IK Ratings Explained

IK-rating is a number from IK00 to IK10, which tells how well products withstand impacts and hits. The higher the IK-rating is the better impact resistance it has. Typically, industrial grade enclosures require IK-rating from IK06 up to IK10.

IK ratings goes hand in hand with IP ratings of switchboards and, is a particularly important factor when it comes to outdoor switchboards or, switchboards in high traffic areas. While IP (ingress protection) measures the environmental protection that a product has from particles and liquids, IK ratings, as described above, measures the protection the item has from an object hitting it (let’s say, a hammer), at increasing weights and height. You need both high IP AND IK ratings to be sure that your switchboard will stand the test of time.
For more information, go to our IP & IK rated switchboards page.

For industrial enclosures, third party impact test conditions should be conducted both in -25C and +35 Celsius temperatures. This means that the product is suitable for both hot and cold climates. For plastic enclosures, the cold temperatures are more challenging as the material becomes more brittle. There are aging tests conducted for the enclosure to simulate environmental conditions and then the enclosure is targeted with impacts based on the expected IK-rating. After the targeted hits, the enclosure needs to function as it is designed to.

Despite the fact that the attached link below is for a lighting company brochure, the IP & IK metrics and measurements are the same across all industries. Scroll to page spread 15 to view the tables.