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JIS Grades of Water and Dust resistance

Our customers often ask what is the difference between water proof digital cameras (underwater cameras) and water resistant film cameras, waterproof binoculars, spotting scopes. We hope that the information below will give you enough enformation on different grades of waterproofing and water-resistant protection. Next time you will see a Grade 4 waterproof digital camera or JIS Class 7 water resistant digital camera or Grade 6 water proof camera case, you will know what it means! If you think you need to protect your camera or binoculars from dust or water, you might want to consider some serious protection OpticsPlanet.com Waterproof Dry Boxes and Watertight Cases.

JIS Grades of water resistance

IEC 529 Second edition 1989 - 11

Prepared by IEC Technical committee No. 70: Degrees of Protection by enclosures

Dust ingress protection

Grade 4

Protected against solid foreign objects 1,0 mm diameter and greater.

Grade 5

Dust protected. Ingress of duct is not totally prevented, but dust shall not penetrate in a quantity to interfere with satisfactory operation of the apparatus or to impair safety.

Grade 6

Dust tight. No ingress of dust.

Degrees of protection against ingress of water indicated by the second characteristic numeral

Grade 0

Non-protected

Grade 1

Protected against vertically falling water drops.

Vertically falling drops shall have no harmful effects.

Grade 2

Protected against vertically falling water drops when enclosure is tilted up to 15 degrees.

Vertically falling drops shall have no harmful effects when the enclosure is tilted at any angle up to 15 degrees on either side of the vertical.

Grade 3

Protected against spraying water.

Water sprayed at an angle up to 60 degrees on either side of vertical shall have no harmful effects.

Grade 4

Protected against splashing water.

Water splashed against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects.

Test conditions for Grade 4:

The test is made using one of the two test devices described in figure 4 and in Figure 5 in accordance with the relevant product standard.

  • The oscillating tube has spray holes over the whole 180 degrees of the semi circle. The total flow rate is adjusted as specified in Table IX and is measured with a flow meter.
  • The tube is caused to oscillate through an angle of almost 360 degrees, 180 degrees on either side of the vertical, the time for one complete oscillation (2x360 degrees) being about 12s.
  • The duration of the test is 10 min.
  • If not specified in the relevant product standard, the support for the enclosure under test is perforated so as to avoid acting as a baffle and the enclosure is sprayed from every direction by oscillating the tube to the limit of its travel in each direction.
Grade 5

Protected against water jets.

Water projected in jets against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects.

Test conditions for Grade 5:

The test is made by spraying the enclosure from all practicable directions with a stream of water from a standard test nozzle as shown in figure 6.

  • The conditions to be observed are as follows:
  • Internal diameter of the nozzle: 6.3mm.
  • Delivery rate: 12.5 l/min +/- 5 %
  • Water pressure: to be adjusted to achieve the specified delivery rate.
  • Core of the substantial stream: circle of approximately 40mm in diameter at 2.5m distance from the nozzle.
  • Test duration per square meter of enclosure surface area likely to be sprayed: 1 min.
  • Minimum test duration: 3 min.
  • Distance from nozzle to enclosure surface: between 2.5m and 3m.
Summary of test conditions for Grade 5:
  • Test means: Water jet hose nozzle Figure 6. Nozzle 6.3mm diameter, distance 2.5m to 3m.
  • Water flow rate: 12.5 liters per minute +/- 5%.
  • Duration of test: 1 min/m2 at least 3 min.

Grade 6

Protected against powerful water jets.

Water projected in powerful jets against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects.

Test conditions for Grade 6:

The test is made by spraying the enclosure from all practicable directions with a stream of water from a standard test nozzle as shown in figure 6. The conditions to be observed are as follows:

  • Internal diameter of the nozzle: 12.5mm.
  • Delivery rate: 100 l/min +/- 5 %
  • Water pressure: to be adjusted to achieve the specified delivery rate.
  • Core of the substantial stream: circle of approximately 120mm in diameter at 2.5m distance from the nozzle.
  • Test duration per square meter of enclosure surface area likely to be sprayed: 1 min.
  • Minimum test duration: 3 min.
  • Distance from nozzle to enclosure surface: between 2.5m and 3m.
Summary of test conditions for Grade 6:
  • Test means: Water jet hose nozzle Figure 6. Nozzle 12.5mm diameter, distance 2.5m to 3m.
  • Water flow rate: 100 liters per minute +/- 5%.
  • Duration of test: 1 min/m2 at least 3 min.

Grade 7

Protected against the effects of temporary immersion in water.

Ingress of water in quantities causing harmful effects shall not be possible when the enclosure is temporarily immersed in water under standardized conditions of pressure and time.

Test conditions for Grade 7: temporary immersion between 0.15m and 1m

The test is made by completely immersing the enclosure in water in its service position as specified by the manufacturer so that the following conditions are satisfied:

  • the lowest point of enclosures with a height less than 850mm is located 1000mm below the surface of the water;
  • the highest point of enclosures with a height equal to or greater than 850mm is located 150mm below the surface of the water;
  • the duration of the test is 30min;
  • the water temperature does not differ from that of the equipment by more than 5 degrees Kelvin. However, a modified requirement may be specified in the relevant product standard if the tests are to be made when the equipment is energized and/or its parts in motion.
Summary of test conditions for Grade 7:
  • Test means: Immersion tank. Water level on enclosure: 0.15m above top, 1m above bottom.
  • Water flow rate: not applicable.
  • Duration of test: 30 minutes.

Grade 8

Protected against the effects of continuous immersion in water.

Ingress of water in quantities causing harmful effects shall not be possible when the enclosure is continuously immersed in water under conditions which shall be agreed between manufacturer and user but which are more severe than for numeral 7.

Test conditions for Grade 8: continuous immersion subject to agreement

Unless there is a relevant product standard, the test conditions are subject to agreement between manufacturer and user, but they shall be more severe than those prescribed in 14.2.7 and they shall take account of the condition that the enclosure will be continuously immersed in actual use.

Summary of test conditions for Grade 8:
  • Test means: Immersion tank. Water level: by agreement.
  • Water flow rate: not applicable.
  • Duration of test: by agreement.