IP67 means the enclosure is completely dust-tight (first digit 6) and survives temporary immersion in water at 1 meter depth for 30 minutes (second digit 7). It's the standard for industrial sensors, below-grade junction boxes, and any equipment in locations where temporary flooding is possible.
What the digits mean
First digit 6: dust-tight. No dust ingress at all after 8 hours in a test chamber with a vacuum pulling air through every possible gap. Same as IP65 and IP66 on the solids side.
Second digit 7: temporary immersion. The enclosure sits under 1 meter of water for 30 minutes, and no harmful quantity of water gets in. That's a fixed, standardized test. Compare this to IP68, where the depth and duration are manufacturer-defined and vary wildly between products.
The IEC 60529 immersion test
The test is straightforward. The lowest point of the enclosure sits at least 1 meter below the water surface. If the enclosure is taller than 850mm, the highest point must be at least 150mm below the surface. Duration is 30 minutes. No water ingress that could interfere with operation is allowed.
IP67 vs IP68 test comparison
| Parameter | IP67 | IP68 |
|---|---|---|
| Depth | 1 m (fixed) | Beyond 1 m (manufacturer-defined) |
| Duration | 30 min (fixed) | Manufacturer-defined |
| Standardized | Yes | Partially (depth/duration varies) |
The IP67 catch most people miss
IEC 60529 water tests are not cumulative across groups. An enclosure tested to IP67 has proven it survives immersion. It has not necessarily proven it survives water jets (the IPX5/IPX6 test). Jets create dynamic pressure at seals. Immersion creates static pressure. Different failure modes.
If your installation needs both jet resistance and immersion protection, look for the dual rating IP65/IP67 on the product datasheet. A lone IP67 badge does not guarantee jet survival.
Products that carry IP67
Industrial sensors are the biggest category. M12 and M8 circular connectors on proximity sensors, photoelectric sensors, and inductive sensors almost always carry IP67. So do their mating cable assemblies.
Below-grade junction boxes in manholes and cable pits need IP67 as a minimum. Ground-recessed garden luminaires, in-ground uplights, and bollard light bases all specify IP67 for the buried portion. Portable test instruments and handheld devices marketed for field use (like multimeters and thermal cameras) often carry IP67 to handle being dropped in puddles.
When to use IP67 vs adjacent ratings
| Scenario | Rating | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor wall-mounted junction box | IP65 | Rain and hose spray, no flooding risk |
| Sensor on a food processing line | IP65/IP67 | Jets during cleaning, possible pooling |
| Junction box in a cable pit | IP67 | Temporary flooding from groundwater |
| Submersible pump housing | IP68 | Continuous immersion beyond 1 m |
Is the product mounted above grade with no flooding risk? IP65 is likely sufficient. Below grade, in a pit, or at floor level where water pools? You need IP67.
If the product also faces hose cleaning or high-pressure spray, a standalone IP67 rating is not enough. Look for IP65/IP67 dual-rated products.
Don't rely on the product listing alone. Open the manufacturer's test report or datasheet to confirm the exact IP rating and whether it's single or dual.
Check any IP code format against the IP rating validator. For the full digit-by-digit reference, see the IP rating chart. If you're weighing IP65 against IP67 for a specific installation, the IP54 vs IP65 vs IP67 comparison covers the decision in detail.