Concept renderIP67 and IP68 are classifications under IEC 60529, and a rating means little without a stated depth and time. Apple names 1 m for its IP67 models and 2, 4 or 6 m for its IP68 models, each up to 30 minutes. Put depth, time and water type on your spec sheet, then verify on EVT samples.
Marketing often asks for IP68 on a small tracker. The mechanical lead then has to decide what to write on the spec sheet and what to verify on samples. This guide collects the few facts we could verify from primary sources, turns depth into test pressure with arithmetic you can rerun, and lists what to log on your own board. It contains no Duobay price, no measured result and no customer story.
The sealing sections that mention gaskets and pressure-decay testing are engineering practice guidance. We did not fetch a gasket supplier design guide or a pressure-decay method document, so those sections give no numeric limits.
What do the sources say about IP67 and IP68?
This page covers the tracker enclosure: depth-to-pressure math and sealing methods. For the standard's wording on IPX7 and IPX8 and a fill-in water-resistance spec, see IP67 vs IP68 for wearables: what the test covers.
The full text of IEC 60529 is sold by IEC, and we only checked the public listing. The table separates what the sources say from what you still need to read in the standard.
| Topic | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| What the standard is | IEC 60529, "Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code)". Edition 2.2 consolidated, published 2013-08-29, stability date 2027. | IEC webstore listing, as of October 31, 2026 |
| What the standard covers | The listing says it applies to the classification of degrees of protection provided by enclosures, for electrical equipment up to 72.5 kV. The listing page gives no water-test detail. | IEC webstore listing, as of October 31, 2026 |
| How one vendor states a rating | Apple states its models are rated under IEC standard 60529 and gives each model its own maximum depth, up to 30 minutes. The depth is 1 m for IP67 models and 2, 4 or 6 m for IP68 models. | Apple support page, as of October 31, 2026 |
| Whether the rating lasts | Apple states that splash, water and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and can decrease with normal wear. It also says the ratings come from controlled laboratory testing. | Apple support page, as of October 31, 2026 |
Apple is cited only as an example of how one vendor states a depth and a time. It is a consumer support page. It is not a comparison with any product. The exact IP68 test conditions are in the standard text, which we have not reproduced.
How do you turn a depth into a test pressure?
Hydrostatic gauge pressure under fresh water is density times gravity times depth. The same number is the gauge pressure you can use for an air pressure-decay screen on the sealed housing.
P = rho × g × h
rho = 1000 kg/m3 (fresh water)
g = 9.81 m/s2
h = depth in meters
P = gauge pressure in pascals; divide by 1000 for kPa
Absolute pressure = P + P_atm (use only if your gauge reads absolute)| Depth | Where the depth comes from | Gauge pressure, fresh water | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 m | Apple lists it for its IP67 models | about 9.8 kPa | Apple support page, as of October 31, 2026 |
| 2 m | Apple lists it for its IP68 models | about 19.6 kPa | Apple support page, as of October 31, 2026 |
| 4 m | Apple lists it for its IP68 models | about 39.2 kPa | Apple support page, as of October 31, 2026 |
| 6 m | Apple lists it for its IP68 models | about 58.9 kPa | Apple support page, as of October 31, 2026 |
Worked example with the 2 m row. P = 1000 × 9.81 × 2 = 19,620 Pa, which is about 19.6 kPa gauge. The matching spec line reads: "IP68, 2 m, 30 min, fresh water, tested at EVT and again after aging." The 2 m and 30 minutes are example values taken from the range Apple publishes. They are not a recommendation for your product.
The pressure for a given depth is arithmetic. It says nothing about whether any product passes. The pass line for the air screen is yours to set.
