[Kevin Purcell]

You see this mentioned with some bins either just IPX7 or more helpfully IEC 529 IPX7 (the full designation).

Gamin summarizes:

IEC 529 is a European system of test specification standards for classifying the degrees of protection provided by the enclosures of electrical equipment. An IPX7 designation means the GPS case can withstand accidental immersion in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. An IPX8 designation is for continuous underwater use.

And

http://gpsinformation.net/iec529.htm

Of these, only IEC 529 (European Community Specification) and JIS2-8 (Japanese Industry Standard) have graduated test levels. These two specifications are very similar, but IEC 529 is gaining more acceptance in Europe which is a major market for many US manufacturers and is more defined in terms of the actual test. The table below gives a summary of the requirements for IEC 529 for WATER PROTECTION PROVISIONS.

Level Definition
0 Non protected, No special protection
1 Protected against falling water Equivalent to 3-5mm rainfall per minute for a duration of 10 minutes. Unit is placed in its normal operating position.
2 Protected against falling water when tilted up to 15 degrees. Same as (1) above but unit is tested in 4 fixed positions - tilted 15 degree in each direction from normal operating position.
3 Protected against spraying water, Water spraying up to 60 degrees from vertical at 10 liters/min at a gage pressure of 80-100kN/m2 for 5 min.
4 Protected against splashing water. Same as level 3 but water is sprayed at all angles.
5 Protected against water jets Water projected at all angles through a 6.3mm nozzle at a flow rate of 12.5 liters/min at a gage pressure of 30kN/m2 for 3 minutes from a distance of 3 meters.
6 Protected against heavy seas. Water projected at all angles through a 12.5mm nozzle at a flow rate of 100 liters/min at a gage pressure of 100kN/m2 for 3 minutes from a distance of 3 meters.
7 Protected against water immersion. Immersion for 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter.
8 Protected against water submersion The equipment is suitable for continuos submersion in water under conditions which are identified by the manufacturer.

*Note: IEC 529 level 7 is designated "IPX7" and is equivalent to JIS 7.

The position of "X" being left blank indicates that the unit has no special mechanical protection.

Unfortunately the full spec is not freely available.

[John Russell]

Originally Posted by Kevin Purcell

Unfortunately the full spec is not freely available.

Yes, Kevin, just like the ISO specs.
One would have thought that if specs were created in the consumers' interests then the consumers should have free access to them. Or are ISO and IEC just self-propagating bureaucratic apparatuses?

John

[Kevin Purcell]

Or are ISO and IEC just self-propagating bureaucratic apparatuses?

They serve a useful role (international standardization) but they are aimed more at standardization for large (government) customers requirements and for the companies that make those devices.

I'd rather have them than nothing.

And then there the DIN standard that Zeiss still use ...