The IP codes are defined in the IEC standard 60529. The ingress protection of each panel is in the form of a code such as IP65. The first number indicates the protection against dust and other particles while the second numbers denotes the protection against water.
The first number indicates the following.
| Level | Object size protected against | Effective against |
| 0 | — | No protection against contact and ingress of objects |
| 1 | >50 mm | Any large surface of the body, such as the back of a hand, but no protection against deliberate contact with a body part |
| 2 | >12.5 mm | Fingers or similar objects |
| 3 | >2.5 mm | Tools, thick wires, etc. |
| 4 | >1 mm | Most wires, screws, etc. |
| 5 | dust protected | Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with the satisfactory operation of the equipment; complete protection against contact |
| 6 | dust tight | No ingress of dust; complete protection against contact |
The Second letter indicates the degree of protection of the panel against the entry of water.
| Level | Protected against | Details |
| 0 | not protected | — |
| 1 | dripping water | Dripping water (vertically falling drops) shall have no harmful effect. |
| 2 | dripping water when tilted up to 15° | Vertically dripping water shall have no harmful effect when the enclosure is tilted at an angle up to 15° from its normal position. |
| 3 | spraying water | Water falling as a spray at any angle up to 60° from the vertical shall have no harmful effect. |
| 4 | splashing water | Water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect. |
| 5 | water jets | Water projected by a nozzle against enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects. |
| 6 | powerful water jets | Water projected in powerful jets against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects. |
| 7 | immersion up to 1 m | Ingress of water in harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time (up to 1 m of submersion). |
| 8 | immersion beyond 1 m | The equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water under conditions which shall be specified by the manufacturer. |
| NOTE: Normally, this will mean that the equipment is hermetically sealed. However, with certain types of equipment, it can mean that water can enter but only in such a manner that produces no harmful effects. |