Inputs, and which are yours to replace
| Variable | Meaning | Status | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| h | Test depth in meters | Your choice | Pick the depth your spec sheet will state. The table above shows the four depths Apple publishes, as examples only. |
| rho | Water density, 1000 kg/m3 (fresh water) | Stated assumption | Change it if your spec line names another water type. |
| g | Gravity, 9.81 m/s2 | Stated assumption | Standard value used for the arithmetic. |
| t | Test time in minutes | Your choice | Apple states up to 30 minutes for its models. Your time goes on the spec line next to the depth. |
| P_atm | Local atmospheric pressure | Your measurement | Add it only if your pressure gauge reads absolute pressure. |
| Leak limit | Allowed pressure change over the test time | Manufacturer did not publish one. Measure it on your board. | Set it from your product requirement and write down the basis. No primary source gave a limit for a housing of your volume and gasket compression. |
How do the sealing methods compare for a small tracker?
Ultrasonic weld
Solvay, a resin supplier, says a shear joint is the recommended ultrasonic weld joint for semi-crystalline resins such as polyamide, acetal, polypropylene and polyester. Its stated reason is that the shearing action of the two surfaces eliminates a possible leak path, because the molten area never contacts the surrounding air. Solvay does not recommend butt joints with an energy director for these resins (Solvay ultrasonic welding guide, as of October 31, 2026).
Solvay also names two process factors that make a hermetic weld hard: moisture in the resin, and filler content near 50%. Its figures refer to the resins in that guide, so check your own resin supplier before reusing them.
Joint types, near-field limits and effects on the electronics are covered in ultrasonic welding for plastic enclosures.
Gasket or O-ring
A gasket seal depends on the compression the cavity gives it. We did not fetch a gasket supplier design guide, so this article gives no compression range. Take the range from the datasheet of the gasket you choose, and measure the real cavity gap on assembled samples. Treat this as practice guidance.
What are the common pitfalls?
These follow from the sourced facts above. They are engineering inference. None describes an incident at any company.
- A rating with no depth or time. Apple names a depth and a time next to each rating. A spec that says only "IP68" leaves the test condition open, so a supplier and a buyer can each assume a different one. Write the depth, the time and the water type into the spec line.
- A one-time pass treated as permanent. Apple states that resistance is not permanent and can fall with normal wear. A tracker that is carried every day will see wear, so a pass on new samples only covers new samples. Test again after the aging steps you choose.
- A butt joint on a semi-crystalline resin. Solvay recommends a shear joint for semi-crystalline resins such as polyamide, acetal, polypropylene and polyester, and says butt joints with an energy director are not recommended for them. If the housing drawing shows a butt joint in one of these resins, ask why.
- Wet resin. Solvay says moisture in hygroscopic nylon-type resins evaporates at 100 °C (212 °F) during welding, creates trapped gas and porosity, and can degrade the resin at the joint. The inference for a tracker housing is to log resin moisture handling before welding.
- High filler content. Solvay lists filler content near 50% as a factor that makes a hermetic weld hard. If your resin grade is heavily filled, expect the weld to need extra attention at EVT.
- Using a vendor number for another resin. The Solvay guidance applies to the resins it names. Do not carry its statements over to a different resin. Ask your own resin supplier for its joint guidance.
- Reading the listing page as the test method. The IEC listing confirms the title, edition and scope. It does not describe the water test. The test conditions come from the purchased standard text.
What should you test on your own board?
The sources do not give leak limits, gasket compression or failure rates for your housing. We have not measured them, and this page reports no result. Set each pass line yourself from your product requirement, and record the basis for it.
