IP67 cameras: How to choose the right system for your facility

An IP67 camera is a video recording device that’s been tested to withstand ingress from fine particulate matter and temporary submersion in water. These durable IP cameras can be used to record footage in harsh environments where dust, rain and humid air are common problems.

What does IP67 mean?

IP67 is a rating on the Ingress Protection (IP) rating scale that’s used to describe the sealing efficacy of electrical enclosures against ingress from dust and liquids. An IP67 rated camera is considered to be dust-tight, rain-proof and protected against temporary immersion in water.

The numbers in the rating describe the level of protection the device has against particulate matter and liquids respectively. Currently 6 is the highest level of protection against particulate matter, while liquid protection ratings can scale as high as 9 on the IP ingress protection rating scale.

Particulate matter resistance

Liquid resistance

In accordance with the above-mentioned standards, an IP67 camera is considered to provide full protection against dust and rain ingress as well as immersion in water for up to 30 minutes. 

The key features and benefits of IP67 rated cameras

IP67 cameras are used by a wide range of property owners and managers to reliably capture security footage in harsh weather and environmental conditions. As these security cameras are encased in ruggedized housings that feature tight gaskets and sealed ports, they can be reliably operated in harsh environments where normal cameras would be vulnerable to internal damage. 

Complete dust protection

IP67 cameras are considered to be dust-tight, meaning they offer complete protection against dust and fine particulates in outdoor and indoor environments. Small particles of dust, grit, pollen and microscopic debris can build up in normal camera housings over time and cause damage to internal electronics, potentially leaving facilities vulnerable to security threats.

High-level weatherproofing

IP67 waterproof cameras are tested to withstand harsh weather conditions like torrential rain and damp air caused by high humidity. By choosing to operate extreme weather security cameras with an IP rating of 67 or higher, property owners and managers can reliably observe high-risk areas such as building perimeters, parking lots and entrances during severe weather events.

Physical damage resistance

The ruggedized housings that seal IP67 cameras are typically constructed using hard-wearing metals and stainless steel screws that make them resistant to physical damage, corrosion and tampering. These cameras will also often carry IK impact resistance ratings that describe the level of impact the device can withstand, ranging from IK00 (no protection) to IK10 (20 joules).

Compliance management

IP67 waterproof and dust-tight cameras help property managers in certain industries to meet strict industry-specific standards. High-risk environments like ports, warehouses, government buildings and manufacturing facilities must be reliably observed at all times, necessitating the use of security cameras built to withstand inclement weather and fine airborne particulates.

Industry use cases for IP67 security cameras

Professionals across many major industries prioritize the use of IP67 security cameras due to their hard-wearing and durable nature. In environments where continuous visibility over critical areas is required to safeguard people and property, IP67 cameras provide significant benefits.

Manufacturing

Facility operators in the manufacturing industry require continuous visibility over key areas like building perimeters, workstations and storage rooms to support both occupational safety and physical security operations. Outdoor cameras must be able to withstand harsh weather and impacts, while indoor cameras must be protected against production-related particulate matter.

Common use cases for IP67 cameras in the manufacturing industry include:

• Perimeter security: Water and dust-resistant security cameras provide clear visibility over entrances and facility perimeters in all weather conditions to help detect and address security threats.
• Production observation: IP67 rated cameras are required to observe production lines as they’re protected against fine particulates like dust, lubricants, sparks and metal filings.
• Environmental detection: Cameras used for inventory control, PPE compliance and occupational safety purposes should be IP67 rated to help ensure continual operation.

Traffic and transportation

Security cameras installed to cover roads, rail networks and transit hubs must be designed to capture clear footage at all times to support logistics operations and safeguard the public against threats. Water-resistant cameras are required or recommended across many aspects of the transportation industry, e.g. for transit rail vehicles and in transit-related CCTV systems.

Common use cases for IP67 cameras in the transportation industry include:

• Traffic management: Cameras used to monitor traffic flow, observe rail networks and support law enforcement operations must be protected against water and dust ingress.
• Infrastructure: IP67 cameras provide visibility over platforms, concourses and similar areas of transit hubs where rain, dust or vandalism may impede operations.
• External vehicle detection: Hard-wearing water and dust-resistant cameras affixed to the outside of trains, buses and fleet vehicles help to provide evidence of accidents.

Agriculture and mining 

Maintaining constant visibility over heavy machinery and hazardous outdoor locations is critical for agriculture and mining security, in order to help prevent injuries and address threats. Both industries are ranked among the most dangerous by the National Safety Council, underpinning the importance of video security systems used to deter and ensure swift responses to threats. 

