Can IP03 be used outdoors?

No. IP03 only provides spraying water (up to 60°) — it is not suitable for outdoor rain or spray exposure. Use it indoors or in fully enclosed dry locations.

Does IP03 protect against dust?

No. IP03 has no solid-object protection (first digit 0). Dust and debris can freely enter the enclosure.

IP03

Q: What does IP03 mean?

IP03 means the enclosure has solid-protection level 0 (No Protection) and liquid-protection level 3 (Spraying Water (up to 60°)). No special protection against contact or ingress of solid foreign objects. Protection against spraying water. Water sprayed at an angle up to 60° on either side of the vertical shall have no harmful effects.

Last updated: Aug 9, 2026

Designed for environments requiring no protection against solid objects and protection against spraying water. Water sprayed at an angle up to 60° on either side of the vertical shall have no harmful effects., IP03 is an IEC 60529 code combining solid level 0 with liquid level 3.

Solid 0

No Protection

Liquid 3

Spraying Water (up to 60°)

What IP03 means

The IP code IP03 is part of the IEC 60529 standard for ingress protection. The first characteristic numeral, 0, indicates the level of protection against solid objects and access to hazardous parts. The second numeral, 3, indicates the level of protection against the ingress of water. Together, these digits describe exactly what an enclosure rated IP03 can withstand.

For solid protection, the digit 0 means the enclosure is no protection. No special protection against contact or ingress of solid foreign objects. The test method is no test required.

For liquid protection, the digit 3 means the enclosure resists spraying water (up to 60°). Protection against spraying water. Water sprayed at an angle up to 60° on either side of the vertical shall have no harmful effects. The test procedure is oscillating tube or spray nozzle with 80° aperture; water pressure 50–150 kpa depending on device; 5 minutes minimum.

IP03 vs IP04: the higher rating adds splashing water. IP03 vs IP65: IP65 is dust-tight and water-jet resistant — a major upgrade for outdoor use. When specifying IP03 for a project, confirm the rating certificate from the manufacturer and consider that seals degrade over time with temperature cycling, UV exposure, and chemical contact.

Full specification table

Parameter	Solid digit (0)	Liquid digit (3)
Protection level	No Protection	Spraying Water (up to 60°)
Description	No special protection against contact or ingress of solid foreign objects.	Protection against spraying water. Water sprayed at an angle up to 60° on either side of the vertical shall have no harmful effects.
Test method	No test required.	Oscillating tube or spray nozzle with 80° aperture; water pressure 50–150 kPa depending on device; 5 minutes minimum.
Object size / water pressure	Not applicable	80 kPa (tube) / 50 kPa (nozzle)
Test distance	Per standard	200 mm (tube) / 200–500 mm (nozzle)
Test duration	Per standard	10 minutes

Typical applications

Sheltered outdoor fixtures

Covered industrial equipment

NEMA equivalent

No direct NEMA equivalent — NEMA 250 does not map this combination.

Recommended products for IP03

enclosure

IP03 indoor enclosure

All IP03 comparisons

69 pairs

IP00vsIP03

IP03 offers higher overall protection than IP00. Choose IP03 for harsher environments; IP0

IP01vsIP03

IP03 offers higher overall protection than IP01. Choose IP03 for harsher environments; IP0

IP02vsIP03

IP03 offers higher overall protection than IP02. Choose IP03 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP04

IP04 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP04 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP05

IP05 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP05 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP06

IP06 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP06 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP07

IP07 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP07 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP08

IP08 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP08 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP09K

IP09K offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP09K for harsher environments; I

IP03vsIP10

IP03 offers higher overall protection than IP10. Choose IP03 for harsher environments; IP1

IP03vsIP11

IP03 offers higher overall protection than IP11. Choose IP03 for harsher environments; IP1

IP03vsIP12

IP03 and IP12 offer comparable overall protection; choose based on the specific protection

IP03vsIP13

IP13 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP13 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP14

IP14 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP14 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP15

IP15 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP15 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP16

IP16 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP16 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP17

IP17 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP17 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP18

IP18 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP18 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP19K

IP19K offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP19K for harsher environments; I

IP03vsIP20

IP03 offers higher overall protection than IP20. Choose IP03 for harsher environments; IP2

IP03vsIP21

IP03 and IP21 offer comparable overall protection; choose based on the specific protection

IP03vsIP22

IP22 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP22 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP23

IP23 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP23 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP24

IP24 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP24 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP25

IP25 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP25 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP26

IP26 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP26 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP27

IP27 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP27 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP28

IP28 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP28 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP29K

IP29K offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP29K for harsher environments; I

IP03vsIP30

IP03 and IP30 offer comparable overall protection; choose based on the specific protection

IP03vsIP31

IP31 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP31 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP32

IP32 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP32 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP33

IP33 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP33 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP34

IP34 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP34 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP35

IP35 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP35 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP36

IP36 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP36 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP37

IP37 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP37 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP38

IP38 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP38 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP39K

IP39K offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP39K for harsher environments; I

IP03vsIP40

IP40 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP40 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP41

IP41 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP41 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP42

IP42 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP42 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP43

IP43 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP43 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP44

IP44 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP44 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP45

IP45 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP45 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP46

IP46 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP46 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP47

IP47 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP47 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP48

IP48 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP48 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP49K

IP49K offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP49K for harsher environments; I

IP03vsIP50

IP50 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP50 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP51

IP51 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP51 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP52

IP52 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP52 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP53

IP53 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP53 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP54

IP54 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP54 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP55

IP55 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP55 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP56

IP56 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP56 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP57

IP57 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP57 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP58

IP58 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP58 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP59K

IP59K offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP59K for harsher environments; I

IP03vsIP60

IP60 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP60 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP61

IP61 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP61 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP62

IP62 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP62 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP63

IP63 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP63 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP64

IP64 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP64 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP65

IP65 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP65 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP66

IP66 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP66 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP67

IP67 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP67 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP68

IP68 offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP68 for harsher environments; IP0

IP03vsIP69K

IP69K offers higher overall protection than IP03. Choose IP69K for harsher environments; I

IP03

What IP03 means

Full specification table

Typical applications

NEMA equivalent

Recommended products for IP03

All IP03 comparisons

Frequently asked questions about IP03

IP03

What IP03 means

Full specification table

Typical applications

NEMA equivalent

Recommended products for IP03

All IP03 comparisons

Frequently asked questions about IP03

What IP03 means

Full specification table

Typical applications

NEMA equivalent

Recommended products for IP03

All IP03 comparisons

Frequently asked questions about IP03

What does IP03 mean?

Can IP03 be used outdoors?

Does IP03 protect against dust?

Related IP ratings

What IP03 means

Full specification table

Typical applications

NEMA equivalent

Recommended products for IP03

All IP03 comparisons

Frequently asked questions about IP03

What does IP03 mean?

Can IP03 be used outdoors?

Does IP03 protect against dust?

Related IP ratings