| What to test | How to capture it | Raw data to record |
|---|---|---|
| The spec line and sample identity | Write the full line first: rating, depth, time, water type, and the condition of the sample (new or aged). Label each sample with its build, housing lot and weld settings. | The spec line text, sample IDs, resin lot, gasket lot and weld machine settings. |
| Resin moisture before welding | Follow your resin supplier handling instructions for drying and storage, and record what you did before each weld batch. | Resin lot, drying and storage records, the method used to check moisture, time between drying and welding. |
| Weld joint geometry | Compare the drawing with the resin supplier guidance. Cut a few welded samples and look at the joint section. | Joint drawing, joint type, filler content from the resin datasheet, section photos, weld settings. |
| Gasket compression | Measure the cavity gap on assembled samples and compare it with the gasket supplier datasheet. This article gives no compression range because none was sourced. | Measured gap at several points per sample, gasket datasheet reference, gasket lot. |
| Pressure-decay air test (proxy) | Seal the assembled housing to a fixture, apply the gauge pressure from the table, and log pressure over time. Check the fixture itself with a reference part first. This is practice guidance. It is a quick screen and does not replace the water test. | Start pressure, test time, pressure trace, air temperature, internal volume, fixture ID, which sample. |
| Immersion at the stated condition | Hold the sample at the depth and time on your spec line, in the water type on the spec line. Open it afterward and inspect the inside. | Depth, time, water type, water temperature, interior photos, any moisture found, the sample ID. |
| Repeat after aging | Pick wear and environmental steps that match how the tracker is used, run them, and repeat the pressure and immersion checks. | The aging steps and counts you chose, the basis for choosing them, repeat results beside the new-sample results. |
Fix every pass line before you run the test, and write it next to the data. A line chosen after you see the result tends to land just under the result.
What should you decide before you choose a rating?
Take this list to your mechanical team and to any supplier who proposes a sealing method.
- What exact spec line will we publish: rating, depth, time and water type?
- Where did the depth and time come from, and who signed off on them?
- Do we hold a purchased copy of the standard, and which edition does the test plan cite?
- Which resin is the housing, and what does its supplier say about the joint type?
- Is the resin hygroscopic, and how is its moisture controlled before welding?
- What is the filler content of the grade we chose?
- Which gasket datasheet sets the compression, and who measures the gap on samples?
- What is the leak limit for the pressure-decay screen, and what is written down as its basis?
- Which aging steps will we apply before the second round of tests?
- Who keeps the raw data: pressure traces, photos, lot numbers and settings?
Questions about tracker enclosure ratings
Is IP68 deeper than IP67?
In Apple's published examples, the IP67 models list 1 m and the IP68 models list 2, 4 or 6 m, each up to 30 minutes (Apple support page, as of October 31, 2026). The number that matters for your product is the depth and time on your own spec line. Read the full test conditions in a purchased copy of IEC 60529.
Does a pressure-decay test replace the water test?
No. It is a faster screen on the sealed housing. We did not find a primary source for its pass limits, so the limit has to come from your own EVT data or a test-lab quote. Keep the immersion test on the stated depth and time.
Which ultrasonic weld joint should I use?
For semi-crystalline resins such as polyamide, acetal, polypropylene and polyester, Solvay recommends a shear joint and says it removes a possible leak path (Solvay guide, as of October 31, 2026). For another resin, ask that resin's supplier.
If samples pass once, will the product keep its rating?
Apple states that water and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and can decrease with normal wear (Apple support page, as of October 31, 2026). Plan a second round of tests after aging steps you choose, and record the basis for them.
Which edition of the standard applies?
The IEC webstore lists edition 2.2 consolidated, published 2013-08-29, with a stability date of 2027 (IEC webstore, as of October 31, 2026). This is an engineering summary and does not constitute legal advice. Check the current edition before you write your test plan.
If you are specifying a tracker enclosure and want the sealing plan reviewed against your housing, tell us about your device. You can also read about our LTE and GNSS tracker development.
This is an engineering team summary. It does not constitute legal advice, and it does not replace the text of IEC 60529.
Sources
All pages accessed 2026-10-31. Re-read them before you decide.
- IEC, IEC 60529 publication listing: https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/2452 (accessed 2026-10-31)
- Apple, water resistance support page: https://support.apple.com/hi-in/108039 (accessed 2026-10-31)
- Solvay, ultrasonic welding guide: https://www.solvay.com/sites/g/files/srpend221/files/2018-07/ultrasonic-welding-en.pdf (accessed 2026-10-31)
Planning a tracker? Tell us what it needs to do. A Duobay engineer replies within 1 business day. Send a project brief →