IP Ratings Explained

What is an IP Rating?

The IP (Ingress Protection) rating system is defined by international standard IEC 60529. It classifies the level of protection provided by the enclosure of electrical equipment — including LED luminaires — against the intrusion of solid objects and water.

An IP rating consists of two digits:

• First digit (0-6) — protection against solid objects, from no protection (0) to complete dust-tight sealing (6) • Second digit (0-9) — protection against water, from no protection (0) to high-pressure hot water jets (9)

For example, IP65 means the luminaire is completely dust-tight (6) and protected against water jets from any direction (5). The higher the number, the greater the protection.

Common IP Ratings for LED Lighting

• IP20 — Protected against solid objects >12mm (fingers). No water protection. Standard for dry interior environments: offices, classrooms, retail.

• IP40 — Protected against solid objects >1mm (wires). No water protection. Used for interior fittings where minor debris protection is needed.

• IP44 — Protected against solid objects >1mm and water splashes from any direction. Suitable for bathrooms (Zone 2), covered exterior areas and some food preparation environments.

• IP54 — Dust-protected (limited ingress) and splash-proof. Common for industrial interiors, covered car parks and sheltered exterior locations.

• IP65 — Dust-tight and protected against water jets from any direction. The standard for exterior lighting, car parks, food processing, commercial kitchens and washdown environments.

• IP66 — Dust-tight and protected against powerful water jets. Used in heavy industrial environments subject to regular hose-down cleaning.

• IP67 — Dust-tight and protected against temporary immersion (up to 1m for 30 minutes). Used for in-ground luminaires and applications subject to temporary flooding.

• IP68 — Dust-tight and protected against continuous immersion. Used for underwater lighting and permanently submerged applications.

Which IP Rating Do I Need?

The required IP rating depends on the installation environment:

• Offices, schools, retail (dry interior) — IP20 minimum • Bathrooms Zone 2 — IP44 minimum • Bathrooms Zone 1 — IP65 minimum (12V only in Zone 1) • Covered car parks — IP54 minimum • Open car parks and exterior general — IP65 minimum • Food processing, commercial kitchens — IP65 minimum (IP66 for hose-down areas) • Cold stores — IP65 minimum • Industrial washdown — IP66 minimum • In-ground uplighters — IP67 minimum • Swimming pool surrounds — IP65 minimum • Underwater — IP68

BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations) and the specific requirements of each application standard (e.g., BS EN 60598 for luminaires) define the minimum IP ratings required for each installation zone.

IP Ratings and IK Ratings

IP ratings are often specified alongside IK ratings, which measure impact resistance on a scale of IK00 (no protection) to IK10 (20 joules — equivalent to a 5kg mass dropped from 400mm). For environments where luminaires are subject to physical impact — vandal-prone public areas, sports halls, custodial facilities — both IP and IK ratings should be considered.

Common IK requirements:

• IK02-IK04 — Standard interior environments • IK06-IK07 — Car parks, corridors, communal areas • IK08 — Schools, sports halls • IK10 — Custodial, anti-vandal, high-risk public areas

EOS offers a comprehensive range of IP65 / IK10 rated luminaires for demanding environments, combining weatherproof sealing with heavy-duty impact resistance.

Testing and Certification

IP ratings must be independently tested and certified to IEC 60529. Testing involves:

• Dust testing — the luminaire is placed in a sealed chamber filled with talcum powder circulated under negative pressure for 8 hours. Any dust ingress inside the enclosure constitutes a failure for IP6X.

• Water testing — varies by rating: IP X4 (splash test from all directions), IP X5 (6.3mm nozzle at 12.5 litres/min from 3m), IP X6 (12.5mm nozzle at 100 litres/min from 3m), IP X7 (immersion at 1m for 30 minutes).

All EOS luminaires are tested by accredited laboratories and carry valid IP certification documentation available on request. Gasket materials, cable gland specifications and diffuser sealing methods are critical to maintaining IP ratings throughout the product's operational life.