What does an 'IP Rating' Mean?

As an international standard, IP Ratings describe the environmental protection that a product has from particles and liquids. Each IP rating consists of two numbers: the first refers to 'particulate' protection and the second to 'liquids'.

Example 'IP65':

'6' = Dust tight. No ingress of Dust.
'5' = Protected against jets of water from any direction.

The diagram below gives full details of the current IP ratings.