Three ratings, three different tests. IP65 survives a 6.3 mm hose jet, IP67 survives 30 minutes under a metre of water, IP69K survives an 80 °C washdown lance at 80 to 100 bar. None implies either of the others, so specify RAFI keypads and panels against your cleaning routine, not the highest number in the catalogue.
Figures come from RAFI's data sheets for the RAMO 22 and RAFIX 22 FS+ families and the off-highway keypads, plus the test conditions in IEC 60529 and ISO 20653.
The water digit is a test method, not a score
An IP code is two independent tests. The first digit covers solids, and 6 means dust-tight, verified with the enclosure at reduced pressure. The second digit covers water, and each number is a different attack.
The 9K test comes from ISO 20653, which absorbed the withdrawn German standard DIN 40050-9. IEC 60529 later added its own IP69 using the same procedure, which is why both spellings still circulate.
Three assumptions that break panels in service
- That a higher second digit is a superset. It is not. IP67 applies no jet, so a part can hold IP67 and fail an 80 bar lance in seconds. IP69K applies no immersion, so a part can hold IP69K and still not be rated for standing water.
- That one rating covers the whole device. A panel device is sealed at the front gasket. The rear, where the contacts and wiring sit, is either a lower rating or none.
- That a catalogue rating is an installed rating. RAFI states an IP 69 rating for the standard keypads and encoders when installed. The seal depends on gasket compression, a flat and clean cut-out, and the stated fixing torque, which RAFI caps at 1.2 Nm on the RAMO 22 and RAFIX 22 FS+ actuators.
Front of panel and back of panel carry different ratings
The RAMO 22 E emergency stop with M12 connection is the clearest example, because RAFI publishes both sides separately.
- Front side, DIN EN 60529: IP65, IP66, IP69.
- Rear side, DIN EN 60529: IP65, IP67.
- Front side, ISO 20653, IPx9K.
So the actuator head withstands a hot high-pressure washdown while the rear claims only lower-pressure jets plus brief immersion. If washdown water reaches the back of the panel, the front rating does not save you. Add the rear rating to the specification, or move the device into a sealed enclosure.
The rest of the datasheet decides service life just as much: -40 to +85 °C operating, 50,000 cycles, IK 07 impact on the side and IK 08 on the front, 50 g shock at 11 ms, 5 g vibration from 10 to 500 Hz, salt spray to IEC 60068-2-11, UV resistance to ISO 4892-2 method A, plus a 22.3 mm mounting hole and 30.1 mm mounting depth.
Match the rating to the cleaning regime
Three recommendations follow rather than a list:
- For a food, dairy or beverage line, buy the washdown rating on purpose. Choosing IP65 hardware against an 80 °C lance at 80 bar is the most expensive form of under-specification.
- For an outdoor cabinet, a combined IP66 and IP67 rating is more useful than one high number, because jets and standing water are different risks.
- For a machine tool, check the coolant chemistry before the rating, because every IP water test uses plain water.
What RAFI builds for each duty
- RAMO 22 E emergency stops. The M12 variants are rated IP65, IP66 and IP69 on the front to DIN EN 60529 and IPx9K to ISO 20653, with IP65 and IP67 on the rear. 22.3 mm mounting hole, 30.1 mm mounting depth, 50,000 cycles, dupe-proof to DIN EN ISO 13850.
- RAMO 22 S selector switches and RAMO 22 K keylock switches. The same 22.3 mm platform, 40 degree switching angles, gold contacts, M12 4-pin A-coded connection, 300 N side load rating.
- RAFIX 22 FS+ actuators. The emergency stop carries front IP65 to DIN EN 60529 plus front IPx9K to ISO 20653 and 50,000 cycles. The illuminated pushbutton in the same family lists front IP65 alone, with 1,000,000 cycles. Both use a 22.3 mm hole and a 9.2 mm mounting depth.
- KN 19 tactile switches. Through-panel elements with defined actuation forces, for dry control areas rather than wash zones.
