IP68 vs IP69K: Washdown and Submersion Ratings
IP68 vs IP69K compared for washdown, immersion, food-industry environments, and catalog enrichment teams.
IP68 and IP69K look close on a spec sheet, but they answer different questions. IP68 is about continuous immersion. IP69K is about high-pressure, high-temperature washdown. That distinction matters for food plants, beverage lines, outdoor sensors, cable glands, connectors, and control components where the wrong environmental claim can create returns or safety risk. Claro enriches IP ratings as validated, source-linked attributes so a distributor can expose the right filters without converting one rating into the other.
At a glance
| Dimension | IP68 | IP69K |
|---|---|---|
| Core protection | Dust tight plus continuous immersion beyond IP67 conditions | Dust tight plus high-pressure, high-temperature water jets |
| Typical environment | Submerged sensors, pumps, buried connectors, flood-prone outdoor equipment | Food and beverage washdown, sanitation zones, vehicle cleaning, hygienic machinery |
| Test concept | Immersion depth and duration defined by manufacturer or standard context | Close-range high-pressure spray from multiple angles |
| Common buyer question | Can it stay underwater? | Can it survive hot pressure washing? |
| Catalog error | Presented as washdown-safe because the digit is high | Presented as immersion-safe when only washdown is proven |
Where each rating fits
IP68
Use IP68 when the product must tolerate continuous immersion or deeper/longer immersion than IP67. Examples include submerged sensors, pumps, outdoor connectors in flooded trenches, and devices installed where standing water is expected. The record should capture the full rating string and any stated depth or duration condition from the datasheet.
IP69K
Use IP69K when the product must survive aggressive washdown: hot water, high pressure, and close-range spray. This appears often in food processing, beverage, packaging, vehicle, and sanitary-equipment catalogs. The important catalog point is that IP69K does not automatically prove continuous immersion, just as IP68 does not automatically prove pressure-wash performance.
Product-record fields to capture
| Field | Recommended handling |
|---|---|
| IP rating | Store exact string: IP68, IP69K, or both |
| Immersion condition | For IP68, capture any depth, duration, or manufacturer condition stated in the source |
| Washdown suitability | For IP69K, capture hot-water/high-pressure washdown as a separate filterable attribute if your taxonomy supports it |
| Source document | Attach the datasheet page, certificate, or supplier declaration |
| Confidence | Flag marketing claims like 'waterproof' when no formal IP value is present |
Related
Glossary
IP Ratings Explained
How first and second IP digits work.
Glossary
IP Rating Chart
Reference the solids and liquids digit table.
Comparison
IP54 vs IP65 vs IP67
Compare common outdoor and immersion ratings.
FAQ
Is IP69K better than IP68?
Not universally. IP68 covers continuous immersion under conditions specified by the manufacturer, while IP69K covers high-pressure, high-temperature washdown. They are different tests. Food-processing products often need IP69K, while submerged products often need IP68.
Does IP68 mean washdown safe?
No. IP68 is an immersion rating, not a high-pressure washdown rating. If a product will be cleaned with high-pressure hot water, look for IP69K or a dual rating such as IP68/IP69K.
How should dual IP68/IP69K ratings be stored?
Store both ratings as distinct validated attributes with the source datasheet attached. Do not collapse the dual claim into only IP69K or only IP68, because buyers filter for different environmental requirements.
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