Can IP04 be used outdoors?

Only in sheltered locations. IP04 resists splashing water but not directed jets or rain exposure. For fully exposed outdoor use, choose IP65 or higher.

Does IP04 protect against dust?

No. IP04 has no solid-object protection (first digit 0). Dust and debris can freely enter the enclosure.

IP04

Q: What does IP04 mean?

IP04 means the enclosure has solid-protection level 0 (No Protection) and liquid-protection level 4 (Splashing Water (all directions)). No special protection against contact or ingress of solid foreign objects. Protection against splashing water. Water splashed against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects.

Last updated: Aug 9, 2026

Outdoor-suitable

The IP04 rating offers no protection against solid objects and protection against splashing water. Water splashed against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects.. It is an IEC 60529 ingress protection code combining first-digit (solid) level 0 with second-digit (liquid) level 4.

Solid 0

No Protection

Liquid 4

Splashing Water (all directions)

What IP04 means

The IP code IP04 is part of the IEC 60529 standard for ingress protection. The first characteristic numeral, 0, indicates the level of protection against solid objects and access to hazardous parts. The second numeral, 4, indicates the level of protection against the ingress of water. Together, these digits describe exactly what an enclosure rated IP04 can withstand.

For solid protection, the digit 0 means the enclosure is no protection. No special protection against contact or ingress of solid foreign objects. The test method is no test required.

For liquid protection, the digit 4 means the enclosure resists splashing water (all directions). Protection against splashing water. Water splashed against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects. The test procedure is oscillating tube swinging 180° with 0.4 l/min per hole; enclosure on turntable; 5 minutes minimum.

IP04 vs IP05: the higher rating adds water jets. IP04 vs IP65: IP65 is dust-tight and water-jet resistant — a major upgrade for outdoor use. When specifying IP04 for a project, confirm the rating certificate from the manufacturer and consider that seals degrade over time with temperature cycling, UV exposure, and chemical contact.

Full specification table

Parameter	Solid digit (0)	Liquid digit (4)
Protection level	No Protection	Splashing Water (all directions)
Description	No special protection against contact or ingress of solid foreign objects.	Protection against splashing water. Water splashed against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects.
Test method	No test required.	Oscillating tube swinging 180° with 0.4 L/min per hole; enclosure on turntable; 5 minutes minimum.
Object size / water pressure	Not applicable	50–100 kPa
Test distance	Per standard	200 mm
Test duration	Per standard	5 minutes

Typical applications

Sheltered outdoor fixtures

Covered industrial equipment

Bathroom zone fixtures

Covered outdoor lighting

NEMA equivalent

No direct NEMA equivalent — NEMA 250 does not map this combination.

Recommended products for IP04

enclosure

IP04 splash-proof enclosure

All IP04 comparisons

69 pairs

IP00vsIP04

IP04 offers higher overall protection than IP00. Choose IP04 for harsher environments; IP0

IP01vsIP04

IP04 offers higher overall protection than IP01. Choose IP04 for harsher environments; IP0

IP02vsIP04

IP04 offers higher overall protection than IP02. Choose IP04 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP04

IP04 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP04 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP05

IP05 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP05 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP06

IP06 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP06 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP07

IP07 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP07 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP08

IP08 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP08 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP09K

IP09K offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP09K for harsher environments; I

IP04vsIP10

IP04 offers higher overall protection than IP10. Choose IP04 for harsher environments; IP1

IP04vsIP11

IP04 offers higher overall protection than IP11. Choose IP04 for harsher environments; IP1

IP04vsIP12

IP04 offers higher overall protection than IP12. Choose IP04 for harsher environments; IP1

IP04vsIP13

IP04 and IP13 offer comparable overall protection; choose based on the specific protection

IP04vsIP14

IP14 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP14 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP15

IP15 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP15 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP16

IP16 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP16 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP17

IP17 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP17 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP18

IP18 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP18 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP19K

IP19K offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP19K for harsher environments; I

IP04vsIP20

IP04 offers higher overall protection than IP20. Choose IP04 for harsher environments; IP2

IP04vsIP21

IP04 offers higher overall protection than IP21. Choose IP04 for harsher environments; IP2

IP04vsIP22

IP04 and IP22 offer comparable overall protection; choose based on the specific protection

IP04vsIP23

IP23 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP23 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP24

IP24 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP24 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP25

IP25 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP25 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP26

IP26 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP26 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP27

IP27 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP27 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP28

IP28 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP28 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP29K

IP29K offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP29K for harsher environments; I

IP04vsIP30

IP04 offers higher overall protection than IP30. Choose IP04 for harsher environments; IP3

IP04vsIP31

IP04 and IP31 offer comparable overall protection; choose based on the specific protection

IP04vsIP32

IP32 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP32 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP33

IP33 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP33 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP34

IP34 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP34 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP35

IP35 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP35 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP36

IP36 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP36 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP37

IP37 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP37 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP38

IP38 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP38 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP39K

IP39K offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP39K for harsher environments; I

IP04vsIP40

IP04 and IP40 offer comparable overall protection; choose based on the specific protection

IP04vsIP41

IP41 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP41 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP42

IP42 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP42 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP43

IP43 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP43 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP44

IP44 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP44 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP45

IP45 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP45 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP46

IP46 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP46 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP47

IP47 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP47 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP48

IP48 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP48 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP49K

IP49K offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP49K for harsher environments; I

IP04vsIP50

IP50 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP50 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP51

IP51 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP52

IP52 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP52 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP53

IP53 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP53 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP54

IP54 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP54 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP55

IP55 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP55 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP56

IP56 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP56 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP57

IP57 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP57 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP58

IP58 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP58 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP59K

IP59K offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP59K for harsher environments; I

IP04vsIP60

IP60 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP60 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP61

IP61 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP61 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP62

IP62 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP62 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP63

IP63 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP63 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP64

IP64 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP64 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP65

IP65 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP65 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP66

IP66 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP66 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP67

IP67 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP67 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP68

IP68 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP68 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP69K

IP69K offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP69K for harsher environments; I

IP04

What IP04 means

Full specification table

Typical applications

NEMA equivalent

Recommended products for IP04

All IP04 comparisons

Frequently asked questions about IP04

IP04

What IP04 means

Full specification table

Typical applications

NEMA equivalent

Recommended products for IP04

All IP04 comparisons

Frequently asked questions about IP04

What IP04 means

Full specification table

Typical applications

NEMA equivalent

Recommended products for IP04

All IP04 comparisons

Frequently asked questions about IP04

What does IP04 mean?

Can IP04 be used outdoors?

Does IP04 protect against dust?

Related IP ratings

What IP04 means

Full specification table

Typical applications

NEMA equivalent

Recommended products for IP04

All IP04 comparisons

Frequently asked questions about IP04

What does IP04 mean?

Can IP04 be used outdoors?

Does IP04 protect against dust?

Related IP ratings