An IP rating, short for Ingress Protection rating, is a standardized two-digit rating system indicating how well a device’s housing resists the intrusion of solid objects and liquids. For security cameras, it’s the primary spec used to determine whether a given camera is suitable for outdoor or harsh-environment deployment.
The first digit rates protection against solids, from large objects down to fine dust; the second rates protection against liquids, from dripping water up to sustained submersion. Most outdoor commercial security cameras fall into one of three tiers:
- IP65, dust-tight with protection against low-pressure water jets, suitable for most standard outdoor mounting
- IP66, dust-tight with protection against powerful water jets, suitable for more exposed or harsh-weather locations
- IP67, dust-tight with protection against temporary submersion, typically reserved for the most extreme environments
Choosing an appropriate IP rating for a site’s actual conditions matters for long-term reliability; an underrated camera in a harsh outdoor environment is a common cause of premature equipment failure.
