The main difference between water-resistant and waterproof is that water-resistant means that an item is able to resist the penetration of water to a specific degree, but not completely, whereas waterproof means that an item is completely protected from the effects of water.
Water-resistant and waterproof are two terms that describe how a product reacts to water. Some manufacturers tend to use these two terms interchangeably in labeling. But it’s important to note that there is a distinct difference between water-resistant and waterproof.
Key Areas Covered
1. What Does Water-Resistant Mean
– Definition, Features
2. What Does Waterproof Mean
– Definition, Features
3. Difference Between Water-Resistant and Waterproof
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Water-Resistant, Waterproof
What Does Water-Resistant Mean
Water-resistant means that an item is able to resist the penetration of water to a specific degree, but not completely. If a certain item like a phone or a jacket has the label ‘water-resistant,’ this means that it’s difficult for water to get inside it. Some manufacturers coat their devices with a light substance to improve the devices’ interaction with water. But this item repels the effect of water only to a certain point. After a period of exposure to water, water will soak it or seep through it.
Out of the three terms, water-resistant, water-repellent, and waterproof, the term waterproof indicates the lowest level of protection from water. Water-resistant qualities are ideal in items like watches since they remain on wearers’ hands when washing hands or touching water.
What Does Waterproof Mean
Waterproof means that an item is completely protected from the effects of water. In other words, the item or product is impermeable to water or resistant to the effects of water, no matter how many hours it spends in the water. However, at present, there is no industry standard to classify a product as waterproof. Some manufacturers use the Ingress Protection Rating scale (or IP Code) to indicate how effective an item is against water. Moreover, this scale rates the products from 0 – 8.
When we hear the term waterproof, we tend to think of modern gadgets like phones, speakers, watches, and cameras. However, there are other needs for waterproof materials, as well. For example, plywood boats with a waterproof finish, waterproof jackets or coats (these usually consist of a layer of polyvinyl chloride), wood waterproofing, etc. All these materials generally have a special layer that prevents the water from seeping through the material and damaging it.
Difference Between Water-Resistant and Waterproof
Definition
Water-resistant means that an item is able to resist the penetration of water to a specific degree, but not completely, whereas waterproof means that an item is completely protected from the effects of water and is impermeable to water.
Protection from Water
The water-resistant label indicates low protection from water, while the waterproof label indicates high protection from water.
Permanency
The term water-resistant indicates that the product can repel the effect of water only to a certain point, but the term waterproof indicates more permeant protection from water.
Conclusion
In general, water-resistant and waterproof are two terms that describe how a certain product reacts to water. The main difference between water-resistant and waterproof is that water-resistant means that an item is able to resist the penetration of water to a specific degree, but not completely, whereas waterproof means that an item is completely protected from the effects of water.
Reference:
1. “ Waterproofing.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation.
2. “ What Does Waterproof Mean?” Definitions.net.
Image Courtesy:
1. “ Drop of water on water-resistant textile (100% polyester)” By Petar Milošević – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “ So, yes, it is waterproof ?? #SamsungS8 #GalaxyS8 #waterproof” By Kārlis Dambrāns (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
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