IK Test EN 62262

The European standard EN 62262 — the equivalent of international standard IEC 62262 (2002) — relates to IK ratings. This is an international numeric classification for the degrees of protection provided by enclosures for electrical equipment against external mechanical impacts. It provides a means of specifying the capacity of an enclosure to protect its contents from external impacts. The IK Code was originally defined in European Standard BS EN 50102 (1995, amended 1998). Following its adoption as an international standard in 2002, the European standard was renumbered EN 62262.

Before the advent of the IK code, a third numeral had been occasionally added to the closely related IP Code on ingress protection, to indicate the level of impact protection — e.g. IP66(9). Nonstandard use of this system was one of the factors leading to the development of this standard, which uses a separate two numeral code to distinguish it from the old differing systems. The standard came into effect in October 1995 and conflicting national standards had to be withdrawn by April 1997.

EN 62262 specifies the way enclosures should be mounted when tests are carried out, the atmospheric conditions that should prevail, the number of impacts (5) and their (even) distribution, and the size, style, material, dimensions etc. of the various types of hammer designed to produce the energy levels required.

IK code and impact energy (values changed in Amd 1:1998)

IK code	IK00	IK01	IK02	IK03	IK04	IK05	IK06	IK07	IK08	IK09	IK10
Impact energy (joule)	*	0.14	0.2	0.35	0.5	0.7	1	2	5	10	20

Impact test characteristics

IK code	IK00	IK01 to IK05	IK06	IK07	IK08	IK09	IK10
Impact energy (joules)	*	<1	1	2	5	10	20
R mm (radius of striking element)	*	10	10	25	25	50	50
Material	*	polyamide1	polyamide2	steel2	steel2	steel2	steel2
Mass kg	*	0.2	0.5	0.5	1.7	5	5
Pendulum hammer	*	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Spring hammer	*	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Free fall hammer	*	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

* not protected according to the standard

1. R100 Rockwell hardness according to ISO 2039/2
2. Fc 490-2, Rockwell hardness according to ISO 1052
   

   The EN 62262 IK rating classifies the level of protection that electrical appliances provide against

   mechanic impacts from outside. It is defined by standard EN/IEC 62262.

   Code	Impact energy	Resistant against an impact from an object of
   00	Non-protected
   01	0.150 joules	0.44 lbs (200 grams) thrown from a distance of 2.9" (7.5 cm)
   02	0.200 joules	0.44 lbs (200 grams) thrown from a distance of 3.9" (10 cm)
   03	0.350 joules	0.44 lbs (200 grams) thrown from a distance of 6.9" (17.5 cm)
   04	0.500 joules	0.44 lbs (200 grams) thrown from a distance of 9.8" (25 cm)
   05	0.700 joules	0.44 lbs (200 grams) thrown from a distance of 13.8" (35 cm)
   06	1.00 joules	1.1 lbs (500 grams) thrown from a distance of 7.9" (20 cm)
   07	2.00 joules	1.1 lbs (500 grams) thrown from a distance of 15.7" (40 cm)
   08	5.00 joules	3.8 lbs (1.7 kg) thrown from a distance of 11.6" (29.5 cm)
   09	10.00 joules	11 lbs (5 kg) thrown from a distance of 7.9" (20 cm)
   10	20.00 joules	11 lbs (5 kg) thrown from a distance of 15.7" (40 cm)