IllustrationIPX7 is temporary immersion between 0.15 m and 1 m. IPX8 is continuous immersion subject to agreement, so writing IP68 alone does not define depth or duration. Your spec needs those numbers, the covered ports, and separate lines for sweat, soap and hot water.
Many wearable specs say IP68 and stop there. The standard's own clause title for IPX8 says the test is subject to agreement, so the number alone does not tell a lab what to do. This guide uses the free preview of IEC 60529 to show what is sourced, then gives a fill-in spec template and a list of conditions to specify separately. It contains no Duobay price and no test result.
This is an engineering summary and not legal advice. For health wearables it applies to general wellness products only, and it is not a guide to medical devices. Only the second numeral (water) is covered here. For turning a depth into a test pressure and comparing gaskets, welds and other sealing methods, see our IP67 vs IP68 tracker enclosure design guide.
What does the standard text say about IPX7 and IPX8?
The source is the free preview of IEC 60529, edition 2.1 (1989+A1:1999), which shows the contents list, foreword, introduction and scope. Each row below was read on October 31, 2026. The full text is paywalled, so details beyond these lines are not quoted.
| Topic | Wording in the preview | What it means for your spec | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| IPX7 test clause title | 14.2.7 Test for second characteristic numeral 7: temporary immersion between 0,15 m and 1 m | The test is temporary immersion, and the title gives a depth range of 0.15 m to 1 m. The free preview shows only the clause title. The test duration is not in the preview, so this article does not state one. | IEC 60529 preview, as of October 31, 2026 |
| IPX8 test clause title | 14.2.8 Test for second characteristic numeral 8: continuous immersion subject to agreement | The test is continuous immersion, and the title says it is subject to agreement. The depth and duration are not fixed by the clause title. Your spec must state them. | IEC 60529 preview, as of October 31, 2026 |
| Influences the code does not cover | The scope lists influences such as mechanical impacts, corrosion, corrosive solvents, fungus, vermin, solar radiation, icing and moisture (for example, produced by condensation). It says protection against them is a matter for the relevant product standard. | Write separate requirements for these. Sweat, soap and hot water are not named in the scope text we could read, so this article does not attribute them to the standard. | IEC 60529 preview, as of October 31, 2026 |
| Which parts the rating applies to | The introduction says the manufacturer of the equipment should be consulted about the degrees of protection available and the parts of equipment to which the stated degree applies. | Say in the spec which surfaces, ports and seals the rating covers. | IEC 60529 preview, as of October 31, 2026 |
The preview is edition 2.1. Confirm the current edition with the test lab before you quote the wording. This article does not compare the IP code with other water-resistance standards.
What goes in a water-resistance spec?
A lab can test a spec only if it names every condition. This template turns the sourced points into fields. Where the preview is silent, the field is yours to fill and to justify.
| Field | What the preview gives | What you write |
|---|---|---|
| Rating digit | IPX7 or IPX8, as the second characteristic numeral. | Choose from the product use case. Record why. |
| Depth | For IPX7, the clause title gives a range of 0.15 m to 1 m. For IPX8, the standard leaves it to agreement. | Write the exact figure you want tested. For IPX8 this is a number you and the lab or customer agree on, and the standard does not supply it. |
| Duration | The IPX7 duration is not in the free preview. The IPX8 duration is subject to agreement. | Write the exact duration in the spec. Confirm the IPX7 value against the current edition of the standard before you copy it. |
| Water type and temperature | Not in the text we could read. | State it in the spec: fresh water, salt water, pool water, and the water temperature. Ask the lab what the standard requires, and write down any difference. |
| Device state during the test | Not in the text we could read. | State whether the device is powered off, powered on or charging, and whether buttons, sensors and the speaker or microphone ports are exercised. |
| Pass criterion | Not in the text we could read. | Define it as an observable result, for example no water inside after the test and full function after drying. Set the wording yourself and record why. |
| Covered surfaces and ports | The introduction says to consult the manufacturer about the parts the rating applies to. | List the charging contacts or port, microphone and speaker openings, buttons, sensor windows, band attachments and any seam. Mark each as covered or not covered. |
| Sample state | Not in the text we could read. | State whether samples are new, or have been through drop, flex, thermal or wear conditioning first. A new sample passing says little about a worn one. |
A one-line example of the shape: "Rating IPX_, depth ___ m, duration ___ min, water ___ at ___ degrees, device state ___, pass criterion ___, covered surfaces and ports ___." The blanks are yours to fill. We give no example values, because a made-up number would look like a fact.
