IP Rating and LED Light Fixtures

Shopping for LED commercial and industrial lighting can be confusing. There are many factors to consider, but the good news is that you’ve already made a great choice by deciding to switch to LED lights. LEDs provide numerous benefits, such as energy savings, lower maintenance costs, and significantly longer lifespans compared to traditional lighting technologies.

However, there’s a lot to learn about LED lighting, and understanding the different attributes of each LED is essential to choosing the right light for your facility. One of the most critical specifications is the IP rating, which determines whether a fixture can withstand your facility’s environmental conditions. Learn more about what an IP rating is and how to read them below.

Note: Always consult with qualified electricians and verify local code requirements when selecting and installing lighting fixtures. Proper installation is essential for maintaining IP rating effectiveness and ensuring safety.

Where IP Rating Matters Most

Paying attention to IP ratings is important for all lighting applications, but certain environments require additional protection levels. Waterproof and dust-resistant lighting is essential for fixtures exposed to moisture, water, dust, or chemicals.

For example, food processing plants, which use LED NSF food grade lighting, often require high-pressure cleaning protocols. Oil rigs, exposed to seawater and harsh weather, demand specialized lighting with specific IP ratings. Additionally, light fixtures in commercial refrigeration experience condensation and wet conditions, as well as extremely cold and harsh environments.

A car wash light must endure extreme wet conditions, harsh cleaning agents, and hot wax exposure. Lights installed in warehouses often face polluted and dusty environments that could damage unprotected fixtures over time.

This is why an LED fixture’s IP rating is critical for long-term performance. It provides a precise measurement of protection for electrical components against environmental intrusion. A higher IP rating indicates better protection against smaller particulates and moisture, while a lower rating signifies limited protection. The highest ratings mean the fixture can withstand submersion in water without damage.

Understanding IP Rating Standards

The International Protection Marking (IP Code / Ingress Protection) rates the effectiveness of enclosures against intrusions such as dust, dirt, and water. The IP rating system, established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), applies to various electrical products, with particular importance for lighting fixtures in commercial and industrial environments.

IP ratings consist of two digits: the first digit indicates protection against solid objects (including dust), while the second digit indicates protection against liquids (primarily water). IP ratings are particularly crucial for LED vapor tight lights and LED explosion proof lights, ensuring fixtures remain safe from environmental factors while protecting their internal components.

IP Rating First Digit (Protection Against Solid Objects)

• 0: No protection against intrusion by solid objects
• 1: Objects greater than 50mm – Protected against large objects like the back of a hand, but not against deliberate contact
• 2: Objects greater than 12.5mm – Protected against fingers and similar-sized objects
• 3: Objects greater than 2.5mm – Protected against tools, thick wires, and similar objects
• 4: Objects greater than 1mm – Protected against small objects such as screws, small tools, and most wires
• 5: Dust protected – Limited dust ingress that does not interfere with operation
• 6: Dust-tight – Complete protection against dust and other fine particles
• X: Unrated – First digit omitted when only liquid protection is rated

IP Rating Second Digit (Protection Against Liquids)

• 0: No protection against water ingress
• 1: Dripping water – Protected against vertically falling water droplets
• 2: Dripping water when tilted up to 15° – Protected against water droplets when the fixture is tilted up to 15° from vertical
• 3: Spraying water – Protected against water sprayed at angles up to 60° from vertical
• 4: Splashing water – Protected against water splashed from any direction
• 5: Water jets – Protected against low-pressure water jets from any direction
• 6: Powerful water jets – Protected against high-pressure water jets and heavy seas
• 7: Temporary immersion – Protected against immersion in water up to 1 meter depth for up to 30 minutes
• 8: Continuous immersion – Protected against prolonged immersion under specified pressure conditions

Selecting LED Lighting Based on IP Ratings

Understanding IP ratings is critical to ensuring that your new LED commercial lighting or LED industrial lighting performs reliably in your specific environment. Facility managers and electricians recognize that commercial and industrial environments often present unique challenges for lighting systems.

Shipyards, laboratories, and oil refineries are examples of facilities requiring highly specialized lighting solutions with appropriate environmental protection.

Common IP Rating Applications

Indoor dry locations: IP20 to IP40 typically sufficient
Outdoor or wet locations: IP65 or higher recommended
Food processing/washdown areas: IP66 or IP67 required
Marine environments: IP67 or IP68 necessary

Specially engineered LEDs address these environmental challenges, which is why selecting the correct IP rating is essential for long-term performance and safety. Knowing the appropriate IP rating for your application is important, but many other factors should be considered when selecting the optimal lighting solution.

If you’re converting from metal halide to LEDs, proper IP rating selection ensures your new fixtures will perform reliably in existing conditions while providing the energy savings and maintenance benefits of LED technology.