October 1, 2020   |   3 Minute Read

Manufacturing equipment can become dirty – collecting a lot of dust and grime just from day-to-day use. This can create a need for a regular washing of the equipment, but the bigger question is: can your electrical equipment handle the wear and tear that comes with these wash downs?

The Ingress Protection (IP) rating system is used to measure how well a piece of equipment is protected against environmental factors like water, dust or other pollutants. Whether your machinery is constantly collecting dirt, grease and grime, getting pressure washed on a regular basis, or both – you need to trust that the equipment shell is durable enough to protect the mechanical and electrical components from potential damage. This is particularly important in the food and beverage industry, where federal regulations require frequent sanitation and protection against bacteria growth.

The strongest possible IP rating is IP69K. The first number, six, refers to protection against solids. The number nine refers to protection against liquid. An IP69K rating means that the equipment is air-tight to protect from dust and against close-range, high-pressure, high-temperature spray downs. There is no higher rating in the IP system – and Werner Electric Supply has a complete line of IP69K products!

The Hoffman HyShed Enclosure, for example, offers:

• HMI (Human Machine Interface)
• Pushbuttons
• Wire entry devices
• Conduit fittings
• Flexible conduit
• Disconnects

The Hyshed Enclosure also features a replaceable, FDA-approve blue silicone gasket, internally mounted hinges to reduce bacteria, hygienic latching mechanisms and a 3-A System Component Qualification Certificate to ensure a highly-hygienic performance.

Tony Monday, one of Werner Electric’s product managers, is an expert on all things Hoffman. Contact Tony for valuable advice on IP69K ratings and learn how you can best equip your workplace with top-quality Hoffman products.