Mechanical Protection IK Rating Test

Product Description

What is an IK Protection Rating? 

IK ratings are defined as IK and a number from 00 to 10, this indicates the degree of protection provided by the electrical enclosures against external mechanical impacts. 

IK Ratings (or impact protection ratings) are now the international standard for an enclosure around electrical equipment, IK Ratings were originally outlined in 1995 by the European standard BS EN 50102 and was later amended in 1997 with IEC 60068 2 75. This was then followed up in 2002 with the European standard EN62262 which is the equivalent of the international standard IEC 62262 (2002).  

Before the standard use of IK ratings, a third numeral had been occasionally added to the ingress protection rating (IP rating) for example IP66(9), this nonstandard use was one of the main factors that lead to developing a standard. This standard came into effect within 1995 and any conflicting standards had to be withdrawn in 1997. 

An IK Rating depicts the way the enclosures should be mounted for the tests to be carried out, even atmospheric conditions, how many impacts should be made (which is based on size of enclosure) and even distribution of the impacts, the size, style, dimensions and even material of the various types of hammer (object) designed to produce the energy levels required. This is then measured in joules. 

What are the different IK Ratings? 

IK00   There is no Protection. 

IK01   Protected against 0.14 joules of impact (this is the equivalent to the impact of a 0.25kg mass dropped from 56mm above) 

IK02   Protected against 0.2 joules of impact (this is the equivalent to the impact of a 0.25kg mass dropped from 80mm above) 

IK03   Protected against 0.35 joules of impact (this is the equivalent to the impact of a 0.2kg mass dropped from 140mm above) 

IK04   Protected against 0.5 joules of impact (the equivalent to the impact of a 0.25kg mass dropped from 200mm above the impacted surface) 

IK05   Protected against 0.7 joules of impact (the equivalent to the impact of a 0.25kg mass dropped from 280mm above the impacted surface) 

IK06   Protected against 1 joules of impact (the equivalent to the impact of a 0.25kg mass dropped from 400mm above the impacted surface)

IK07   Protected against 2 joules of impact (the equivalent to the impact of a 0.5kg mass dropped from 400mm above the impacted surface) 

IK08   Protected against 5 joules of impact (the equivalent to the impact of a 1.7kg mass dropped from 300mm above the impacted surface)

IK09   Protected against 10 joules of impact (the equivalent to the impact of a 5kg mass dropped from 200mm above the impacted surface)

IK10   Protected against 20 joules of impact (the equivalent to the impact of a 5kg mass dropped from 400mm above the impacted surface) 

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