IP Rating: What does it mean for your workshop equipment?

What does IP rating mean?

Even the cleanest workshops can be chaotic environments:

Heavy machinery grinding dust and particles — and wash bays and vehicles leaking water and oil.

These liquids and solids can work their way into your equipment, causing damage and malfunctions (and potential safety risks).

The best workshop equipment is designed to resist those environments, with a specific IP rating that tells your teams where a tool can be safely used.

Here’s what you need to know about IP ratings — what they mean, how to read them, and the different environments they’re built for:

What does an IP rating really mean?

IP stands for ‘Ingress Protection’, a measure of how well the equipment blocks liquids and particles from getting inside.

Every IP rating comes with two numbers:

• The first digit (0–6) shows the protection against solids — like dust or metal shavings.
• The second digit (0–9) shows the protection against liquids — like water or oil.

So a rating of IP00 offers zero protection against both, while a rating of IP69 offers the highest protection against both.

There’s a full range of ratings for both numbers in between, where each piece of equipment is assessed separately for solids and liquids.

For example:

On the low end, a multimeter might have a rating of IP30. It has decent protection against dust and particles, but no protection against liquids.

A , meaning it has high protection against solids (from the metal parts it presses), and decent protection against liquid (from the oil in pressed bearings).

At a high level, a washbay mobile column lift could have a rating of IP67, meaning it’s strongly protected against both solids and water.

Why does it matter for workshops?

With so many different activities all under one roof (and often in a small premises), there’s always going to be some splashback between different workstations.

Grinding and cutting releases particles into the air — and plenty of vehicle components contain liquids and oils.

Without the right IP rating on the equipment you use, you could end up with:

• Short-lived equipment — and costly replacements
• Higher maintenance and repair costs
• Equipment out of action — leading to downtime on your services
• Unsafe equipment with the potential for incidents.

That’s true for almost every piece of equipment. But it’s especially important for any tools with electrical systems, like diagnostic equipment or vehicle lifts.

Just a small amount of liquid or solids can cause serious damage to the circuitry inside — affecting the accuracy of your tests, the lifespan of the equipment, and the safety of your teams.

 

Common IP ratings and what they mean

With two separate scales to consider, there’s a wide range of potential ratings. Here are some of the most common IP ratings in workshop equipment — and where you might expect to see them:

 

IP Rating	Example equipment	What it means
IP21	Induction heater, multimeter	Protected against large solids (12.5mm diameter) and vertical water drops
IP30 / IP40	Pocket lamp, screwdriver	Protected against small solids (2.5mm diameter), no liquid protection
IP43 / IP45	Jump starters, battery chargers	Protected against tiny solids (1mm diameter) and sprays of water
IP54	Lamps and LED lighting	Protected against dust and splashes of water
IP55	Wash bay column lift, Heavy duty four post lift	Dust-tight, and protected against temporary immersion

 

 

How to choose the right workshop IP rating

In a perfect world, all your equipment would have the best protection. But the higher the IP rating, the higher the cost of the tool.

Instead, you need to pick the right tool for the purpose and the situation. That means thinking about:

• Where it’s used — Indoors or outdoors? Is it used in a wash bay?
• What’s around it — Is it used next to a hydraulic press station? Is the wash bay close by?
• The type of tool — Does it have electrical systems? Does it apply force to metal parts?
• Where it’s stored — Does your storage area have high moisture levels?
• How it’s used — Do your teams switch from wet or oily components to using this tool?

What’s important is that you match the right equipment protection level to the job and situation at hand.

For example:

An IP54 column lift is great for indoor use. But if you’re working outside or in a washbay, you’ll need an IP67 instead.

An IP21 induction heater should be fine for general use. But if it’s used next to a workstation producing dust, you might need something higher.

IP ratings vs. ‘dustproof’ and ‘waterproof’

If you’re shopping for new equipment, don’t fall for the trap of phrases like ‘water-resistant’ or ‘dustproof’ (unless they’re backed by an IP rating as well). These are often marketing terms used loosely by suppliers — they’re not exact ratings of protection.

While there are things you could call a ‘waterproof IP rating’, it’s the IP part that matters — not the word ‘waterproof’!

So when you’re choosing equipment, always dig deeper for the precise IP rating and their numbers. You’ll know exactly what the equipment can handle and where it should be used.

IP ratings are set by international standards (IEC 60529), which means it’s a system you can trust to give you a precise understanding of the protection and safety it provides.

You can see the full IP rating chart for tools on their site — with every number explained in full detail.

1.  Are IP ratings important for mobile lifts?

IP ratings are important for mobile vehicle lifts. But the IP rating you need will depend on how you intend to use it.

For outdoor use or lifting in a wash bay, you need a higher IP rating — like the IP55 rating on the G9DC Wash Bay Mobile Column Lift.

If you’re lifting vehicles in a typical indoor setting, you might not need an IP rating that high. But you will still need some to protect from the dust of a workshop, and any liquids that might spill from the vehicle during a service.

 

2.  Which IP rating is 100% waterproof?

The highest IP rating against water is a 9 in the second digit — that could be IP49, IP59, and so on.

That means your equipment is protected against jets of water at high pressure and temperature. It’s also protected from continuous immersion in water for a limited time (this time can vary).

So for everyday purposes, you can consider an IP rating of 9 as ‘waterproof’. But technically, it can’t survive underwater forever!

3.  Is IP55 too high for indoor workshop tools?

It depends on the tool and how and where it’s used. For vehicle lifts (like a heavy duty four post lift), a rating of IP55 is a good level of protection for the columns. Vehicles raised on lifts can leak oils and liquids that can work their way into the electrical circuits — so a strong IP rating can help keep your equipment safe.

In terms of protection, there’s no such thing as ‘too high’. But since higher IP ratings usually mean more expensive equipment, you should match the IP rating to the type of tool and the way it’s used — enough to stay protected, without overspending.

Need help choosing the right IP ratings?

With two separate ratings and a whole range of workshop environments, picking the right IP rating isn’t a simple task.

So if you’re still not sure, we’re here to help:

Start a chat with a workshop equipment expert and tell us what you’re looking for — and we’ll help you choose the tools with the level of protection you need.