IP ratings appear on every lighting specification sheet. They tell you exactly where a fitting is safe to install. Getting this wrong creates safety hazards, warranty voidance, and expensive replacements.
Here is a clear breakdown of IP ratings for lighting professionals.
What IP Stands For
IP means Ingress Protection. The rating system is defined by IEC 60529. It consists of two digits. The first digit rates protection against solid objects (dust, fingers, tools). The second digit rates protection against water.
First Digit: Solid Object Protection
0 means no protection. 1 protects against objects larger than 50mm (a hand). 2 protects against objects larger than 12.5mm (a finger). 3 protects against objects larger than 2.5mm (tools and thick wires). 4 protects against objects larger than 1mm (fine wires). 5 means dust-protected (limited ingress permitted). 6 means dust-tight (no ingress at all).
For interior fittings, IP2X is the minimum. For industrial and exterior applications, IP5X or IP6X is standard.
Second Digit: Water Protection
0 means no protection. 1 protects against vertical dripping water. 2 protects against dripping water when tilted 15 degrees. 3 protects against spraying water up to 60 degrees from vertical. 4 protects against splashing water from any direction. 5 protects against water jets from a 6.3mm nozzle. 6 protects against powerful water jets from a 12.5mm nozzle. 7 protects against temporary immersion (up to 1 metre for 30 minutes). 8 protects against continuous immersion.
Common Ratings for Lighting
IP20 is the standard for dry interior locations. Offices, corridors, hotel rooms, and retail spaces all use IP20 fittings safely.
IP44 handles splash protection. It covers bathroom zones 1 and 2 in the UK, covered outdoor areas, and kitchens where water splashing is expected.
IP54 adds dust protection to the splash rating. It suits light industrial environments, car parks, and semi-exposed locations.
IP65 provides full dust-tight and water jet protection. It is the go-to rating for fully exposed exterior installations, food processing areas, and washdown environments.
IP67 handles temporary immersion. Ground-recessed uplights and water feature lighting need this rating as a minimum.
IK Ratings: Impact Protection
IP ratings do not cover mechanical impact. That is the IK rating (IEC 62262). IK08 resists 5 joules of impact energy, equivalent to a 1.7kg mass dropped from 300mm. IK10 resists 20 joules, equivalent to a 5kg mass dropped from 400mm.
Public areas, car parks, schools, and sports facilities should specify IK08 or higher. Vandal-resistant applications need IK10.
Specifying IP Ratings Correctly
Always specify the IP rating for the complete, installed fitting. Some manufacturers quote ratings for individual components (the LED module or the driver) rather than the assembled product. This is misleading and creates risk.
Check that the rating applies with the fitting installed in its intended orientation. A fitting rated IP65 when ceiling-mounted may not achieve the same rating when wall-mounted.
EMPRICS Lighting provides full IP and IK ratings for every product. Our technical team supports specification queries for challenging environments.