These are the tests that mobiles have to pass to be IP68

These are the tests that mobiles have to pass to be IP68.

Relatively recently, water and dust resistance was one of those premium features that only existed on the flagships of major phone makers. Today, however, has become one of the benefits most valued by users and we can also find low and mid-range smartphones on the market with high protection against these elements.

To easily and quickly identify the resistance level of a mobile phone (or any electronic device), there is the IP certification; at the moment, the highest degree of IP protection that a phone can have against water and dust is IP68. Let’s see what that certification means and what tests a phone must pass to obtain it.

What is the degree of IP protection

IP certification is a standard created by the International Electrotechnical Commission (known as IEC: International Electrotechnical Commission) to qualify the level of protection that the container materials of a device or equipment have against the entry of foreign elements (liquids or dust).

In other words, the degree of IP protection of a mobile phone tells us how resistant it is against the entry of dust and water (we have from devices that only support splashes to those that can be submerged at different depths).

This degree of IP protection is defined by the international standard IEC 60529 Degrees of Protection (which was initially developed to indicate the degree of protection of boxes that enclose electrical equipment) and is made up of two letters (IP) and two figures:

• The IP letters They are the initials of “Ingress Protection”, that is, the protection against the entry (or entry) of objects that invade the container of any computer.

  

• The value of the first numeric digit describes the level of protection against dust.

• The value of the second numeric digit indicates the level of protection against liquids (usually water).

  

As a general rule it can be established that the higher the number in both cases, the more protection the device in question will offer. To certify the level of protection of each piece of equipment, the IEC 60529 standard establishes that it must meet a series of conditions that we detail in these tables:

DUST RESISTANCE
IP0X	No special protection
IP1X	Protected against solid objects with a diameter greater than 50mm
IP2X	Protected against solid objects with a diameter greater than 12.5 mm
IP3X	Protected against solid objects with a diameter greater than 2.5 mm
IP4X	Protected against solid objects with a diameter greater than 1mm
IP5X	Protected against dust; limited entry (no harmful deposits)
IP6X	Total protection against dust

WATERPROOF
IPX0	No special protection
IPX1	Protected against spilled water (dripping)
IPX2	Protected against spilled water (dripping) when tilted up to 15 degrees from its normal position
IPX3	Protected against sprayed water
IPX4	Protected against splashing water
IPX5	Protected against water in pressure jets
IPX6	Protected against high pressure jets
IPX7	Protected against the effects of immersion at 1 meter for 30 minutes
IPX8	Protected against submersion to a certain depth (to be specified by the manufacturer) and more than 30 minutes

As we can see, the levels of filtration of solids (dust) go from 0 to 6, while protection against liquids (water) is measured from 0 to 8. In addition, there is a IPX9K level defined by German standard DIN 40050-9 (not by the IEC 60529 standard), which certifies protection against short-range jets at high pressure and high temperature. It is used for electrical or electronic equipment in road vehicles.

Sometimes, we can also find an IP certification number that contains an “X” in place of the first or second number; This does not necessarily mean that the device is not protected against either of the two elements, but rather that it has not been tested against one of them. For example, an IPX7 rated device is protected against accidental immersion in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes, but has not been tested against ingress of dust.

What is necessary to obtain the IP68 certification

As we said, the highest degree of IP protection that a phone can have against water and dust is IP68. That is, complete protection against dust (IP6X) and against immersion to a depth specified by the manufacturer but greater than 1 meter and for a minimum time of 30 minutes (IPX8).

The international standard IEC 60529 establishes that, to achieve this IP68 certification, the electrical / electronic equipment (in this case, the mobile) must successfully pass two tests in the laboratory of an independent entity:

• On the one hand, it has to withstand (without any filtration) the full and continuous immersion to the depth and for the time specified by the manufacturer of the product, but provided conditions more severe than those specified for the IPX7 value result. That is, more than 1 meter deep and for more than 30 minutes.

• And on the other, dust cannot enter the product under any circumstances.

In these independent and certified tests, the design and resistance of the terminal are put to the limit in terms of tightness and sealing in order to ensure that no external element, neither dust nor liquid, can damage the electronics inside the phone.

How the tests are performed

The tests for both the IP68 certification and the rest of the IP levels are carried out in static environments, in controlled environments with IEC accredited test equipment and under specific conditions that meet the requirements described by the International Standard IEC 60529. Normally, these conditions imply a temperature between 15 and 35 degrees Celsius (60 to 95 Fahrenheit) and a pressure between 86 and 106 kilopascals.

