Technical

Technical IK Ratings

IK Ratings

IK Ratings are defined by international standard IEC 62262 (2002). They are an international numeric classification for the degrees of protection provided by enclosures for electrical equipment against external mechanical impacts. It provides a means of specifying the capacity of an enclosure to protect its contents from external impacts. The IK Code was originally defined in European Standard BS EN 50102 (1995, amended 1998). Following its adoption as an international standard in 2002, the European standard was renumbered EN 62262.

Prior to the advent of the IK code, a third numeral had been occasionally added to the closely related IP Rating (Ingress Protection Rating), to indicate the level of impact protection — e.g. IP56(7).

The standard specifies the way enclosures should be mounted when tests are carried out, the atmospheric conditions that should prevail, the number of impacts and their distribution, and the size, style, material, dimensions etc. of the various types of hammer designed to produce the energy levels required.

Ratings are as follows:

 

IK code and impact energy values

IK CodeIK00IK01IK02IK03IK04IK05IK06IK07IK08IK09IK10
IK CodeImpact Energy (joule)
IK00*
IK010.14
IK020.2
IK030.35
IK040.5
IK050.7
IK061
IK072
IK085
IK0910
IK1020

*not protected according to the standard

 

Impact test characteristics

IK codeIK00IK01 to IK05IK06IK07IK08IK09IK10
IK codeImpact energy (joule)
IK00*
IK01 to IK05<1
IK061
IK072
IK085
IK0910
IK1020
IK codeRadius of striking element (mm)
IK00*
IK01 to IK0510
IK0610
IK0725
IK0825
IK0950
IK1050
IK codeMaterial
IK00*
IK01 to IK05polyamide1
IK06polyamide1
IK07steel2
IK08steel2
IK09steel2
IK10steel2
IK codeMass (kg)
IK00*
IK01 to IK050.2
IK060.5
IK070.5
IK081.7
IK095
IK105
IK codePendulum hammer
IK00*
IK01 to IK05Yes
IK06Yes
IK07Yes
IK08Yes
IK09Yes
IK10Yes
IK codeSpring hammer
IK00*
IK01 to IK05Yes
IK06Yes
IK07Yes
IK08No
IK09No
IK10No
IK codeFree-fall hammer
IK00*
IK01 to IK05No
IK06No
IK07Yes
IK08Yes
IK09Yes
IK10Yes

*not protected according to the standard
1 R100 Rockwell hardness according to ISO 2039/2
2 Fc490-2 Rockwell hardness according to ISO 1052