When
unpredictable UK weather strikes, your emergency standby system is only as good
as the box protecting its switchgear. Whether it is driving rain during an
autumn gale, high atmospheric humidity in a summer workshop, or freezing winter
condensation, moisture and dust ingress can quickly cause corroded contacts,
short circuits, or total switching failure when you need power most.
Blades
Power Generation commonly checks facilities that have had their basic indoor
switchgear installed in damp buildings or exposed to the elements. Knowledge of
the Ingress Protection (IP) rating is key to ensuring your emergency power
remains protected and functional year-round.
Decoding IP
Ratings: What Do the Digits Mean?
IP
ratings consist of two numbers that define how effectively an enclosure seals
out foreign bodies:
●
First Digit (Solids): Indicates protection against dust,
dirt, and airborne debris (scale of 0 to 6).
●
Second Digit (Liquids): Indicates protection against water,
high humidity, driving rain, and spray (scale of 0 to 9).
For UK
backup power setups, the debate usually comes down to IP55 versus IP65.
IP55 vs IP65:
Which One Do You Need?
Installing
a robust manual changeover switch inside a correctly rated enclosure
ensures your site stays fully protected against year-round British weather
conditions.
●
IP55 Enclosures (Covered or Semi-Protected Sites): IP55 units offer partial
dust protection and resist low-pressure water splashes from any angle. They are
ideal for covered outbuildings, dry agricultural sheds, or interior plant rooms
where airborne dust or summer humidity is present.
●
IP65 Enclosures (Fully Exposed Outdoor Walls): IP65 units are completely
dust-tight and resist direct, low-pressure water jets. If your switch is
mounted on an exposed exterior wall or directly alongside an outdoor generator
inlet, IP65 is the minimum standard required to stop torrential downpours seeping
past the door seals.
Managing Internal
Condensation Year-Round
Even
when you have a complete steel box that is completely sealed to IP65 standards,
there will be internal sweating due to temperature differences in the UK.
Moisture is created internally due to the rapid cooling of the air inside
during the night after being warmed during the day. To prevent shorting and
rust, ensure outdoor enclosures feature anti-condensation breather drains or
internal warming elements.
Ensure Your
Switchgear is Weather-Ready
No
matter whether you are equipping a farm, modernising an industrial unit or
matching your switchgear with new generators for sale in the UK, having
the right enclosure specification avoids costly interruptions due to sudden
power failures.
At
Blades Power Generation, every manual switch we supply is housed in a minimum
IP55-rated sheet steel enclosure with padlockable door interlocks built to BS
EN standards. Contact our Gloucestershire engineering team on 01453 799655 to
discuss your site requirements today.