The tests are carried out in the laboratory of an independent entity and under specific conditions that meet the requirements of the IEC 60529 standard.

To establish dust resistance, the device is exposed to particles of different sizes (50 mm in diameter for IP1X or 1 mm for IP4X, for example) and after each test its interior is examined to verify that they have not penetrated and have not damaged the internal components.

In the case of IP5X and IP6X protection, the terminal is placed in a container to literally cover it with dust; To obtain the IP6X protection level, the test usually lasts 2 hours and after it, unlike the IP5X certification (which admits a limited entry of dust in an amount that does not interfere with the correct operation of the equipment), check that the dust has not entered under any circumstances on the mobile phone.

For its part, to determine the level of protection against liquids, the device is exposed to water in different ways– drips from different angles, sprayed water, jets at various speeds and pressures, and dives to different depths at various time intervals. As in the case of dust, After each test it is verified that the interior of the terminal does not show any traces of liquids that may damage components.

To certify the IPX7 protection level, the phone must withstand complete immersion in an enclosure at a depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes without any filtration. As we have said before, in the case of the IPX8 classification, the mobile has to endure without any filtration full and continuous immersion to the depth and for the time specified by the manufacturer (provided they are more severe conditions than those specified by the IPX7 level).

In this samsung videoFor example, we can see how the tests were carried out on the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge to certify their degree of protection IP68:

The most common for IP68 certification is withstand a prolonged immersion of 30 minutes at a depth of 1.5 meters (like Samsung’s Galaxy Note 9); however, that depth and that time are given by the manufacturer, and today we already find devices that exceed those values. In the case of the new iPhone Xs and Xs Max, for example, Apple specifies that they support up to 2 meters of depth for a maximum of 30 minutes.

Aspects to consider

An important detail is that these tests are performed with fresh water at room temperatureTherefore, under no circumstances is it advisable to submerge the smartphone in the sea or in salt water, nor to use it in humid areas at high temperatures such as hot tubs or saunas. And of course, the IP68 certification does not guarantee protection against immersion in other liquids such as beer, coffee or soft drinks, to give a few examples.

In fact, all manufacturers warn that the tests carried out to obtain the certification are carried out in a controlled environment, so Intensive use under other varying conditions could damage the phone..

Apple, for example, clarifies that: “The tests have been carried out under control in a laboratory and both models have obtained the IP68 qualification according to the IEC 60529 standard (up to 2 meters deep for a maximum of 30 minutes). Splash, water and dust resistance is not permanent and may decrease as a consequence of habitual use. “In addition, the health is cured by adding:” The warranty does not cover damage caused by liquids. “

On the other hand, that a mobile has a type of certification, does not mean that it offers all levels of resistance, even if they are below its scale. That is, unless otherwise specified, a mobile with the maximum IP68 certification does not have to have been tested in dust protection levels 1 to 5, or in water protection levels 1 to 7.

The only manufacturer that includes two IP certificates is Sony, specifically IP65 and IP68. Which means that its terminals, such as the Xperia XZ2 Premium or the recently introduced Xperia XZ3, are resistant both to being submerged and to being exposed to low pressure jets (like a shower, for example).

However, Sony also indicates that: “It is important for you to know that the warranty does not cover damage or defects caused by abuse or improper use of the device, including use in environments where the limits set in the relevant IP ratings are exceeded“And he adds that you should not:” submerge the device completely, or expose it to sea water, salt water, chlorinated water or liquids such as drinks. ”

MIL STD 810G Military Certified – The Next Level

In addition to the various degrees of IP protection, there is another scale of resistance whose acronyms are not so well known: MIL-STD, also known as MIL-SPEC. It is the standard used by the United States Department of Defense in the equipment used by its soldiers, and is intended to homologate a resistance level much higher than usual, not only to water and dust, but also to falls, pressure, extreme temperatures, solar radiation, vibrations, etc.

Although in its beginnings it was part of the military field, the MIL-STD standard is increasingly common in industrial and technical environments where the use of equipment resistant to the harshest conditions is required. Little by little computers, laptops, tablets and even smartphones (like the LG G7 or the Samsung Galaxy S8 Active) are appearing, which also comply with this MIL-STD 810G standard.

East Toshiba video, for example, shows us the tough tests their X Series laptops have to endure to get the MIL STD 810G military certification:

More information | IEC