IK Impact Rating Explained: IK07, IK08 and IK10 Compared

IK Impact Rating Explained: IK07, IK08 and IK10 Compared

An IK impact rating is the code that defines how well an enclosure resists external mechanical impact. It is standardised in IEC 62262 and covers ten steps from IK01 to IK10. Where the IP code defines what can get inside, the IK code defines how hard a blow the enclosure can take without permanent damage. The two are not interchangeable.

What the IK code measures

The test drops a hammer of defined mass from a defined height onto the enclosure, and the result is expressed as impact energy in joules. The acceptance criterion is not simply that the enclosure survives: after the impact the door must still open and close, the IP rating must be retained, and clearances to live parts must be unaffected. An enclosure IK value therefore depends as much on frame geometry, corner joints and door stiffness as it does on sheet thickness.

IK class	Impact energy	Typical application
IK01	0,14 J	Protected indoor, enclosures never touched
IK02	0,20 J	Cabinets inside electrical rooms
IK03	0,35 J	Control boxes
IK04	0,50 J	Office and laboratory panels
IK05	0,70 J	Indoor areas with light knock risk
IK06	1 J	General indoor distribution boards
IK07	2 J	Industrial production areas
IK08	5 J	Sites with forklift traffic, outdoor field units
IK09	10 J	Heavy industry, mining, port areas
IK10	20 J	Public areas, vandalism risk, tunnels and car parks

Which class where

• IK07: adequate for locked electrical rooms and controlled production areas
• IK08: production floors with forklift, pallet truck and hand tool traffic
• IK09: heavy industry, mining, cement, port and foundry facilities
• IK10: public areas, tunnels, car parks, street cabinets and locations exposed to vandalism
• Outdoors the IK class should always be specified alongside the IP rating

Material and enclosure architecture

Increasing sheet thickness raises the IK value, but on its own it is not an efficient route. The same resistance can be achieved with less material by reinforcing corners with formed profiles, adding stiffening ribs to the inner door face, and multiplying hinge and latch points. In polyester and thermoplastic enclosures impact resistance also varies with temperature; materials that become brittle in the cold will not deliver their nominal IK value in low temperature climates. That behaviour has to be weighed together with corrosion resistance when the enclosure material and finish are chosen.

Key takeaways: IK impact rating

• What the IK code measures — The test drops a hammer of defined mass from a defined height onto the enclosure, and the result is expressed as impact energy in joules.
• Material and enclosure architecture — Increasing sheet thickness raises the IK value, but on its own it is not an efficient route.
• Standard source — IEC publication catalogue: iec.ch.

Frequently asked questions

Is IK10 necessary for every switchboard?

No. An IK10 enclosure is heavier and more expensive and it increases handling and transport load. Inside a locked electrical room IK07 is usually sufficient; IK10 is mainly meaningful for publicly accessible and impact exposed locations.

Is the IK rating preserved on site?

Any window, instrument cut-out or accessory added later reduces impact resistance in that area. To keep the certified value, the drilling and reinforcement rules given by the manufacturer must be followed.

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• IP Protection Rating Explained: How to Read an IP Code
• Switchboard Technical File, Rating Label and CE Conformity
• Short Circuit Withstand in Switchboards: Icw, Ipk and Conditional Rating
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At Devpan we set the IK class together with site traffic, access control and climate, and we deliver the required strength through enclosure architecture rather than unnecessary sheet thickness. Describing where the board will stand is enough for us to clarify the right IK and IP combination together.