IP Ratings Explained

When shopping for lighting, electricals, or outdoor fixtures, you’ll often see IP ratings like IP65 or IP44. These ratings indicate how well a product is protected against dust and water - crucial information when choosing items for bathrooms, gardens, or outdoor spaces. This rating is the product’s Ingress Protection, but what does that mean? What should you look out for?

What Is an IP (Ingress Protection) Rating?

IP ratings are specifically defined by international standard EN 60529 (British Standard BS EN 60529:1992). This means it is a standard measurement across all websites and products. It defines the ‘seal’ of your product, which is its protection from things like tools, fingers, dust, moisture, pressure, and water from getting in and potentially causing damage.

There are 2 digits in an IP rating, the first one talking about protection from solids and the second talking about protection from liquids.

First Digit – Solids

Solids refers to things like tools, fingers, dirt, and dust.

0 (or X): No special protection. Not rated (or no rating supplied) for protection against ingress of this type.

1: Protection from a large part of the body such as a hand (but no protection from deliberate access); from solid objects greater than 50mm in diameter.

2: Protection against fingers or other object not greater than 80mm in length and 12mm in diameter (accidental finger contact).

3: Protection from entry by tools, wires etc, with a diameter of 2.5 mm or more.

4: Protection against solid objects larger than 1mm (wires, nails, screws, larger insects and other potentially invasive small objects such as tools/small etc).

5: Partial protection against dust that may harm equipment.

6: Totally dust tight. Full protection against dust and other particulates, including a vacuum seal, tested against continuous airflow.

Second Digit – Liquids

Liquids defines the product’s protection from  moisture intrusion like drips, sprays, submersion.

If you’re looking for a product to be waterproof, the ratings widely accepted as 'waterproof' for most general purposes are IP65, IP66 and IP67.

0 (or X): No protection.

1: Protection against vertically falling droplets, such as condensation. Ensuring that no damage or interrupted functioning of components will be incurred when an item is upright.

2: Protection against water droplets deflected up to 15° from vertical.

3: Protected against spray up to 60° from vertical.

4: Protected against water splashes from all directions. Tested for a minimum of 10 minutes with an oscillating spray (limited ingress permitted with no harmful effects).

5: Protection against low-pressure jets (6.3 mm) of directed water from any angle (limited ingress permitted with no harmful effects).

6: Protection against direct high pressure jets.

7: Protection against full immersion for up to 30 minutes at depths between 15 cm and 1 metre (limited ingress permitted with no harmful effects).

8: Protection against extended immersion under higher pressure (i.e. greater depths). Precise parameters of this test will be set and advertised by the manufacturer and may include additional factors such as temperature fluctuations and flow rates, depending on equipment type.

9 (or K): Protection against high-pressure, high-temperature jet sprays, wash-downs or steam-cleaning procedures - this rating is most often seen in specific road vehicle applications (standard ISO 20653:2013 Road Vehicles - Degrees of protection).

IP X Ratings

Occasionally you may see a rating where there is an X instead of a digit. This means that the value for this protection is missing. The X can be replaced with a 0, so the product has no protection from the hazard that the digit represents.

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IP Rating FAQs

What IP Rating Do I Need for Bathroom Lights?

For bathroom lighting, IP44 is typically the minimum rating required for areas where water splashes are likely, such as near sinks or above showers. For zones with direct exposure to water (like inside a shower enclosure), a higher rating such as IP65 or IP67 is recommended. Always check your bathroom’s lighting zones and local regulations

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What IP Rating Is Considered Waterproof?

The term “waterproof” in lighting typically refers to IP ratings of: IP65 – water jets IP66 – powerful water jets IP67 – temporary immersion IP68 – continuous immersion If you're installing lighting in areas frequently exposed to water (like garden paths, ponds, or outdoor driveways), opt for IP67 or IP68.

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Is IP44 Suitable for Outdoor Use?

IP44 provides protection against solid objects over 1mm and splashes of water from all directions. While it's acceptable for covered outdoor areas, such as porches or soffits, IP65 or higher is recommended for exposed outdoor spaces like garden walls, driveways, or areas prone to heavy rain.

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What Does IPX4 Mean?

When a product has a rating like IPX4, it means the level of protection against solids (first digit) hasn't been tested or is not specified, while the second digit (4) shows it’s protected from water splashes. This could be suitable for lightly damp environments but not areas with heavy dust or high-pressure water exposure.

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Can I Use IP20 Lights Outside?

No, IP20 lights are not suitable for outdoor use. They offer limited protection against solid objects and no protection against water. For outdoor environments, you should use a fitting with at least IP44, and preferably IP65 or higher for full weather resistance