Can IP42 be used outdoors?

No. IP42 only provides dripping water at 15° tilt — it is not suitable for outdoor rain or spray exposure. Use it indoors or in fully enclosed dry locations.

Does IP42 protect against dust?

Only against large particles. IP42 blocks solid objects larger than 1.0 mm, but fine dust can enter. For dust protection choose first digit 5 (dust-protected) or 6 (dust-tight).

IP42

Q: What does IP42 mean?

IP42 means the enclosure has solid-protection level 4 (> 1 mm — Small Wires) and liquid-protection level 2 (Dripping Water at 15° Tilt). Protected against access to hazardous parts with a wire. Protected against solid foreign objects of 1 mm diameter and greater. Protection against vertically falling drops of water when the enclosure is tilted up to 15° from its normal position.

Last updated: Aug 9, 2026

With IP42, an enclosure receives protection against solid objects larger than 1.0 mm and protection against vertically falling drops of water when the enclosure is tilted up to 15° from its normal position.. It is an IEC 60529 ingress protection code combining first-digit (solid) level 4 with second-digit (liquid) level 2.

Solid 4

> 1 mm — Small Wires

Liquid 2

Dripping Water at 15° Tilt

What IP42 means

The IP code IP42 is part of the IEC 60529 standard for ingress protection. The first characteristic numeral, 4, indicates the level of protection against solid objects and access to hazardous parts. The second numeral, 2, indicates the level of protection against the ingress of water. Together, these digits describe exactly what an enclosure rated IP42 can withstand.

For solid protection, the digit 4 means the enclosure is > 1 mm — small wires. Protected against access to hazardous parts with a wire. Protected against solid foreign objects of 1 mm diameter and greater. The test method is access probe (1.0 mm rigid test wire) shall not penetrate with adequate clearance.

For liquid protection, the digit 2 means the enclosure resists dripping water at 15° tilt. Protection against vertically falling drops of water when the enclosure is tilted up to 15° from its normal position. The test procedure is drip box producing 3 mm/min rainfall; enclosure tilted at 15° in four directions for 2.5 minutes each (10 minutes total).

IP42 vs IP43: the higher rating adds spraying water. IP42 vs IP65: IP65 is dust-tight and water-jet resistant — a major upgrade for outdoor use. When specifying IP42 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 (4)	Liquid digit (2)
Protection level	> 1 mm — Small Wires	Dripping Water at 15° Tilt
Description	Protected against access to hazardous parts with a wire. Protected against solid foreign objects of 1 mm diameter and greater.	Protection against vertically falling drops of water when the enclosure is tilted up to 15° from its normal position.
Test method	Access probe (1.0 mm rigid test wire) shall not penetrate with adequate clearance.	Drip box producing 3 mm/min rainfall; enclosure tilted at 15° in four directions for 2.5 minutes each (10 minutes total).
Object size / water pressure	1.0 mm wire	0.3 mm/min drip rate
Test distance	Per standard	200 mm above
Test duration	Per standard	10 minutes (2.5 min × 4 positions)

Typical applications

Sheltered outdoor fixtures

Covered industrial equipment

NEMA equivalent

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

Recommended products for IP42

enclosure

IP42 indoor enclosure

All IP42 comparisons

69 pairs

IP00vsIP42

IP42 offers higher overall protection than IP00. Choose IP42 for harsher environments; IP0

IP01vsIP42

IP42 offers higher overall protection than IP01. Choose IP42 for harsher environments; IP0

IP02vsIP42

IP42 offers higher overall protection than IP02. Choose IP42 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP42

IP42 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP42 for harsher environments; IP0

IP04vsIP42

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

IP05vsIP42

IP42 offers higher overall protection than IP05. Choose IP42 for harsher environments; IP0

IP06vsIP42

IP06 and IP42 offer comparable overall protection; choose based on the specific protection

IP07vsIP42

IP07 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP07 for harsher environments; IP4

IP08vsIP42

IP08 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP08 for harsher environments; IP4

IP09KvsIP42

IP09K offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP09K for harsher environments; I

IP10vsIP42

IP42 offers higher overall protection than IP10. Choose IP42 for harsher environments; IP1

IP11vsIP42

IP42 offers higher overall protection than IP11. Choose IP42 for harsher environments; IP1

IP12vsIP42

IP42 offers higher overall protection than IP12. Choose IP42 for harsher environments; IP1

IP13vsIP42

IP42 offers higher overall protection than IP13. Choose IP42 for harsher environments; IP1

IP14vsIP42

IP42 offers higher overall protection than IP14. Choose IP42 for harsher environments; IP1

IP15vsIP42

IP15 and IP42 offer comparable overall protection; choose based on the specific protection

IP16vsIP42

IP16 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP16 for harsher environments; IP4

IP17vsIP42

IP17 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP17 for harsher environments; IP4

IP18vsIP42

IP18 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP18 for harsher environments; IP4

