The Ingress Protection (IP): an important criterion when choosing a defibrillator
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are medical devices that require very specific technological know-how in order to optimize their use as well as their reliability over time.
Depending on the environment in which the AED is placed, it is necessary to ensure its proper functioning. Whether indoors or outdoors, the IP of the device is a key factor to consider.
The IP is an international standard of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). They are used to define levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies (tools, dirt etc) and moisture.
The table below indicates the meaning of each number that follow the IP:
- 1st digit: Indicates the degree of protection of enclosed equipment from foreign bodies
- 2nd digit: Defines the protection level that the enclosure enjoys from various forms of moisture (drips, sprays, submersion etc).
1st digit: Intrusion Protection | 2nd digit: Moisture Protection | |
0 | No protection | No protection |
1 | Protected against solid objects of 50 mm diameter and greater | Protected against vertically falling water drops |
2 | Protected against solid objects of 12.5 mm diameter and greater | Protected against vertically falling water drops when enclosure is tilted up to 15° |
3 | Protected against solid objects of 2.5 mm diameter and greater | Protected against vertically falling water drops when enclosure is tilted up to 60° |
4 | Protected against solid objects of 1 mm diameter and greater | Protected against splashing water from any direction |
5 | Dust protected (prevents ingress of dust sufficient to cause harm) | Protected against water jets from any angle |
6 | Dust-tight | Protected against powerful water jets (prevents ingress sufficient to cause harm) |
7 | Protected against the effects of temporary immersion in water of a depth between 15 cm and 1 m for 30 minutes | |
8 | Protected against effects of long periods of immersion, max depths and durations determined by the manufacturer |
There is no regulation in force concerning the ingress protection of AEDs.
Before choosing, it is necessary to take into account the environment in which your machine will be placed: in an outer casing subject to changes of temperature and humidity? Inside but subjected to dust?
The higher the IP, the better the defibrillator will be protected against external intrusions.
Lucky our FRED PA-1 has an IP55!