Understanding IP Rating for External Lights

What is IP Rating?

'IP' stands for 'ingress protection'. The ingress protection (IP) rating seeks to offer clarity about how effectively sealed electrical enclosures are from foreign bodies, tools, dirt and moisture. In layman's terms, it tells us how dirt-proof and waterproof something is, respectively. The higher the numbers in the rating awarded, the better the level of protection.

IP Rating for Outdoor Lights

When it comes to outdoor Christmas lights or any form of outdoor lighting, one of the main considerations people have when purchasing is if - and to what extent - the lights are waterproof, especially in the UK given the inclement weather. IP rating addresses that specific concern, with the second digit in any given IP rating representing the level of protection against water the lights have. The higher the number, the more protected the lights are. But what do the numbers actually mean? Let's take a look.

Our Recommendations

IP44 is the minimum requirement for all outdoor lights, regardless of whether they are used for domestic or commercial purposes. While IP44 can be suitable for temporary commercial outdoor displays, we would always advise using IP65 rated outdoor lighting, such as our ConnectPro® range for permanent installations. These are a higher quality, commercial grade product designed to withstand even the most extreme weather conditions.

IP44: Protected against solid bodies larger than 1mm and protected against water spray from all directions.

IP65: Totally dust tight and protected against low pressure water jets from all directions.

 

First Digit - Solid Particle Protection

The first digit shows how protected your lights are from solid particles - dirt, dust and muck, basically.

O No Special Protection

1 Protected against from solid objects greater than 50mm (D)

2 Protection against objects no greater than 80mm (L) and 12mm (D)

3 Protected from objects no greater than 2.5mm (D)

4 Protected against solid bodies larger than 1mm

5 Protected against dust that may harm equipment

6 Totally dust tight

Second Digit - Liquid Ingress Protection

The second digit shows how protected your lights are from liquid.

O No Special Protection

1 Protected against condensation

2 Protection against water droplets deflected up to 15° from vertical

3 Protection against spray up to 60° from vertical

4 Protected against water spray from all directions

5 Protected against low pressure water jets from all directions

6 Protected against strong water jets and waves

7 Protected against temporary immersion

8 Protected against prolonged effects of immersion under pressure





SOUTH EAST ENGLAND

CT = Canterbury, Kent
BN= Brighton, East Sussex
BR = Bromley
CR = Croydon, Surrey
CT = Canterbury, Kent
DA = Dartford, Kent
KT = Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey
ME = Medway, Maidstone, Kent
RH = Redhill, Surrey
SM = Sutton, Surrey
TN = Tonbridge, Ashford, Kent
TW = Twickenham, Middlesex
SG = Stevenage
MK = Milton Keynes
OX = Oxford
RG = Reading
GU = Guildford, Surrey
SO = Southampton
PO = Portsmouth
HP = Hemel Hempstead
AL = St Albans

LONDON

SE = South East London
SW = London (SW19, SW16, SW17, SW20) 
EN = Enfield
WD = Watford
HA = Harrow
UB = Southall
IG = Illford
E = London
N = London
NW = London 
W = London
WC = London
EC = London

EAST ANGLIA

CM = Chelmsford, Essex
RM = Romford, Essex
SS = Southend, Essex

MIDLANDS 

LN - Lincoln
LE - Leicester
PE - Peterborough
WS - Walsall 
CV - Coventry
CB - Cambridge
LU - Luton
NN - Northampton

NORTH

NG - Nottingham
DE - Derby
DN - Doncaster
WF - Wakefield
DN - Grimsby
S - Sheffield
HU - Hull 
S - Chesterfield
M - Manchester
HD - Huddersfield
LS - Leeds
YO - York (please call as not areas are covered).