What is an IP Rating?
If you've been looking around for lighting or sockets for your bathroom or outdoors, you've likely seen the term "IP Rated" thrown around, followed by a code such as IP20 or IP65.
Put simply, an "IP Rating" is a code that simply indicates how well protected a product is from the influence of both water and solid debris. The exact IP rating you need will depend on where you are planning to install the product. The first number is for the level of protection against solids, and the second against water. As an example, an IP65 rating gives a level 6 protection against solids, and a level 5 protection against water.
Ratings are as follows:
SOLIDS
- 0, no protection
- 1, protected against solids greater than 50mm
- 2, protected against solids greater than 12.5mm
- 3, protected against solids greater than 2.5mm
- 4, protected against solids greater than 1mm
- 5, protected against dust ingress to a sufficient level to prevent damage
- 6, dust tight, no ingress of dust
WATER
- 0, no protection
- 1, protected against vertical water drops
- 2, protected against water drops at a 15° angle
- 3, protected against water spray at a 60° angle
- 4, protected against water splashing from any angle
- 5, protected against water jets at any angle
- 6, protected against powerful water jets and heavy seas (but not full immersion)
- 7, water tight against temporary immersion in water, up to 30 minutes in a depth of 15cm to 1m
- 8, water tight against long periods of immersion, typically up to 3m (depending on manufacturer)
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