What does the IP code leave to separate requirements?
The scope text lists influences that are matters for the relevant product standard. Sweat, soap and hot water are not on that list in the text we could read. A wearable is exposed to them, so the safe move is to write them as your own requirements. The table separates what the standard names from what we are only suggesting you specify.
| Condition | In the preview scope text? | What to do in the spec |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosion | Named in the scope list as a matter for the product standard. | Write a separate corrosion requirement, for example for exposed contacts. |
| Corrosive solvents | Named in the scope list, with cutting liquids as the example. | List any cleaning or skin-care liquids your user may meet and write a separate requirement. |
| Condensation moisture | Named in the scope list as moisture produced by condensation. | Add a requirement for a device that moves between temperature extremes, and test it separately. |
| Solar radiation and icing | Named in the scope list. | Add them if your use case includes outdoor wear. |
| Sweat | Not named in the scope text we could read. | Write it as your own spec line with your own test, and say it is a product requirement. |
| Soap and detergents | Not named in the scope text we could read. | Same as sweat. Name the products you expect. |
| Hot water | Not named in the scope text we could read. | State the temperature range you want to survive and test it separately. |
| Pressure change | Not named in the scope text we could read. | If the device can be moved quickly in and out of water, or sealed and then heated, write a separate requirement. |
Source for the named rows: IEC 60529 preview, scope, as of October 31, 2026. The unnamed rows are our suggestions for what to specify. No primary source in this article reports sweat, soap, hot-water or pressure-change failures.
What are the common spec traps?
These follow from the clause titles and scope text above. They are engineering reasoning, and none describes an incident at any company.
- Writing "IP68" with no other numbers. The IPX8 clause is titled "subject to agreement". A spec that says only IP68 leaves depth and duration undefined, so two parties can read it differently. This follows from the clause title.
- Assuming IP68 means deeper or longer than IP67. The IPX7 title gives a range of 0.15 m to 1 m, and the IPX8 conditions are agreed. The IPX8 clause title says the conditions are subject to agreement, so you cannot compare two IP68 products until you read the depth and duration each one was tested at.
- Treating the rating as a promise about everyday liquids. The scope names corrosion, corrosive solvents and condensation moisture as matters for the product standard. Sweat, soap and hot water are not named in the text we could read, so a spec for a worn product needs its own lines for them. This is engineering reasoning from the scope list. No test was run.
- Leaving out which parts are covered. The introduction says the rating applies to certain parts of the equipment and to consult the manufacturer. A rating on the enclosure may not describe the charging port, a vent or a strap attachment. List each one.
- Copying wording from an old edition. The preview we read is edition 2.1 (1989+A1:1999). Confirm the current edition with the test lab before you quote any wording in a contract.
- Citing a duration you have not read. The preview does not show the IPX7 duration. If your spec quotes one, take it from the purchased standard or from the lab, and note which one.
What should you test on your own board?