Common use cases for IP67 cameras in the agriculture and mining industries include:

• Asset protection: Cameras used to observe high-value, hazardous machinery and equipment must be able to withstand harsh weather, impacts and particulate ingress.
• Irrigation: Cameras used to see crops must carry an IP67 or higher rating to withstand inclement weather and water jets emitted by irrigation equipment.
• Hazardous area: Hazardous areas on farms and in mines are commonly filled with high concentrations of dust particles, necessitating the use of weatherproof cameras.

Pubic sector 

Security camera systems are used across many aspects of the public sector to inform critical operations and ensure public safety. IP67 cameras help officials to ensure public spaces like parks and high-risk facilities like government buildings are protected against common threats like vandalism, organized crime, physical altercations and theft in all environmental conditions.

Common use cases for IP67 cameras in the public sector include: 

• Public safety: Hard-wearing, weather-resistant security cameras help to provide continuous visibility over high-risk public areas like parks, city streets and transit hubs.
• Infrastructure protection: Unmanned critical infrastructure like substations and solar farms require constant remote observation via devices protected against the elements.
• Law enforcement: IP67 rated cameras installed throughout cities, mounted to vehicles and deployed as body-worn cameras capture evidence in support of police operations.

Maritime

With around 85% of U.S. port operators preparing for physical threats against their facilities to rise in recent years, developing effective maritime security systems is a top priority. However, the exposed and coastal nature of ports means security equipment must be able to withstand extreme weather, saltwater corrosion and exposure to fine particulate matter like sand and grit.

Common use cases for IP67 cameras in the maritime industry include:

• Coastal: IP67 cameras are essential for maintaining clear coastal surveillance over facilities exposed to harsh weather and the corrosive effects of sea salt spray.
• Operational security: Cameras used to provide visibility over high-risk spaces like loading bays and cargo storage areas must be suitably weather and vandal-resistant.
• Offshore platform: Waterproof and impact-resistant cameras are critical for observing off-shore platforms commonly exposed to severe weather events.

Construction

Maintaining constant visibility over construction sites is critical to help safeguard people and property, with theft and injuries estimated to cost the industry $1 billion and $11.5 billion per year. IP67 cameras are critical to construction surveillance to help ensure continual visibility across complex sites exposed to harsh weather, material dusts and impacts from heavy machinery.

Common use cases for IP67 cameras in the construction industry include:

• Asset protection: Hard-wearing cameras help to provide continual visibility over high-value equipment like tools and machines in harsh and exposed environments.
• Risk management: IP67 construction site cameras with AI-powered video analytics can be used to automatically identify safety risks like the misuse of PPE and heavy machinery.
• Vehicle detection: Durable, weather-resistant cameras affixed to vehicles like excavators, bulldozers and trucks are used to monitor machine performance and help to reduce operational errors.

Could your facility benefit from IP67 cameras?

IP67 cameras can provide significant benefits to business owners across all kinds of modern industries, but not every business will necessarily require IP67-level protections. To determine whether these cameras are the right choice for your business, review the below considerations.

Environmental conditions

• Is your business located in an area that experiences regular rain, snow or high winds?
• Are your cameras likely to become submerged during a flood?
• Will your cameras be installed outdoors with no protection from the elements?
• Will your cameras be exposed to high concentrations of dust, grit, sand or pollen?
• Is your desired installation point regularly cleaned using high-pressure water jets?

Location-based factors

• Is your facility located in a coastal area exposed to sea spray or sea salt aerosols?
• Is your facility located in an area with high vandalism or burglary rates?
• Is your facility unmanned for long periods of time?

Compliance requirements

• Is your facility required to comply with food safety regulations?
• Is your facility required to comply with industrial automation standards?
• Is your facility required to comply with pharmaceutical production standards?
• Is your facility required to comply with maritime environmental standards?

Budgetary considerations

• Is your business looking to reduce camera maintenance costs?
• Can IP67 cameras be connected to existing CCTV wiring infrastructure?
• Can your business budget for weather-proof junction boxes and connectors?

Safeguard your facility in all weather conditions

When identifying appropriate security cameras for your business, IP ratings can provide great insights into the efficacy and longevity of your proposed solution. By leveraging IP67 cameras, business owners of all kinds can develop CCTV systems designed to withstand harsh weather, dust ingress and physical impacts to help ensure continual visibility over key assets and areas.