What is IP Rating for lights?
What is IP Rating for lights. For better understanding what is IP Rating for lights, we would like to introduce what is IP Rating first, since it is the basic knowledge you need to understand.
If you are looking for an article to help you understand what is IP Rating for lights, follow us, we will explain clearly with charts and photos, learn knowledge with photos is much better than only words, isn’t it?
So Firstly, let’s ask: What is IP RATING?
IP Rating is the abbreviation of Ingress Protection or International Protection rating, it is worldwide known standard to define the protection level of electrical enclosures against outside intrusion. The intrusion includes solid objects like body, tools, dirt, dust and Liquids.
This IP Code standard was published by IEC (International Electro Technical Commission) in year 2012, based on international stand of EN60529 (British BS EN60529:1992). This standard already well acceptable in most European countries.
What is IP rating for lights? Let’s start from here:
An IP Rating uses a two digit system to explain:
The first digit meaning protection level of electrical enclosures against solid objects, like tools fingers or dust.
The second digit meaning protection level of electrical enclosures against Liquids.
What does ip65 mean in lighting? For most lighting, the most popular IP Rating is: IP20, IP44, IP65 and IP68.
Follow us to learn first digit (Solid Objects Protection):
IP 1X Test Method:
Diameter 50mm solid objects should not ingress inside enclosures
Back of the hand should not touch inside electricity part or rotate part of enclosures
Test Method: 50N, Means use 50N strength should not broke its IP Protection rating.
IP 2X Test Method:
Diameter 12.5mm solid objects should not ingress inside of enclosures
Fingers or something like fingers, length less than 80mm, diameter less than 12mm, should not touch inside electricity part or rotate part of enclosures
Test Method: 30N, Means use 30N strength should not broke its IP Protection rating.
IP 3X Test Method:
Diameter and thickness more than 2.5mm solid objects should not ingress inside of enclosures
Test Method: 3N, Means use 3N strength should not broke its IP Protection rating.
IP 4X Test Method:
Diameter and thickness more than 1mm solid objects should not ingress inside of enclosures
Test Method: 1N, Means use 1N strength should not broke its IP Protection rating.
IP 5X Test Method:
Dust proof, diameter 1mm metal wire should not ingress inside of enclosures, but ingress dust should not caused enclosures keep safe work and running.
IP 6X Test Method:
Dust proof, diameter 1mm metal wire should not ingress inside of enclosures; also can 100% avoid dust ingress enclosures.
Follow us to learn second digit(Liquids Protection):
IP X1 Test Method:
Vertical drip should not cause any bad affect on enclosures.
Test Method: 1mm water flow per minute, test 10 minutes.
IP X2 Test Method:
Put vertical face of enclosures at 15°, Vertical drip should not cause any bad affect on enclosures.
Test Method: 3mm water flow per minute, test 4 position，each position test 2.5 minutes.
IP X3 Test Method:
Put vertical face of enclosures at 60°, Water falling as a spray at any angle up to 60° should not cause any bad affect on enclosures.
Test Method: Water falling from vertical face to two sides, less than 60°, 0.07L/Minute, and test 10minutes.
IP X4 Test Method:
Water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect.
Test Method: Waters splashing from any direction of enclosures, each sprinkler nozzle control water flow at 0.07L/Minute, and test 10minutes.
IP X5 Test Method:
Water projected by a nozzle (6.3mm) against enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects.
Test Method: Waters splashing from any direction of enclosures, each sprinkler nozzle (6.3mm) control water flow at 12.5L/Minute, distance 2.5-3m, and test 3 minutes.
IP X6 Test Method:
Water projected in powerful jets (12.5mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects.
Test Method: Waters splashing from any direction of enclosures, each powerful nozzle (12.5mm) control water flow at 100L/Minute, distance 2.5-3m, and test 3 minutes.
IP X7 Test Method:
Ingress of water in harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time (up to 1 m of submersion).
