The IP protection class indicates how well an electrical device, such as a smartphone, is protected against the ingress of foreign bodies. This includes protection against both solids and liquids. IP stands for International Protection, or also Ingress Protection - the information varies at this point. The numerical code is made up of two digits. The first digit describes the size of the solid particles that can penetrate the device. It ranges from 0 (no protection or not tested) to 6 (dust-protected). The individual levels are differentiated according to the diameter of the particles.

The second digit stands for protection against water. It therefore describes how waterproof the housing of a device is. The scale ranges from 0 (no protection or not tested) to 8 (waterproof and suitable for continuous use under water). In a supplement, the IEC has also added class 9 (protection against powerful, hot water jets).

In some applications there is also a third category. This describes protection against the effects of force and is omitted in most cases.

Appliances are assigned to the individual levels in standardized tests. The guideline was defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission based in Geneva (Switzerland).

All PTM products meet the IP67 standard as standard. This means they are dust-tight and protected against temporary submersion.