Understanding IP Ratings in Industrial Lighting

An IP rating tells you how well an enclosure keeps out solid objects and water. It is defined in IEC 60529.

How to read it

An IP rating has two digits after the letters IP.

• First digit (solids): from 0 (no protection) to 6 (dust-tight). A 5 is dust-protected.
• Second digit (water): from 0 (no protection) to 9. Higher digits cover heavier exposure: 4 is splashing water, 5 is water jets, 6 is powerful jets, 7 is temporary immersion and 8 is continuous immersion.

For example, in IP65 the 6 means dust-tight and the 5 means protected against water jets.

Why this matters for lighting

A fitting used outdoors, in a washdown area or in a dusty plant needs a suitable IP rating. A fitting used where flammable gas or vapour may be present also needs hazardous-area certification. These are separate checks: an IP rating alone does not make a luminaire safe in a hazardous area. See flameproof vs weatherproof equipment.

What to do when choosing

• Decide the IP protection the location needs: dust, rain, washdown.
• Identify the hazardous-area classification of the site.
• Ask for both the IP rating and the Ex certificate of the model you are considering. We do not state IP ratings for individual models on this site, so ask us for the details of the model you need.

Our flameproof lighting range is listed by model; contact us with the model and we will confirm the details.