Test Method: Enclosures under water 1m deep, 30minutes test.
IP X8 Test Method:
The equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water under conditions which shall be specified by the manufacturer. Normally, this will mean that the equipment is hermetically sealed. However, with certain types of equipment, it can mean that water can enter but only in such a manner that it produces no harmful effects.
Test Method: Enclosures under water more than 1m deep, long time test.
IP X9 Test Method:
At temperature 75℃-85℃, Waters splashing from any direction of enclosures shall have no harmful effects.
Test Method: At temperature 75℃-85℃, waters splashing from any direction of enclosures, water flow at 15L/Minute, distance 0.175m, and test 10 minutes.
Additional letters option:
IP XXA Meaning:
Protect back of hand ingress inside of enclosures, approaching with a 50mm global test ball, this ball shall stay enough distance with dangerous fittings inside enclosures.
IP XXB Meaning:
Protect fingers ingress inside of enclosures, approaching enclosures with a diameter 12mm, length 80mm test finger, this test finger shall stay enough distance with dangerous fittings inside enclosures.
IP XXC Meaning:
Protect tools ingress inside of enclosures, approaching enclosures with a diameter 2.5mm, length 100mm test rod, this test rod shall stay enough distance with dangerous fittings inside enclosures.
IP XXD Meaning:
Protect Metal wire ingress inside of enclosures, approaching enclosures with a diameter 1.0mm, length 100mm test rod, this test rod shall stay enough distance with dangerous fittings inside enclosures.
IP XXXH Meaning:
High Voltage Device.
IP XXXM Meaning:
Protect Waterproof test processed when rotate device in running.
IP XXXS Meaning:
Protect Waterproof test processed when rotate device in quiescence.
IP XXXW Meaning:
Supply additional protection to suit doe special climate.
Thanks for reaching here, from above explanation, you already understand what IP Rating is now, it will be quite easy for to understand what is IP Rating for lights.
So what is IP Rating for lights?
IP Rating is very important in lighting field, No matter indoor lighting or outdoor lighting, every lighting fixture need to declare its IP Rating to help customers understand and use lighting correctly.
Basically,
For Indoor lighting, you can choose IP20, IP40, IP44, and IP54. Included led down light, led panel light, led pendant light, led linear light, led mirror light, etc
For outdoor lighting, you can choose IP65, IP66, and IP68. Included led tunnel light, led street light, led underwater light, led garden light, led high-mast light, etc.
We make a table for most popular IP rating in led lighting:
| IP Rating | First digit | Second digit |
| IP20 | Protected from touch by fingers and objects greater than 12 millimeters. | Not protected from liquids. |
| IP40 | Protected from tools and small wires greater than 1 millimeter. | Not protected from liquids. |
| IP44 | Protected from tools and small wires greater than 1 millimeter. | Protected from water spray from any direction. |
| IP54 | Protected from limited dust ingress. | Protected from water spray from any direction. |
| IP65 | Protected from total dust ingress. | Protected from low pressure water jets from any direction. |
| IP66 | Protected from total dust ingress. | Protected from high pressure water jets from any direction. |
| IP68 | Protected from total dust ingress. | Protected from long term immersion up to a specified pressure. |
Maybe you are new on lighting, don’t worry, we make a chart for you to understand better what rooms or location you can choose IP Rating lighting products.
For Indoor Lighting:
For Outdoor Lighting:
After reading information above, do you already know what is ip rating for lights?
As we know there are some similar questions always:
- What is IP rating for lights?
- what does ip65 mean in lighting?
- What ip rating for bathroom lights?
- What does ip44 mean in lighting?
- What is an ip rating for lights?
From this article, you can find the right answer.
One point need to let you know is: IP Rating may be changed after few months or years application, due to bad environment or mankind destroy, need to check lighting IP grade after 1-2 years application.
If you still have questions, sales team of Canco Lighting are pleased to explain more for you or help you to choose right lighting.
Enjoy your knowledge tour on IP Rating for lights.