Measures against waterproofing and dustproofing

This page introduces dustproof and waterproof measures for AC adapters and switching power supplies. We classify dustproof and waterproof performance based on the electrical devices, and provide AC adapters compliant with the international protection rating IEC60529 through customization and modification. Regarding safety and reliability certifications, various necessary verifications are conducted at our factory or by third-party certification bodies.

About Waterproof and Dustproof Support

About waterproof and dustproof support of AC adapter

What is IP?

IP stands for Ingress Protection, an internationally recognized certification for water and dust resistance.

The Ingress Protection Rating (or IP rating) refers to the International Protection Marking (IEC 60529), defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), which classifies electrical enclosures based on their dust and water resistance capabilities. This rating—commonly seen as IPxx—corresponds to the European standard EN60529.

Diagram explaining IP (Ingress Protection Rating)

The two digits following "IP" have the following meanings:

First digit: "Dust protection" level, indicating protection against solid objects (such as tools or fingers) accessing internal electrical components and causing electrical shock.
Second digit: "Water protection" level, indicating the degree of waterproofing against moisture and water intrusion.

The higher the digits, the greater the level of protection.

To respond to customer requests and obtain safety certifications for the target countries, we will proceed accordingly based on the steps below for reference.

IP Water and Dust Resistance Levels and Structure

Protection Level Chart

Protection Against Human Contact and Solid Objects

0	No protection
1	Protection against access with the back of the hand
2	Protection against access with a finger
3	Protection against access with tools
4	Protection against access with wires and similar objects
5	Protection against dust
6	Completely dust-tight

Protection Against Water Ingress

0	No protection
1	No harmful effects from vertically falling water droplets
2	No harmful effects from water droplets falling within 15° of vertical
3	No harmful effects from water sprayed up to 60° from vertical
4	No harmful effects from water splashing from any direction
5	No harmful effects from low-pressure water jets from any direction
6	No harmful effects from strong water jets from any direction
7	No water ingress when submerged under prescribed pressure and time
8	Suitable for continuous immersion in water

* Example: IP65 indicates complete dust-tight protection (6) and no harmful effects from water jets from any direction (5)

Diagram of the steps for application and acquisition of each country’s safety regulations

Dust Protection Ratings and Test Criteria

0	No test
1	Objects with diameter ≥ 50mm cannot enter
2	Objects with diameter ≥ 12.5mm cannot enter
3	Objects with diameter ≥ 2.5mm cannot enter
4	Objects with diameter ≥ 1mm cannot enter
5	Dust ingress is limited; accumulation is prevented
6	Complete protection against dust ingress

Waterproof Ratings and Test Criteria

0	No test
1	Protected for 10 minutes against vertical dripping water
2	Protected for 10 minutes from water dripping at 15° angles
3	Protected for 5 minutes from water spraying
4	Protected for 5 minutes from water sprayed from all directions
5	Protected for at least 3 minutes from low-pressure water jets
6	Protected for at least 3 minutes from powerful water jets
7	Submersion for 30 minutes at 1m depth
8	Adaptable to submersion beyond 1m
*9K	High-temperature high-pressure water jets from close range are used for testing. All IPx9 tests with the "K" designation follow ISO 20653 (IEC 60529). *Optional and not mandatory

Many electrical and electronic products are designed with safety and reliability in mind as follows:

Preventing hazardous components (like fingers or metal rods/wires) from contacting electrical enclosures (access to hazardous parts)
Protecting internal equipment/devices from solid objects like metal rods, wires, or dust (solid objects)
Protecting internal equipment/devices from spills, humidity, rain, or splashes (ingress of water)

Improper design or usage may degrade product performance or cause failure, possibly affecting user safety (e.g., electric shock, fire). Therefore, products used outdoors or in humid environments must be designed and evaluated considering the IP code.

At Unifive, we offer custom protection for equipment and devices against the intrusion of solid and liquid matter.

Semi and Full Customization for Waterproof and Dustproof Design

Our AC adapters and switching power supplies can be customized based on your product type and desired waterproof/dustproof protection level.

Semi-custom: Based on existing Unifive products. The closer the required specs are to our existing products, the shorter the development time and lower the cost.
Full-custom: Even if no off-the-shelf AC adapter specs are available, we can fully customize a product based on your requirements. We develop custom products including detailed specifications, design information, and compliance with safety standards.

If you are considering waterproof and dustproof protection for an AC adapter, please feel free to contact our sales department.