Which IP Rating Do You Need?

Choosing the right lighting involves rather more thought than you might expect. It’s not just a case of “Ooh, nice lamp!” and job done. There are a few important things to consider before you part with your hard-earned cash. Take light colour, for instance: in the living room you’ll want to flop onto the sofa after a long day at work and unwind with warm, atmospheric lighting, while at your workspace you’ll need something brighter to keep you sharp and focussed. And then there’s wattage, because no one fancies an eye-watering electricity bill.

It’s also worth thinking about where the lamp is actually going to live. Is it going to hang cosily under your new veranda, or will it be doing duty as a sleek spotlight in your freshly renovated bathroom? In situations like these, lighting has to deal with moisture and dust, and you’ll want to make sure it can handle that, unless you’re keen to recreate a DIY disaster worthy of prime-time telly. Electricity, dust and water are hardly a match made in heaven, so it’s crucial that bathroom and outdoor lights can take a splash (or a bit of grit). That’s where the IP rating comes in: it tells you exactly how well a lamp is protected against dirt and moisture.

What does "IP rating" mean?

IP stands for Ingress Protection. This is a value that indicates the extent to which electrical equipment is resistant to dust and moisture. The IP rating consists of two digits: the first digit is a measure of the protection against the ingress of dust; the second number indicates the extent to which the device is waterproof.

The degree to which a device is protected against the penetration of dust is indicated by a number from zero to six. A device with a value of zero does not have any protection. A device with a value of six is 100% dustproof.

As mentioned, the second figure is a measure of the water resistance of a device. Zero means that a device does not have any protection against moisture. Eight, the highest value, stands for a completely waterproof device that can be used even under water.

Below in the IP value table you can see a complete overview of the different IP values:

Dust

• IP0X - no protection
• IP1X - protection against contact with objects larger than 5 cm, such as a hand
• IP2X - protection against contact with objects larger than 1.25 cm, such as a finger
• IP3X - protection against contact with objects larger than 2.5 mm, such as a wire
• IP4X - protection against contact with objects larger than 1 mm
• IP5X - fairly dust-resistant
• IP6X - 100% dust-resistant

Moisture

• IPX0 - no protection
• IPX1 - protection against vertical drops
• IPX2 - protection against drops at an angle of up to 15°
• IPX3 - protection against splash water* at an angle of up to 60°
• IPX4 - protection against splash water from every angle
• IPX5 - protection against spray water** from every angle
• IPX6 - protection against powerful spray water and waves
• IPX7 - temporary protection against immersion (30 min)
• IPX8 - complete protection against immersion

*Splash water = protected against splashing water, for example rain
**Spray water = protected against water jets, for example from the shower.

In our assortment you will find LED lights with a lot of different IP values, but we'll discuss the THREE most important ones (IP20, IP44 and IP65) below and explain what these values stand for and which IP value you need for your specific situation.

Should you be looking for more in-depth information on the different IP values, you can find this information via Wikipedia.

LED IP20 spotlights for use indoors

A spotlight with an IP20 value is only intended for dry rooms, because the spotlight is not protected from dust. Why? Because an IP20 spotlight sometimes has holes to keep it cool, and these holes mean that dust could easily gather there. However, the spot is protected against contact with objects larger than 12.5 mm, such as your hand or finger.

Are you looking for a downlight for the living room or in the bedroom? Then an IP20 lamp is ideal. In the living room you normally do not have to worry about dust or moisture near the ceiling, which means an IP20 downlight is the perfect option.

Meaning of IP44

IP44 LED lights are resistant to dust and moisture to a limited extent. The light is resistant to contact with objects larger than 1 mm, such as steel wire and tools. The light is also protected against splash water from all directions. This means that you can use an IP44 spotlight without problems in the bathroom or as porch lighting. Note: the IP44 spotlights cannot be suspended over a closed shower cubicle. You will need spotlights with an IP-rating of 65 at the least.

Meaning of IP65

Our IP65 spotlights are ideal as bathroom lighting. These spotlights are completely dustproof and provide protection against contact with live objects. In addition, the spots offer protection against both splash and spray water from all directions, which means you can definitely use those as bathroom lighting! Note that the spots are not completely waterproof: you cannot immerse them in water. For pond lighting or pool lighting you will have to look at an even higher IP rating.

Different zones in the bathroom

As we already mentioned above, both IP44 and IP65 spotlights are used in the bathroom. The IP rating you need depends on the "zone" in the bathroom where the spot will be placed. A bathroom can be divided into three different zones:

• Zone 0 - Minimum IP value: IP67
• Zone 1 - Minimum IP value: IP44; IP65 recommended
• Zone 2 - Minimum IP value: IP44

Anything that falls outside these three zones is formally referred to as Zone 3. While there’s no direct contact with water here, condensation can still occur. That’s why we always recommend using at least an IP44-rated spotlight in the bathroom. It keeps everything looking cohesive and offers protection against moisture in all its sneaky forms.

Need a helping hand or perhaps a friendly voice when choosing the right IP protection class for your LED lighting? Feel free to get in touch with one of our LED specialists. You can reach us by phone on +31 (0)85 303 0027, by email at info@into-led.com, or, if you prefer, via the live chat on our website. We’re happy to help, whichever way suits you best.

Any other questions? We've got you covered!

Which is better: IP44 or IP55?

That depends entirely on where you plan to use the lighting. IP44 is perfectly adequate for sheltered areas, such as under a canopy or veranda, while IP55 is better suited to outdoor lighting that’s exposed directly to the elements. Still unsure? When it comes to outdoor use, IP55 is usually the safer bet, British weather being what it is.

What are the four main IP ratings?

Although there are officially many more IP ratings, in everyday practice these four “categories” are the ones most commonly used:

• IP20: indoor lighting (dry areas)- Suitable for living rooms, bedrooms and offices.
• IP44: splashproof - Ideal for bathrooms (Zone 2), toilets and sheltered outdoor spaces.
• IP65: Dustproof and water-resistant - Perfect for outdoor lighting, sheds and damp environments.
• IP67: Waterproof (temporarily submersible) - Used for ground lights, ponds and specialist outdoor applications.

What does an IP rating actually tell you?

IP stands for Ingress Protection, which quite literally means “protection against intrusion”. The IP rating of a light fitting indicates how well it is protected against dust and moisture. In other words: how robust it is when faced with the realities of everyday use.