IP Ratings explained
We published a blog post some months ago about IP rated lights but since then we’ve had more questions about them from customers. So, we’ve written another post in the hope of answering all your IP rating questions about bathroom and shower lights. Our previous post was specifically about IP44 lights. However, there are different IP ratings so this time we’re exploring different bathroom lights and will look at IP64 rated lights too.
Firstly, what does the ‘IP’ bit mean? It means ‘Ingress Protection’ but you’ll hear ‘International Protection’ mentioned too. Sounds a bit like something from Thunderbirds (if you’re old enough to remember that!), we know. The point is ‘Ingress Protection’ and ‘International Protection’ mean the same thing. If the light you’re buying is IP rated because you like its design, that’s the main thing for you. It must have an IP rating if you need it to be waterproof. You can simply purchase an IP rated light from our website such as the examples below:
That was just a small sample of IP rated lighting but if you want to see more, navigate to this section on bathroom, shower, and wet room lights.
Without that rating there’s no protection against water and/or condensation. The IP protection codes are used in the public domain to help consumers, installers, and property developers. Without those protection codes, everyone would be putting the wrong lights into kitchens and bathrooms because they wouldn’t be waterproof, for example! You will commonly see different IP ratings once you start searching for a shower light, including IP44, IP65, IP66, and IP67. Essentially, what the number means is the HIGHER the number, the stronger the protection.
IP ratings mean some lights can also be used in the kitchen such as spotlights and downlights with protection ratings.
No, you don’t have to. The IP rating represents the protection of the light fitting to stop the infiltration of water entering the fitting. On exterior lights and some ceiling fans a two-digit number represents that the light has protection from solid objects too like dust or soil.
For example: you will find an IP44 rating on our ‘Avola’ Bathroom Mirror with K5 Crystals:
This bathroom mirror typically illustrates a lighting product with an IP44 rating.
So firstly, this is IP rated a 4.
This first number indicates that it protects it against theharmful ingress of water. This includes protection against droplets, splashing, and spraying water which you would expect in a wet room or bathroom.
The second number identifies for ingress of solid foreign objects. In the case of a wall mirror it can be touched and wiped by a cloth without the mirror suffering from damage.
www.valuelights.co.uk/avola-ip44-bathroom-mirror-with-crystals
We do have an IP rating table that you can use to reference IP ratings if you’re unsure of which number to get if you’re looking for a light for the shower. Our best advice is that either an IP44 or IP66 will be quite enough. See this blog post and view the IP ratings table if you want to know more!
This MiniSun IP65 rated bathroom downlight typically illustrates another lighting product with an IP rating.
It is rated much higher than an IP44 lighting product simply because it is more durable and actually fire rated too, which downlights tend to be.
It suitable for use in bathroom zones 1, 2 and 3. This mean the downlight has a high enough IP rating for use as a ceiling light above a shower unit.
Wet zone 0 signifies water in a bath, sink, or shower. So this light isn't appropriate as a floor light for example.
www.valuelights.co.uk/bathroom-ip65-bathroom-downlight-in-white
This MiniSun Fire Rated IP65 Downlight is rated the same as the MiniSun IP65 rated bathroom downlight. They're both rated higher for shower or bathroom use.
It is also suitable for use in bathroom zones 1, 2 and 3.
This light has a domed bezel in its design and comes in chrome, white, satin nickel or black chrome.
The downlight is suitable enough to be used in dining rooms and lounges because customers are comfortable with its safety fire rating.
www.valuelights.co.uk/minisun-domed-bezel-ip65-fire-rated-bathroom-downlight-in-chrome
