IP51
Last updated: Aug 9, 2026With IP51, an enclosure receives dust-protected (limited ingress, no harmful deposit) and protection against vertically falling drops of water. Dripping water shall have no harmful effects.. It is an IEC 60529 ingress protection code combining first-digit (solid) level 5 with second-digit (liquid) level 1.
Solid 5
Dust-Protected
Liquid 1
Vertically Dripping Water
What IP51 means
The IP code IP51 is part of the IEC 60529 standard for ingress protection. The first characteristic numeral, 5, indicates the level of protection against solid objects and access to hazardous parts. The second numeral, 1, indicates the level of protection against the ingress of water. Together, these digits describe exactly what an enclosure rated IP51 can withstand.
For solid protection, the digit 5 means the enclosure is dust-protected. Protected against access to hazardous parts with a wire. Dust ingress is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in a quantity sufficient to interfere with satisfactory operation of the equipment or impair safety. The test method is dust chamber (talcum powder) for 8 hours with enclosure under reduced internal pressure; dust ingress acceptable only if it does not impair operation or safety.
For liquid protection, the digit 1 means the enclosure resists vertically dripping water. Protection against vertically falling drops of water. Dripping water shall have no harmful effects. The test procedure is drip box producing 1 mm/min rainfall; enclosure tested for 10 minutes in normal operating position.
IP51 vs IP52: the higher rating adds dripping water at 15° tilt. IP51 vs IP65: IP65 is dust-tight and water-jet resistant — a major upgrade for outdoor use. When specifying IP51 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 (5) | Liquid digit (1) |
|---|---|---|
| Protection level | Dust-Protected | Vertically Dripping Water |
| Description | Protected against access to hazardous parts with a wire. Dust ingress is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in a quantity sufficient to interfere with satisfactory operation of the equipment or impair safety. | Protection against vertically falling drops of water. Dripping water shall have no harmful effects. |
| Test method | Dust chamber (talcum powder) for 8 hours with enclosure under reduced internal pressure; dust ingress acceptable only if it does not impair operation or safety. | Drip box producing 1 mm/min rainfall; enclosure tested for 10 minutes in normal operating position. |
| Object size / water pressure | Limited dust ingress | 0.1 mm/min drip rate |
| Test distance | Per standard | 200 mm above |
| Test duration | Per standard | 10 minutes |
Typical applications
Indoor electronic enclosures
Climate-controlled equipment housings
Indoor electrical panels
Indoor instruments
NEMA equivalent
Recommended products for IP51
IP51 indoor enclosure
All IP51 comparisons
69 pairsIP51 offers higher overall protection than IP00. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP0
IP51 offers higher overall protection than IP01. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP0
IP51 offers higher overall protection than IP02. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP0
IP51 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP0
IP51 offers higher overall protection than IP04. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP0
IP51 offers higher overall protection than IP05. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP0
IP06 and IP51 offer comparable overall protection; choose based on the specific protection
IP07 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP07 for harsher environments; IP5
IP08 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP08 for harsher environments; IP5
IP09K offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP09K for harsher environments; I
IP51 offers higher overall protection than IP10. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP1
IP51 offers higher overall protection than IP11. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP1
IP51 offers higher overall protection than IP12. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP1
IP51 offers higher overall protection than IP13. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP1
IP51 offers higher overall protection than IP14. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP1
IP15 and IP51 offer comparable overall protection; choose based on the specific protection
IP16 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP16 for harsher environments; IP5
IP17 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP17 for harsher environments; IP5
IP18 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP18 for harsher environments; IP5
IP19K offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP19K for harsher environments; I
IP51 offers higher overall protection than IP20. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP2
IP51 offers higher overall protection than IP21. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP2
IP51 offers higher overall protection than IP22. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP2
IP51 offers higher overall protection than IP23. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP2
IP24 and IP51 offer comparable overall protection; choose based on the specific protection
IP25 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP25 for harsher environments; IP5
IP26 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP26 for harsher environments; IP5
IP27 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP27 for harsher environments; IP5
IP28 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP28 for harsher environments; IP5
IP29K offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP29K for harsher environments; I
IP51 offers higher overall protection than IP30. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP3
IP51 offers higher overall protection than IP31. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP3
IP51 offers higher overall protection than IP32. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP3
IP33 and IP51 offer comparable overall protection; choose based on the specific protection
IP34 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP34 for harsher environments; IP5
IP35 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP35 for harsher environments; IP5
IP36 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP36 for harsher environments; IP5
IP37 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP37 for harsher environments; IP5
IP38 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP38 for harsher environments; IP5
IP39K offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP39K for harsher environments; I
IP51 offers higher overall protection than IP40. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP4
IP51 offers higher overall protection than IP41. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP4
IP42 and IP51 offer comparable overall protection; choose based on the specific protection
IP43 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP43 for harsher environments; IP5
IP44 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP44 for harsher environments; IP5
IP45 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP45 for harsher environments; IP5
IP46 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP46 for harsher environments; IP5
IP47 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP47 for harsher environments; IP5
IP48 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP48 for harsher environments; IP5
IP49K offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP49K for harsher environments; I
IP51 offers higher overall protection than IP50. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP5
IP52 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP52 for harsher environments; IP5
IP53 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP53 for harsher environments; IP5
IP54 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP54 for harsher environments; IP5
IP55 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP55 for harsher environments; IP5
IP56 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP56 for harsher environments; IP5
IP57 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP57 for harsher environments; IP5
IP58 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP58 for harsher environments; IP5
IP59K offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP59K for harsher environments; I
IP51 and IP60 offer comparable overall protection; choose based on the specific protection
IP61 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP61 for harsher environments; IP5
IP62 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP62 for harsher environments; IP5
IP63 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP63 for harsher environments; IP5
IP64 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP64 for harsher environments; IP5
IP65 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP65 for harsher environments; IP5
IP66 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP66 for harsher environments; IP5
IP67 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP67 for harsher environments; IP5
IP68 offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP68 for harsher environments; IP5
IP69K offers higher overall protection than IP51. Choose IP69K for harsher environments; I