When selecting a linear actuator for a project, there are many different things to consider. Stroke, speed, physical dimensions, and force requirements are the most common, but there are other things that you may need to account for when choosing an actuator to include in your design. Some customers require their actuators to be dustproof, waterproof, or water-resistant. These customers typically want to know what our actuators carry for an IP rating.
- IP Rating Meaning
- The IEC 60529 Standard
- How IP Rating Works
- What the Numbers in an IP Rating Mean
- What are the Extra Letters at the End of an IP Rating?
- Why Are IP Ratings Important?
- Static Testing vs. Actuator Motion
- Choosing the Right Protection Level for Your Application
- Do Actuonix Actuators Carry an IP Rating?
- Conclusion
- Common Questions About IP Ratings
IP Rating Meaning
IP, which stands for International Protection Marking (or Ingress Protection Marking), is a universally recognized system of rating the degree of protection provided against intrusion for mechanical casings and, in our case, electrical devices. Simply put, it's a rating for how resistant a product is to water and dust.
The IEC 60529 Standard
IP ratings aren't a marketing term manufacturers invented on their own. They're defined by IEC 60529, an international standard from the International Electrotechnical Commission, and the standard spells out exact test conditions for every rating, down to the size of the probe used to test solid ingress and the pressure, volume, and duration of water exposure for liquid ingress. That precision is the whole point: an IP54 rating from one manufacturer means the same thing as an IP54 rating from another, which isn't true of a term like "water resistant."
How IP Rating Works
Simply put, an item that carries an IP rating will have the letters 'IP' followed by two numbers, for example, IP24. There are other designations that can follow the numbers; these represent additional, more specific testing. For the purposes of electronic devices, just understanding the basic numbers will do just fine. There is a drop-test component to the IP numbers as well, but at this time it is not yet widely used.
What the Numbers in an IP Rating Mean
The first number indicates how much protection the enclosure provides against foreign objects such as parts, wires, or dust. The second covers protection against the ingress of water. Both scales are defined precisely under IEC 60529. Here's the full breakdown for each.
Solid Particle Protection Scale (First Digit)
| Rating | Protection Level |
|---|---|
| 0 | No protection |
| 1 | Protected against solid objects larger than 50mm |
| 2 | Protected against solid objects larger than 12.5mm |
| 3 | Protected against solid objects larger than 2.5mm |
| 4 | Protected against solid objects larger than 1mm |
| 5 | Dust protected. Limited ingress permitted but will not interfere with operation |
| 6 | Dust tight. No ingress of dust whatsoever |
Liquids get a longer scale than solids, mainly because there's more physical variation between a light drip and a high-pressure jet than there is between different sizes of dust and debris.
Liquid Protection Scale (Second Digit)
| Rating | Protection Level |
|---|---|
| 0 | No protection |
| 1 | Protected against vertically dripping water |
| 2 | Protected against dripping water at up to 15° from vertical |
| 3 | Protected against spraying water at up to 60° from vertical |
| 4 | Protected against splashing water from all directions |
| 5 | Protected against low-pressure water jets from any direction |
| 6 | Protected against high-pressure water jets |
| 7 | Protected against temporary immersion up to 1 meter depth for 30 minutes |
| 8 | Protected against continuous submersion under conditions specified by the manufacturer |
| 9K | Protected against high-pressure, high-temperature wash-down jets |
A higher second digit doesn't automatically cover the protections of a lower one. IPX7 confirms an actuator survived a submersion test. It says nothing about whether that same actuator would survive a high-pressure jet, since the two tests load the seals in completely different ways. A manufacturer that wants to claim both has to test for and report both ratings on their own.
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What are the Extra Letters at the End of an IP Rating?
In addition to the two main digits in an IP rating, you may also encounter extra letters at the end, which provide more specific information about the product's protection level. These letters offer details such as resistance to oil, high voltage, or even weather conditions like extreme cold. For instance, the letter 'F' indicates resistance to oil, while 'H' signifies high voltage protection. These additional markers can be crucial for ensuring that the actuator meets the unique demands of your specific application, offering peace of mind that the device will perform reliably under specialized conditions.
Why Are IP Ratings Important?
You don't want to buy a linear actuator, or any electrical device, that cannot withstand the conditions that it will be subjected to. Understanding how IP ratings work is important to make sure that you choose a device that offers adequate or superior protection to what you require.
Related Post: What is Duty Cycle?
Static Testing vs. Actuator Motion
IP testing under IEC 60529 happens on a stationary device. That distinction matters more for linear actuators than for most electrical enclosures, because a linear actuator's whole function depends on a shaft sliding in and out through a wiping seal. At rest, the seal holds one position and maintains a steady barrier against dust and moisture. In motion, that same seal is dragging against a moving surface while the actuator's internal volume is also changing as the shaft extends and retracts.
That's also why a fully waterproof linear actuator isn't a simple upgrade. Sealing the shaft completely would mean making the housing airtight as well as watertight, since the same gap that lets water in is the gap that lets air in to fill the space behind the shaft as it extends. Seal that gap and you create an internal vacuum on every extension, which drags on the motor, pulls more current, shortens the actuator's working life, and adds friction that's increasingly hard to justify on a micro actuator once you get past IP67 or IP69K.
Without an "M" suffix, a rating like Actuonix's IP54 should be read as verified under static conditions only. It isn't certified to hold that same protection while the shaft is actively cycling in wet or dusty conditions, which is exactly why we recommend a protective enclosure for any application involving direct water exposure or wash-down.