IP19KvsIP42

IP19K offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP19K for harsher environments; I

IP20vsIP42

IP42 offers higher overall protection than IP20. Choose IP42 for harsher environments; IP2

IP21vsIP42

IP42 offers higher overall protection than IP21. Choose IP42 for harsher environments; IP2

IP22vsIP42

IP42 offers higher overall protection than IP22. Choose IP42 for harsher environments; IP2

IP23vsIP42

IP42 offers higher overall protection than IP23. Choose IP42 for harsher environments; IP2

IP24vsIP42

IP24 and IP42 offer comparable overall protection; choose based on the specific protection

IP25vsIP42

IP25 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP25 for harsher environments; IP4

IP26vsIP42

IP26 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP26 for harsher environments; IP4

IP27vsIP42

IP27 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP27 for harsher environments; IP4

IP28vsIP42

IP28 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP28 for harsher environments; IP4

IP29KvsIP42

IP29K offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP29K for harsher environments; I

IP30vsIP42

IP42 offers higher overall protection than IP30. Choose IP42 for harsher environments; IP3

IP31vsIP42

IP42 offers higher overall protection than IP31. Choose IP42 for harsher environments; IP3

IP32vsIP42

IP42 offers higher overall protection than IP32. Choose IP42 for harsher environments; IP3

IP33vsIP42

IP33 and IP42 offer comparable overall protection; choose based on the specific protection

IP34vsIP42

IP34 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP34 for harsher environments; IP4

IP35vsIP42

IP35 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP35 for harsher environments; IP4

IP36vsIP42

IP36 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP36 for harsher environments; IP4

IP37vsIP42

IP37 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP37 for harsher environments; IP4

IP38vsIP42

IP38 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP38 for harsher environments; IP4

IP39KvsIP42

IP39K offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP39K for harsher environments; I

IP40vsIP42

IP42 offers higher overall protection than IP40. Choose IP42 for harsher environments; IP4

IP41vsIP42

IP42 offers higher overall protection than IP41. Choose IP42 for harsher environments; IP4

IP42vsIP43

IP43 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP43 for harsher environments; IP4

IP42vsIP44

IP44 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP44 for harsher environments; IP4

IP42vsIP45

IP45 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP45 for harsher environments; IP4

IP42vsIP46

IP46 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP46 for harsher environments; IP4

IP42vsIP47

IP47 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP47 for harsher environments; IP4

IP42vsIP48

IP48 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP48 for harsher environments; IP4

IP42vsIP49K

IP49K offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP49K for harsher environments; I

IP42vsIP50

IP42 offers higher overall protection than IP50. Choose IP42 for harsher environments; IP5

IP42vsIP51

IP42 and IP51 offer comparable overall protection; choose based on the specific protection

IP42vsIP52

IP52 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP52 for harsher environments; IP4

IP42vsIP53

IP53 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP53 for harsher environments; IP4

IP42vsIP54

IP54 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP54 for harsher environments; IP4

IP42vsIP55

IP55 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP55 for harsher environments; IP4

IP42vsIP56

IP56 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP56 for harsher environments; IP4

IP42vsIP57

IP57 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP57 for harsher environments; IP4

IP42vsIP58

IP58 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP58 for harsher environments; IP4

IP42vsIP59K

IP59K offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP59K for harsher environments; I

IP42vsIP60

IP42 and IP60 offer comparable overall protection; choose based on the specific protection

IP42vsIP61

IP61 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP61 for harsher environments; IP4

IP42vsIP62

IP62 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP62 for harsher environments; IP4

IP42vsIP63

IP63 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP63 for harsher environments; IP4

IP42vsIP64

IP64 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP64 for harsher environments; IP4

IP42vsIP65

IP65 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP65 for harsher environments; IP4

IP42vsIP66

IP66 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP66 for harsher environments; IP4

IP42vsIP67

IP67 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP67 for harsher environments; IP4

IP42vsIP68

IP68 offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP68 for harsher environments; IP4

IP42vsIP69K

IP69K offers higher overall protection than IP42. Choose IP69K for harsher environments; I

IP42

What IP42 means

Full specification table

Typical applications

NEMA equivalent

Recommended products for IP42

All IP42 comparisons

Frequently asked questions about IP42

IP42

What IP42 means

Full specification table

Typical applications

NEMA equivalent

Recommended products for IP42

All IP42 comparisons

Frequently asked questions about IP42

What IP42 means

Full specification table

Typical applications

NEMA equivalent

Recommended products for IP42

All IP42 comparisons

Frequently asked questions about IP42

What does IP42 mean?

Can IP42 be used outdoors?

Does IP42 protect against dust?

Related IP ratings

What IP42 means

Full specification table

Typical applications

NEMA equivalent

Recommended products for IP42

All IP42 comparisons

Frequently asked questions about IP42

What does IP42 mean?

Can IP42 be used outdoors?

Does IP42 protect against dust?

Related IP ratings