Industry Insights

In product development and foreign trade communications, we often encounter customers requesting a "waterproof rating of IP66 or IP67." But do you know how these claimed ratings are actually tested in a laboratory? If you need to send a product to a third-party lab for testing, how much budget should you prepare?

1. How Are These Tests Conducted?

Whether it's IP66, IP67, or IP69, the first digit "6" means complete dust protection, and this part of the test is the same for all of them: The product is placed in a dust test chamber filled with talcum powder, and a negative pressure is applied for 8 hours. Afterward, the enclosure is opened to check whether any dust has entered.

What truly sets them apart is the water protection test represented by the second digit:

·IP66 (Protection against powerful water jets): A nozzle with a diameter of 12.5 mm is used to spray water at a flow rate of 100 L/min from a distance of 2.5 to 3 meters at the product from all directions for at least 3 minutes. This simulates heavy rain or direct washing with a water hose.

·IP67 (Protection against short-term immersion): The product is completely immersed in water, with the lowest point at least 1 meter below the surface, for 30 minutes. This simulates accidental dropping into water.

·IP69 (Protection against high-temperature, high-pressure washdown): This is currently the most stringent test. Water at 80°C is sprayed at a high pressure of 80–100 bar from a close distance of only 10–15 cm. This simulates the "forceful" cleaning with high-pressure water guns in food factories or car wash facilities.

2. How Much Do the Tests Cost?

First, it's important to clarify: These tests must be conducted by a qualified third-party testing laboratory; it is very difficult for a factory to set up a compliant testing environment on its own.

There is no uniform pricing standard for testing costs; they are mainly affected by product size, testing level, and laboratory qualifications. Here are the current market reference prices:

·Single-level testing:

IP66 is relatively basic, with single-item testing typically costing 1,000–2,000 RMB.

IP67 includes immersion testing, with combined dust and water testing costing approximately 1,500–3,000 RMB.

IP69 / IP69K requires the most advanced equipment, with costs typically ranging from 3,000 to over 5,000 RMB.

·Product size (the biggest price variable): Small items (such as sensors or small enclosures) can use standard test chambers; large items (such as large cabinets) require "walk-in" large test chambers, and costs may double. For products over 1 meter in size, testing fees can reach 4,000–8,000 RMB.

·Sample quantity: Usually, 2 samples are required (one for dust testing, one for water testing).

·Qualified reports: Formal reports bearing the CNAS/CMA mark are the most widely recognized. They cost slightly more than basic preliminary tests, but they are essential for product certification or when submitting to major customers for review.

3. Advice for Developers

If the goal is simply to internally verify whether the structural design is sound, you can start with a preliminary test at a laboratory, which costs less than issuing a formal report.

If you are preparing for mass production and delivery or product certification, you must choose a qualified laboratory to issue a formal report. Before sending samples, first measure the maximum length, width, and height of the product, and directly request quotes from 2–3 testing institutions (such as electronics and electrical laboratories in Shenzhen or Guangzhou) to get a clear idea of the cost.

Understanding the standards and conducting reasonable testing can ensure product quality while avoiding unnecessary expenses during the development stage.