Security cameras are the fundamental tool for industrial security. In this post we are going to talk about a fundamental technical aspect that usually goes unnoticed by the least experts, but which is essential when deciding what types of cameras we have to install in our industry. We refer to IP protection degrees in security cameras.
At the end of this post you will know what the IP classification of these products is and which camera you should choose according to the location of the cameras in your facilities, as well as the degree of exposure of them to elements such as water or dust.
International Reference Standard
Not all security cameras are the same. According to their construction, they will be subjected to tests that certify their resistance against the entry of solid and liquid bodies, normally elements such as water or dust, which is what concerns us in this entry.
This international reference standard that serves to classify security cameras according to their level of resistance is the IEC 60529 Degrees of Protection that sets the degree of protection IP (acronym in English for Ingress Protection).
Although when choosing and installing security equipment it is good that we resort to a company specialized in security, we can get a clear idea of what type of equipment we have installed just by looking at the two digits that follow the expression IP, which will appear on the packaging, instructions and label of technical characteristics of our camera.
The IP classification is expressed with the IPXY sequence, where IP tells us that we are within the specifications of the CEI 60529 standard, while the X and Y values are two digits that indicate the degree of resistance to dust and liquids:
- The “X” value reveals the level of protection against the ingress of dust.
- For its part, the “Y” value indicates protection against the ingress of liquids.
Protection against dust (X) is expressed with a number that goes from 0 to 6, with 6 being the maximum protection.
For its part, the protection against liquids, value Y, is a scale from 0 to 9. The value zero would be null protection against the simple dripping of water, while 9 would imply maximum protection in the most demanding resistance tests. in front of the water.
Let’s take a very common example of IP protection
If we have a security camera that contains the expression IP65 on its label, we can easily deduce, with the help of the reference tables included in the CEI 60529 standard, that:
- The camera complies with the protection standard in accordance with the reference standard, otherwise it could not carry the IP expression.
- The first digit, 6, indicates that its resistance against dust is maximum, since it should not enter the chamber under any circumstances.
- The second digit, 5, reports that it is resistant to water jets of a certain power. Specifically, if we read the table of the standard, we will know that it can resist a jet of 12.5 liters per minute for three minutes and at a distance of three meters, with a pressure of 30 k / m2.
In other words, we would have very high protection against dust and medium protection against liquids. We only have to consult both tables of the standard to know what the degree of protection implies. The equipment is tested and subjected to different resistance tests (pressure, force, distance, etc.) in order to establish a comparative table that quickly tells us the level of protection of the equipment we are acquiring.
Security cameras resistant to the most adverse conditions
Security cameras are used in very harsh environments. They may be subject to extreme weather conditions. We may need video surveillance in a desert, with extreme temperatures and subject to constant wind and dust. We can also have cameras in regions with heavy rains or in icy areas with very low temperatures.
On the other hand, it is also necessary to carry out surveillance in circumstances such as floods or with underwater cameras.
A camera with an IPX8 degree of protection is informing us that the camera can work in situations of complete and continuous immersion. Water should never enter it. It would be a camera for underwater surveillance.
It is already known that the great enemies of electronic devices are liquid and dust. That is why it is necessary to determine and test the degree of protection of the equipment against these elements so that we can know if they are suitable for our facilities.
Cameras located indoors are less exposed to these elements, but we may also need them to have a certain degree of protection so they can continue to function in the event of a fire, for example, when fire sprinklers are activated.
Monitoring may be very necessary in certain supervening circumstances. Consider a flood, heavy rain, or sandstorm. If we are to continue to monitor to locate people in distress or to direct rescue teams, we need to have robust cameras that continue to operate in extreme circumstances.
Other reference standards
We also want to indicate that there are other reference standards that you have to take into account when choosing video surveillance equipment.
One would be the German DIN 40050-9 standard, which adds a K expression to the IP tag. If we see a camera that contains the expression IP66K, it implies that the water jet pressure it can withstand is 10 times higher than that indicated by the value 6 of the 60529 standard.
Finally, although this is not the object of this post, we also have to cite the very important reference standard IEC 62262, which determines the degree of IK protection against direct impacts. It informs us of the resistance of the cameras when objects with a certain force hit them.
Security cameras are the eyes of the security managers of any company. We have to adequately design our facilities and choose the necessary equipment to function properly in the most adverse circumstances they may face. That is why it is so important to know of IP Protection Degrees in Security Cameras.