- Standard keypads and encoders for off-highway vehicles. Silicone keys, 16 or 20 key layouts, IP 69 when installed, -40 to +85 °C, CAN-FD with J1939 and UDS, 6 to 48 V supply, and safety design to ISO 25119 AGPL d, ISO 13849 PL d and ISO 19014 MPL d.
What an IP rating does not cover
- Cleaning chemicals. Every water test uses plain water. Detergents, caustic foam and solvents are a seal material question, answered by the manufacturer's chemical resistance list.
- Steam. IP69K is hot water under pressure, not saturated steam.
- Thermal cycling. An 80 °C washdown and a cold rinse cycle the seal material, and the failure happens over months, not inside one test.
- Mechanical abuse. Impact is a separate code, the IK rating, quoted on its own line.
- Corrosion. Salt spray and corrosive gas are separate tests, IEC 60068-2-11 and IEC 60068-2-60 on the RAMO 22 E.
- Hygiene. Surface finish, drainability and material certification are hygienic design requirements, and IP69K on a poor housing still traps product.
The North American system runs in parallel. A UL enclosure type rating such as type 4X indoor, which the RAFI RAMO 22 E and RAFIX 22 FS+ actuators both carry, describes hose-down and corrosion resistance under UL 60947. It is not a restatement of the IP code, so a North American project needs both lines on the sheet.
What to put in the RFQ
- Cleaning routine: pressure, temperature and chemicals, not a rating.
- Which faces of the panel see water, and whether the rear is exposed.
- Mounting hole diameter, panel thickness and depth behind the panel.
- Actuator function: momentary, latching, selector positions, key removal position.
- Contact configuration, and whether a redundant contact is needed for safety.
- Connection method: M12 plug, screw terminal or PCB.
- Ambient temperature, and whether the site is outdoors, in a wash zone or on a vehicle.
- Standards the panel must meet, including the UL type rating for North America.
Where to source it
RAFI manufactures HMI and switching components in Europe and describes itself as the world's largest manufacturer of customised HMI products, with 125 years of company history. We supply RAFI devices as a distributor of genuine, brand-new originals. Start at the RAFI brand page or the RAFI catalogue with all 10 models, or go straight to the emergency stop elements, pushbuttons, selector switches, keylock switches and tactile switches. Send the cleaning routine with the enquiry through the contact form and we will confirm the rating per article number.
For related reading on sealing across the panel, our guide to the Han series connectors covers how gasket perimeter and housing size change the sealing margin, and the heavy duty connector entry describes the same ratings from the connector side. Browse the brand index, the full product catalogue or the knowledge base.
FAQ
Is IP69K better than IP67?
No. They are different tests. IP67 puts the part under a metre of water for 30 minutes and never sprays it. IP69K sprays it with 80 °C water at 80 to 100 bar from 10 to 15 cm and never immerses it. A part that must survive both needs both ratings stated, each with its own test evidence.
Does a higher IP number always include the lower one?
No. The digits describe separate tests rather than a scale, so IP67 says nothing about jets and IP69K says nothing about immersion. Datasheets often list several together, for example IP65, IP66 and IP69 on the front of a RAMO 22 E, and that list is the evidence each test was run.
What IP rating do I need for a food plant washdown?
IP69K to ISO 20653 is the entry point for any device inside the spray path, and RAFI publishes that front side rating for the RAMO 22 E and the RAFIX 22 FS+ emergency stop. It is not sufficient alone: the IP test uses plain water, so specify the housing and seal material against your cleaning chemicals too.
Can I use an IP65 panel device outdoors?
Only if the exposure is rain and splash rather than jets or standing water. IP65 proves a 6.3 mm jet at about 30 kPa, which is a garden hose, not a pressure washer. For an outdoor cabinet, ask for IP66 and IP67 together, plus UV and condensation protection.
Why does the same RAFI family show different ratings for different parts?
Because the rating belongs to the article number, not the family name. In the RAFIX 22 FS+ range the emergency stop carries front IP65 to DIN EN 60529 plus front IPx9K to ISO 20653, while the illuminated pushbutton lists front IP65 alone. Check the datasheet for the exact article number you order.