Difference Between IP55 and IP65

The Difference Between IP55 and IP65

Posted On May 31, 2023By Shaheen FonsecaIn Technology/ 

If you’ve ever purchased anything from controllers and electric instruments to power supplies and desktop electronics, you will have come across the item’s IP rating.

This is an internationally recognised rating that defines the item’s “ingress protection” against dust and liquids.

An item’s level of ingress protection is its resistance to things entering the equipment, or at least its outer casing.

At PSS, we are well-versed in IP ratings, as our products are manufactured to the most robust standards and protect vital systems in healthcare, mining, research and many more applications.

If this blog doesn’t answer all of your questions on IP ratings, get in touch and discuss your needs with our friendly team.

What Do the Numbers Mean?

While IP stands for ingress protection, the meaning of the two numbers that follow isn’t so obvious.

To give you a crash course on IP ratings, the first number represents the ingress protection to solid objects, while the second relates to water resistance.

The larger the number, the more resistant the item is to smaller and smaller items or moisture levels.

The International Electrotechnical Commission provides the official description of each rating, ensuring a global standard when it comes to ingress protection.

For solid foreign objects:

  • 0 indicates there is no protection;
  • 1 protects against objects larger than 50mm such as a hand (not a finger);
  • 2 protects against objects larger than 12.5mm such as a finger;
  • 3 protects against objects larger than 2.5mm;
  • 3 protects against objects larger than 1mm;
  • 5 indicates the object is dust protected;
  • 6 is absolutely dust-tight.

For water resistance:

  • 0 indicates no protection;
  • 1 indicates protection against vertically falling water drops (light rain);
  • 2 protects against vertically falling water drops when the enclosure is tilted up to 15°, or the water falls inwards at 15°.
  • 3 protects against spraying water;
  • 4 protects against splashing water;
  • 5 protects against water jets;
  • 6 protects against powerful water jets;
  • 7 protects against temporary immersion;
  • 8 protects against continuous immersion;
  • 9 protects against high-pressure temperatures and water jets.

For reference, the latest iPhone 14 has an IP rating of IP68, meaning it is absolutely dust-tight and protects against continuous immersion. Manufacturers will often declare the length of time that a user can expect the enclosure to last while immersed, as this can vary.

IP55 vs IP65

Using the above logic, the difference between IP55 and IP65 is in the ingress protection against solid foreign objects.

These ratings are relevant to the PSS range because products with these ratings are most applicable to our clients’ needs in mining, healthcare, research and the like.

IP55 rated items such as the Redback Racks 18RU 600 Depth Weatherproof Outdoor Racks are rated 5 for dust protection and 5 for protection against water jets.

IP65 rated items, however, have the same water resistance with the added bonus of absolute dust-tight protection.

If you’re looking for the best of both worlds in dust and water resistance, Redback Racks’ Weatherproof Enclosures are rated IP66 for the most hard-wearing workplaces that cannot afford to sustain damaged equipment.

Contact PSS to Learn More

Our electrical enclosures are a safe bet to protect your equipment from whatever your line of work throws at it.

Let us know what IP rating you require and we’ll match you with a product to suit your needs.

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Power Supplies for NDIS Providers

The Importance of Power Supplies for NDIS Providers

Posted On May 31, 2023By Shaheen FonsecaIn UPS/ 

More than half a million Australians rely on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provider for their supports and services, and each one requires reliable power in their own way.

Disabilities range from mild to severe in how much they affect a person’s autonomy, and many lives would be put at risk by unreliable power supplies.

To protect these lives, Power Systems Solutions (PSS) was awarded a contract to supply NDIS critical equipment providers with battery back-up using our Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems.

Without these systems, NDIS providers may face power outages caused by inclement weather, infrastructure damage, or faulty equipment.

So why do NDIS providers need such reliability and what might happen without the presence of UPS systems?

For Regulation

For starters, the importance of the NDIS and healthcare facilities in general call for the implementation of strict regulation in regards to power supplies.

For example, in the Victorian Government’s Engineering Guidelines for Healthcare Facilities Volume 1, it is a requirement that:

“Uninterruptible power supply systems should be provided to maintain critical loads for the duration specified by statutory or regulatory requirements, but not less than the time required for clinical staff to make necessary arrangements to minimise risk to patient life safety in the event of unavailability of power.”

The Volume’s notes clarify that UPS systems should not be relied upon for extended periods of time as they are designed for short-term power-loss situations.

Not only do patients benefit from reliable UPS systems, as discussed below, but the NDIS providers avoid non-compliance and maintain their standards as trusted providers of supports and services.

For Participant Safety

One of the most important reasons NDIS providers should install reliable UPS systems is to ensure the safety and health of the participants. This ethos should also extend to the wider healthcare sector, so that all patients can get the healthcare and supports that they need in a safe manner.

In an unexpected power outage, all kinds of life-saving equipment and the lives of those who rely on them are put at risk. That’s why PSS’ NDIS UPS products have been chosen to mitigate the risk for numerous NDIS providers.

Some examples of the equipment that rely on UPS systems include imaging diagnostics, ventilators, monitors and life support systems.

All of our UPS run times are in line with the NDIS’ specifications of up to 2 hours at a specified load. To cater to the wide range of applications and contexts in the healthcare sector, these UPS systems can be customised accordingly.

For Administrative Purposes

When the power goes out unexpectedly, the equipment listed above isn’t all that’s at risk. There are also highly important computer systems in place to keep providers organised.

These systems are used for ​​things like patient record keeping, allocating resources, scheduling appointments and performing administrative functions.

Without a reliable source of power to these systems, a facility can be thrown into disarray, leading to missed appointments, lost records and a wholly disorganised healthcare sector.

Avoid Unreliable Power Supplies with PSS

If it’s suitable for Australia’s NDIS, then it’s suitable for just about any application we can throw at it.

Our UPS systems are customisable and resilient, built to support any electrical systems that need extra support.

Contact PSS to learn more and have your UPS installed today.

Image Source: https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/photo/medical-monitor-in-the-operating-room-royalty-free-image/530602021?phrase=hospital+electricity&adppopup=true

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