Choosing the right light fitting - making sure it's safe AND safely installed - is important for creating the right light in your home and in your garden.

How do we assess what lighting is for indoors and what can go outdoors?

Look for the IP rating

What is this IP rating and what does it tell me? It stands for Ingress Protection – and it’s a rating that classifies light fittings (and lots of other things) for their suitability for use in different locations based on how or if water and/or dust can get into the fitting where the electricity is.

The Ingress Protection or IP rating is an important consideration during the selection of LED lighting products for any project.

It shows the measured and tested suitability of the light fitting to specific environmental conditions in indoor and outdoor installations.

The first digit of an IP rating refers to the level of protection against solids, including fingers, dust particles, mosquitoes, moths, or flies.

The second digit indicates the protection level against liquid with the number also providing guidance when it comes to cleaning routines using sprays or water jets.

Dust resistance levels progress from 0 to 6

Water resistance rating is provided in a 0 to 9 range.

In some cases, an X may be interchanged with one of the digits if it is not relevant to the requirements, for instance, IP4X.

An IP rating does not correlate to vandalism or other physical protection from impact; a separate classification called IK rating is used for this purpose..

IP Ratings in Interior Lighting

Most indoor light fittings are designed to be IP20 – which means you can’t get a finger into the electrical zone of the light, but they are NOT designed for water exposure as risk from water damage is low compared to outdoor lighting.

IP Ratings AS3000 Zones Image by MINT Lighting Design

IP ratings for indoor lights

IP20- (Ordinary)

An IP20 rating makes the LED light suitable for all indoor dry applications, such as offices, retail shops, bedrooms and living rooms.

IP40- (Not waterproof)

An IP40 rating will prevent insects from getting into the lights, but there is no protection from moisture.

IP RATINGS IN OUTDOOR AND BATHROOM LIGHTING

Ideally, we would like all outdoor light fittings to be IP65 rated, however that can significantly reduce our options when it comes to decorative exterior lighting.

As you’ll see below, IP44 lights are considered appropriate in sheltered (under eaves) locations outside, which means you can still use decorative wall lights, providing that meet that minimum IP rating.

Wet area IP ratings are also for the bathroom - to read more detail about light for bathrooms and what types of light fittings you can use, check out our blog – Bathroom Lighting - PART THREE

IP RATINGS FOR OUTDOOR LIGHTS AND FOR BATHROOMS:

IP42 (Drip Proof)

IP42 rated LED lights are protected from tools and small wires greater than 1 millimetre. The lights can resist a few drops of water.

IP44 (Splash Proof)

IP44 rated lights are suitable for bathrooms and applications exposed to water spray.

IP54 (Dust Proof, Splash Proof)

IP54 lights offer protection against dust and splash, making them suitable for general outdoor use or damp indoor environments.

IP64 (Dust Tight, Splash Proof)

IP64 products are fully protected against dust ingress as well as water splashes from any direction.

IP65 (Dust Tight, Jet Proof)

An IP65 rating makes the product completely dust-tight with protection against low-pressure water jets from any direction.

IP66 (Dust Tight, Watertight)

IP66 means the product is completely dust-tight as well as protected against high pressure water jets from any direction.

IP67 (Dust Tight, Watertight)

An IP67 rated light is completely protected against solid particles and can be submerged up to 1m in water for up to 30 minutes.

IP68 (Dust Tight, Pressure Watertight)

An IP68 fitting is hermetically sealed and suitable for continuous immersion in water

IP ratings give you a consistent way to assess the likely performance of LED light fitting in many typical applications and environments.

If you’re in any doubt as to what IP rating you need for the specific use you have in mind, then please ask an expert for further advice and assistance when planning your purchase.