Choosing the Right Protection Level for Your Application
Where Actuonix's IP54 rating actually fits depends on the environment in question, not on how the number stacks up against a competitor's spec sheet.
| Environment | Typical Threat | Suitable Rating Range |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor, enclosed equipment | Minimal dust, no water exposure | IP20 to IP40 |
| Indoor or covered outdoor, general automation | Light dust, occasional splashing | IP44 to IP54 |
| Exposed outdoor or industrial | Heavy dust, direct splashing | IP55 and above, typically requiring a protective enclosure |
| Wash-down, marine, or submersion | High-pressure jets or direct immersion | IP66 and above, requiring a sealed enclosure rated for the specific exposure |
IP54 lands squarely in the second row, which covers indoor automation, lab and medical equipment, and light industrial or robotics work where dust and incidental splashing happen but direct jets and submersion don't. The moment a project moves into the third or fourth row, the better move usually isn't chasing a higher-rated actuator. It's building a waterproof enclosure around the one you already have, for the friction reasons explained above.
Do Actuonix Actuators Carry an IP Rating?
Yes - all of our rod actuators carry an IP rating of 54. The solid object rating of 5 means that our actuators can be expected to protect against all but a very limited ingress of dust, which should not affect the operation of the device.
The moisture rating of 4 means that our devices are protected from water splashes from all directions, but not complete submersion, high-pressure spray, or prolonged exposure.
Conclusion
If you have any questions about our IP ratings or need help choosing an actuator that is appropriate to your application and operating environment, please give us a call. Our sales professionals can help you identify your needs and direct you to the product that will best suit your application. If you require a custom solution, we offer a custom micro actuator design service.
Looking for more information on IP ratings? Check out this Wikipedia article for a more in-depth explanation of how IP ratings work.
Common Questions About IP Ratings
Is it possible to increase the IP rating of my Actuonix actuator?
The best solution for most people is to design a waterproof enclosure to mount your actuator within. While it might change your design, it is a relatively easy and cost effective way to protect your actuator from the elements.
Can you build a custom waterproof actuator?
We offer a custom actuator design service and can absolutely work with you to develop a new device that meets your specifications. Minimum order quantities apply for custom products and vary depending on the level of customization. This is a good option for mid to high volume orders. If you want to talk to us about custom actuators, please reach out to our sales department.
Why do you not offer a fully waterproof actuator?
Good question. Demand is the bigger reason, and it's lower than people tend to assume. Most customers running an actuator in a submerged application were already planning to house their electronics in a protective enclosure anyway, since the actuator is rarely the only sensitive component in that kind of build. That makes a waterproof enclosure the practical fix for nearly everyone who needs one, which leaves less of a case for developing a fully waterproof actuator from scratch. The second reason comes down to the sealing and friction tradeoff explained above, under static testing: a fully sealed shaft means a fully airtight housing, and that creates real performance costs on a part this size.
Is an IP rating the same as "waterproof"?
"Waterproof" is an informal term with no fixed technical meaning, and manufacturers use it to describe wildly different levels of protection. An IP rating works differently: it's a specific, testable standard with defined conditions for pressure, volume, depth, and duration. If you're comparing actuators across manufacturers, the IP code is the only number that means the same thing every time.
Are IP ratings the same as NEMA ratings?
NEMA ratings cover similar territory but aren't interchangeable with IP ratings. NEMA, common in North American electrical equipment, also factors in things IP ratings don't touch, like corrosion resistance and icing, while IP ratings stick strictly to solid particle and liquid ingress under an international standard. If your project needs to satisfy a NEMA-rated spec, check with us on whether you'll need an enclosure on top of the actuator's IP rating.
Does an IP rating apply when the actuator is in motion?
Standard testing happens with the actuator at rest, so assume that's the case unless the rating carries an "M" suffix. The static testing section above covers what that means in practice for a moving shaft.
What is the difference between water-resistant and waterproof IP ratings?
Water-resistant, generally IP54 through IP65, covers splashing or low-pressure spray but not immersion. Waterproof, generally IP67 and up, allows full immersion or pressurized exposure under specific, manufacturer-defined limits. Neither label guarantees anything on its own. The specific IP code is what actually tells you what the part can survive.
What should I do if my application needs more protection than IP54 provides?
Start by defining what "more protection" actually means for your case. Occasional splashing, direct spray, and full submersion are three different problems with three different solutions. A well-designed enclosure paired with our IP54 actuator covers most cases short of submersion. For submersion or continuous high-pressure wash-down, talk to our team about a custom actuator design instead of assuming a bare actuator rating will hold up.
Why does a higher IP rating reduce actuator performance?
Tighter seals create more friction against the moving shaft, and friction has to be paid for somewhere: more current draw, less speed, shorter service life. That's the same tradeoff already covered above, under static testing. The short version is that protection and performance pull in opposite directions past a certain point.
Does exceeding the IP rating immediately damage the actuator?
Exceeding the rating doesn't usually cause instant failure, but it starts a clock. Moisture or dust that gets past the seal begins oxidizing bearings and motor windings, and that damage compounds with repeated exposure even when no single incident causes an obvious failure. Treat the rating as a hard limit, not a margin, since the actuator's internal components simply aren't built to tolerate exposure beyond it.
How do I know if an enclosure is required for my application?
If the actuator faces anything beyond occasional dust or incidental splashing, water jets, submersion, wash-down chemicals, uncovered outdoor weather, plan for an enclosure from the start. It's a lot easier to design protection in alongside the actuator than to retrofit it after a reliability problem shows up in the field.
Explore Actuonix Actuators Today
We hope this article has helped you better understand IP ratings and their importance in selecting an actuator. To find out more about our actuators and explore our full range of products, visit our actuators by model page. As a leading manufacturer and innovator in the micro motion marketplace, Actuonix services companies big and small in a number of industries including aerospace, medical, robotics, and more. Get in touch with us today to submit an order or to submit an inquiry.
