IP ratings explained: IP20, IP44 and IP65

The two digits of an IP code show how well a light fitting keeps out dust and water. We explain IP20, IP44 and IP65 and where each one belongs.

Someone shopping for a bathroom light sees "IP44" on one box and "IP65" on a garden floodlight, and the obvious question follows: how different are these, and which is enough for my space? The answer lies in a simple coding system defined by the international standard IEC 60529.

Two digits, two different hazards

The first digit after the letters IP describes protection against solid objects, from fingers and tools down to dust. The second digit describes protection against water. The two are independent: a fitting can be completely dust-tight yet not water-resistant, or the other way round.

Common values for the first digit:

• 2 — objects the size of a finger (larger than about 12.5 mm) cannot get in;
• 4 — wires or tools thicker than 1 mm cannot get in;
• 5 — dust is not fully excluded, but not enough gets in to interfere with operation;
• 6 — the enclosure is dust-tight.

Main steps for the second digit:

• 0 — no protection against water;
• 4 — resists water splashed from any direction;
• 5 — resists jets of water from a nozzle;
• 6 — resists powerful water jets;
• 7 — resists temporary immersion.

An "X" in place of a digit, as in IPX4, means that characteristic was not tested or not stated. It does not mean zero.

IP20: for dry rooms

An IP20 fitting prevents fingers from reaching live parts but offers no protection from water. In living rooms, bedrooms, offices and hallways that is perfectly adequate, and most table lamps, chandeliers and indoor ceiling lights fall into this category.

The trouble starts when an IP20 product ends up somewhere damp. Put an ordinary indoor ceiling light above a shower or on an open balcony and steam and drips will get inside, contacts will corrode and, in the worst case, a short circuit can occur.

IP44: where water splashes

IP44 means protection from small objects and from water splashing from any side. It is a widespread choice for areas near a bath or shower, around a kitchen sink, on a covered balcony or above an entrance door.

For electrical work in bathrooms, the standard IEC 60364-7-701 divides the room into zones: the inside of the bath or shower tray, the space directly above it and a defined area around it are treated separately. The zones closest to water call for higher protection or extra-low voltage. If you are not certain which zone a particular spot falls into, check it with the electrician doing the installation.

IP65: outdoors and in dusty spaces

An IP65 fitting is dust-tight and withstands water jets. For garden floodlights, facade lighting, car washes, open car parks, warehouses and workshops, where there is dust or rain, it is a sensible minimum.

IP65 is still not a rating for submersion. Fountains, pools or pits that may flood need different products with a higher rating.

Keeping the rating intact

An IP rating describes the fitting as it leaves the factory. A cable entry that is not sealed, a lost rubber gasket or a housing mounted at the wrong angle can lower the real level of protection. A few habits help:

• run the cable through the sealed entry provided and tighten the gland;
• keep gaskets in place and close the cover fully after changing the bulb;
• mount outdoor fittings with the cable entry facing down where possible, so water does not run along the cable into the housing;
• if the glass is cracked or the body has a hole, stop relying on the rating.

Remember too that an IP rating normally applies to the fitting, not to the bulb. A screw-in LED bulb has no protection of its own; what shields it from moisture is the housing around it.

What an IP code does not tell you

An IP rating covers dust and water only. Resistance to impact is shown by a separate IK code under IEC 62262, and in a sports hall or a warehouse with forklifts it can matter as much as the IP rating. Nor does the IP code say anything about high temperatures, chemicals or special conditions such as a steam room.

Condensation is a separate issue. In an outdoor fitting that cools at night and warms during the day, the air inside expands and contracts, and damp air can be drawn in through tiny gaps. Droplets on the inside of the glass are a sign the seal is weakening; switch the fitting off and check the gaskets and cable entry.

Zaferoğlu Elektrik manufactures Zəfər İşığı LED bulbs with various caps at its plant in Ganja, including T-shaped high-power lamps for larger spaces. Questions about matching a bulb to a fitting for a specific location can be put to the company's Baku office.