safety and functionality. It is often required for compliance with the Low Voltage Directive.
Yes, the laboratory also assists customers with salt spray testing to evaluate the corrosion resistance of materials and surface coatings.
Download the service brochure IP Testing by INTEK.
INTEK supports the customer at every stage of the process: preliminary analysis, selection of standards, development of the test plan, execution of tests, and preparation of technical documentation.
Contact us for technical advice or a customized quote.
