IP Ratings
The IP (International Protection Rating or Ingress Protection Rating) rating is used to define levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies and moisture.
On our website, you can find IP ratings in the technical data table on product pages, particularly ones designed for use outdoors (flood lights, spot lights etc) or in moist conditions (downlights, strip light etc).
The code consists of the letters IP followed by two digits.
First Digit: | ||
|---|---|---|
Level |
Object/Size |
Effective Against |
| 0 | - | No protection against contact and ingress of objects |
| 1 | >50mm | Any large surface of the body, such as the back of a hand, but no protection against deliberate contact with a body part |
| 2 | >12.5mm | Fingers or similar objects |
| 3 | >2.5mm | Tools, thick wires, etc. |
| 4 | >1mm | Most wires, screws, etc. |
| 5 | Dust protected | Ingress of dust must not interfere with the operation of the equipment; complete protection against contact |
| 6 | Dust tight | Complete protection against contact and dust |
Second Digit: | ||
|---|---|---|
Level |
Object/Size |
Effective Against |
| 0 | Not protected | - |
| 1 | Dripping water | Dripping water (vertically falling drops) shall have no harmful effect |
| 2 |
Dripping water when tilted up to 15° |
Vertically dripping water shall have no harmful effect when the enclosure is tilted at an angle up to 15° from its normal position |
| 3 | Spraying water | Water falling as a spray at any angle up to 60° from the vertical shall have no harmful effect |
| 4 | Splashing water | Water splashing against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect |
| 5 | Water jets | Water projected by a nozzle against enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects |
| 6 | Powerful water jets | Water projected in powerful jets against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects |
| 7 | Immersion up to 1m | Ingress of water shall not be harmful when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions (up to 1m) |
| 8 | Immersion beyond 1m | The equipment is suitable for continuous immersion in water under conditions which shall be specified by the manufacturer |