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Lighting - IP Ratings:

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC)

Note: Standards are continually being updated. Please verify that all information is current prior to starting a project or purchasing products.

IP Ratings Explained:

IP ratings are used where water is present near the light source. IP ratings ("Ingress Protection") are also used in conjunction with zones.

All IP ratings consist of two digits - the first value is between 0 & 6, the second takes a value between 0 & 8.

The first digit represents protection against foreign bodies (dust, tools, fingers etc.)

The second digit represents protection against ingress of liquids.

Table 1 provides a listing of all the possible combinations of IP ratings along with a short description of each.

Table 1 - IP Ratings

First Digit

Foreign Bodies

Second Digit

Liquids

0

No protection

0

No protection

1

Protected against solid objects greater than 50mm (e.g. accidental touch by hands)

1

Protection against vertically falling drops of water (e.g. condensation)

2

Protected against solid objects greater than 12mm (e.g. fingers)

2

Protection against direct sprays of water up to 15 degrees from vertical

3

Protected against solid objects greater than 2.5mm (e.g. tools and wires)

3

Protection against direct sprays of water up to 60 degrees from vertical

4

Protected against solid objects greater than 1mm (e.g. small tools and wires)

4

Protection against water sprayed from all directions - limited ingress permitted

5

Protected against dust (e.g. no harmful deposit)

5

Protected against low pressure jets of water from all directions - limited ingress permitted

6

Totally protected against dust

6

Protected against high pressure jets of water from all directions (use on ship deck) - limited ingress permitted

 

 

7

Protected against the effects of immersion between 15cm and 1m

 

 

8

Protected against long periods of immersion under pressure

Common IP Ratings & Placement:

Although there are numerous combinations of IP ratings, the most common ones are illustrated below - together with examples of products.

light fixture rated to IP68

IP68

light fixture rated to IP65

IP65

light fixture rated to IP44

IP44

Zone 0 - Inside the bath or shower. Any fittings used here must be SELV (max. 12v) and have a minimum rating of IP67.

Zone 1 - Above the bath or shower to a height of 2.25m. IP56 Recommended.

Zone 2 - The area stretching to 0.6m outside the bath or shower and above the bath or shower if over 2.25m. IP44 Recommended.

Zone 3 - IP Rating not essential.