Today’s article deals with an aspect of product safety that plays a particularly important role in installations in demanding environments. The resistance of the loudspeaker to environmental conditions is essential for long-term safe operation.
A central attribute here is the classification of IP ratings. These IP classifications are used to describe the degree of protection of electronic devices and enclosures against the ingress of dust and moisture. They are of great importance in many industries, especially in areas such as electrical engineering, construction, and health technology, but also in EN54 voice alarm installations.
IP ratings consist of two digits, where the first digit describes protection against dust and the second digit describes protection against moisture. A higher number corresponds to a higher degree of protection.
The first digit is a number from 0 to 6, where 0 means that there is no protection against the ingress of dust, while 6 means that the unit is completely dust-proof.
The second digit is a number from 0 to 9, where 0 means that there is no protection against moisture, while 9 means that the unit is protected against high-pressure and high-temperature water.
Some examples of IP ratings:
- IP20: No protection against moisture, limited protection against ingress of foreign bodies with a diameter of more than 12.5 mm.
- IP44: Protection against splashing water from all directions and limited protection against the ingress of foreign bodies with a diameter of more than 1 mm.
- IP68: Complete protection against dust and protection against permanent immersion in water under defined conditions.
The importance of IP ratings is to ensure that electronic equipment and enclosures can be used in environments that may be dusty or damp without damaging the equipment. This assures the safety of the user and the long-term operation of the product.
The minimum requirement for EN54 voice alarm installations is IP21 for indoor speakers and IP33 for outdoor speakers.
Most of our loudspeakers offer significantly higher IP protection. The classification can be found in the respective datasheet of each product.
Overall, IP ratings are an important aspect of selecting the best loudspeakers to ensure reliable and safe operation in the intended environment.