The sources do not give results for any product. We have not run these tests for you. Set each pass line yourself and record why you chose it.
| What to test | How to set it up or collect it | Raw data to record |
|---|---|---|
| Immersion at the spec depth and duration | Use the depth and duration you wrote in the spec. Run it at the lab or on your own tank, with the device in the state the spec names (powered, charging or off). | Water type and temperature, depth, duration, device state, sample ID and build, photos of the interior after the test, and the functional result after drying. |
| Each covered port and seam | Identify every opening in the enclosure: charging port or contacts, microphone and speaker ports, buttons, sensor windows, band lugs. Log which sample and which opening each result belongs to. | Per-opening result, where water was found if any, and the assembly step or part involved. |
| Conditioned samples | Repeat the immersion after the conditioning your use case calls for, such as drop, flex, wear or temperature cycling. Name the conditioning in the log. | Conditioning steps and their order, and the result after each. |
| Daily-use liquids | Expose samples to the liquids your spec lists, such as sweat substitute, soap or hot water, using a method you write down. These are your own tests. The standard does not define them. | Liquid, temperature, exposure time, rinse and dry steps, and any change in function or appearance. |
| Condensation and temperature swing | Move samples between the temperature extremes your use case sets, then check for moisture and function. State that this is a separate requirement from the IP code. | Temperature extremes, dwell times, transfer method, and findings on the interior and contacts. |
| Acoustic and sensor function after water | Check microphone and speaker response and sensor readings after immersion and drying, against a baseline you took before. | Baseline and after-test measurements, with the same fixture and settings, and the pass line you set. |
The pass line is set by you from the product requirements, and you record the basis for it. Fix it before the first run, because a line chosen after you see the result tends to land just under the result. For a health-oriented wearable, keep the claims at general wellness level. This summary covers general wellness products only.
What should you decide before you write the spec?
Take this list to your team and to any lab or supplier that quotes IP68.
- Is the PRD asking for IPX7 or IPX8, and who chose it?
- If IPX8, what depth and duration have we agreed in writing, and with whom?
- Which exact edition of IEC 60529 will the lab test against?
- Which openings and seams does the rating cover, and which are excluded?
- What water type and temperature will be used, and does it match how the product is worn?
- What counts as a pass: no water inside, full function, or both?
- Are sweat, soap, hot water and pressure change in the requirements as separate lines?
- Is the device powered or charging during the test, and is that the state a user would be in?
- Do we test samples after drop, flex or wear conditioning, or only new ones?
- Who pays for retest if a build change touches a seal?
Questions about IP67 and IP68 for wearables
What is the difference between IPX7 and IPX8?
Going by the clause titles in the IEC 60529 preview, IPX7 is temporary immersion between 0.15 m and 1 m. IPX8 is continuous immersion subject to agreement. The full text is paywalled, so check conditions such as duration in the current edition (preview PDF, accessed October 31, 2026).
Does IP68 mean my wearable is safe in a pool or the shower?
Not by itself. IPX8 conditions are agreed between parties, so the rating tells you little until you read the depth and duration. The scope also leaves influences such as corrosion and condensation moisture to the product standard. Write your own lines for the liquids and temperatures your user will meet.
Who sets the IP68 test conditions?
The IPX8 clause is titled "subject to agreement", so the standard leaves the conditions to agreement between the parties. For a specific product, find them in the maker datasheet or the test report.
Does the IP code cover sweat, soap or hot water?
Those are not named in the scope text we could read. Treat them as separate requirements in your spec, with your own tests, and label them as product requirements. We have not run these tests, so this article reports no result.
Which edition of the standard should I use?
The free preview we read is edition 2.1 (1989+A1:1999). Confirm the current edition with your test lab and quote it in the spec. This is an engineering summary and does not constitute legal advice.
If you want help turning a water-resistance requirement into a spec a lab can test, tell us about your device. You can also read how our engineering gates handle test planning.
Sources
All pages accessed October 31, 2026. Standards are revised, so confirm the current edition before you decide.
- IEC 60529, Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code), edition 2.1 preview, VDE Verlag: https://assets.vde-verlag.de/iec-normen/preview-pdf/info_iec60529%7Bed2.1%7Db.pdf (accessed 2026-10-31)
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