Ingress Protection for Meterboxes - IP44/Water Ingress Testing

 

At MeterBoxesDirect, we know how vital ingress protection is for outdoor meterboxes. Understanding ingress and how it’s tested helps you choose the right weatherproof box for your project. That’s why we carry out strict water ingress testing to ensure every box meets British and European standards.

 

What Does Ingress Mean?

In simple terms, ingress means the entry of unwanted substances — like water or dust — into a meter box. For outdoor installations, protecting your electric or gas meter from water ingress is essential for safe, reliable operation.

 

Explanation of IP (Ingress Protection) Ratings

Ingress Protection (IP) ratings show how well a product keeps out dust and water. For example, an IP44 rating means the meter box is protected against solid objects larger than 1mm and splashing water from any direction. Higher ratings like IP66 offer extra protection, guarding against water jets and fine dust. Choosing the right IP rating depends on where and how the meter box will be used.

 

Why Ingress Protection Matters

Without proper ingress protection, water or dust can damage electrical parts, cause faults and increase maintenance costs. That’s why our IP44-rated meter boxes are carefully designed and tested to stay secure and weatherproof, even in tough UK conditions.

 

Steps Included in Water Ingress Testing

To offer our customers the best quality, MeterBoxesDirect carries out regular water ingress testing to ensure our meter boxes meet current European and British standards.

First, we use a water spray nozzle for the water ingress testing of the IP44 rating on our products according to the European IEC 60529 standard. This standard checks a meter box’s ability to keep the outside environment — like dust and solid objects — from interfering with its operation, while closely monitoring the intrusion of splashing water into the electrical enclosure.

 

 

The product used for the test was one of our electricity meter boxes. The water ingress test was done at our Head Office Engineering Facility and was set up to replicate a real installation on a domestic dwelling. This checks the true degree of protection our products provide in real-life conditions. The water pressure and flow rate from the spray nozzle were carefully adjusted to 0.1MPa to meet test requirements, while any potentially harmful effects of the water jets were closely monitored. The enclosure was sprayed from all possible angles for five minutes to assess its IP rating under the standards. After the test, the box was inspected to confirm it stayed completely dry inside. The results confirmed that our Glass Reinforced Polymer (GRP) meter boxes are fully weather resistant and prevent water from reaching any hazardous parts of the electrical installation.

In summary, these positive results mean our customers can trust that MeterBoxesDirect electric meter boxes are not only fire retardant but also water resistant, compliant with British Standard BS 8567:2012 and BS 8499:2017. These standards cover key requirements like hinge strength and durability for outdoor meter cupboards.

 

Choose Tested Meterboxes with Proven Ingress Protection

At MeterBoxesDirect, every meter box is designed, built and tested to meet strict ingress protection standards — giving you full confidence your installation stays safe, dry and compliant for years to come. Explore our full range of IP44 and IP65 ingress-protected meter boxes below to find the right fit for your project.

 

Popular Models

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