IP Ratings Explained

Let's shed a little light on the lighting jargon. IP ratings are a rating of the protection for electronic equipment from dust, solid objects and fluids.

All of our outdoor lights have an IP44 rating which means they are protected from water sprayed in all directions. We achieve this with strong rubber cables and double sealed caps over the bulbs. All indoor use lights are usually rated IP20. We've popped together a comparison table so you can see the difference between ratings.

Protection against solid objects and dust

Protection against fluids

First Number	Description/Test	Second Number	Description/Test
0	No Protection	0	No Protection
1	Protection against solid objects over 50mm e.g. accidental touch by hands	1	Protected against vertically falling drops of water
2	Protected against solid objects over 12mm, e.g. fingers	2	Protected against direct sprays of water up to 15 degrees from the vertical
3	Protected against solid objects over 2.5mm (tools / wires)	3	Protected against sprays to 60 degrees from the vertical
4	Protected against solid objects over 1mm (tools / wires / small wires)	4	Protected against water sprayed from all directions - limited ingress permitted
5	Protected against dust - limited ingress (no harmful deposit)	5	Protected against low pressure jets of water from all direction - limited ingress permitted
6	Totally protected against dust	6	Protected against strong jets of water, e.g. for use on ship decks - limited ingress permitted
		7	Protected against the effects of immersion between 15cm and 1m
		8	Protected against long periods of immersion under pressure