What do IP44, IP54 and IP55 mean? Ingress Protection (IP) Rating Explained
A product with an IP00 rating is not protected against solid objects and is not protected against liquids.
What does IP Rating mean?
IP Rating means Ingress Protection Rating (Also known as International Protection Marking) which represents a code that manufacturers are supposed to specify on their products so that the client knows if the product is protected against intrusions of solid-state particles or liquid particles. These codes are published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in a set of guidelines called the IEC 60529. In the European Union, these guidelines are published by CENELEC as EN 60529.
Ingress Protection code is a standard rating recognized worldwide that anyone can use, regardless of their location. These standards are created to let people know what capabilities the product’s enclosure has, from water to solid object protection.
The code looks like this :
It starts with «IP», which is the short version for Ingress Protection.
This is followed by two digits or the letter X. The first digit (0 to 6) indicates the level of protection against solids objects, while the second digit (0 to 9K) indicates the level of liquid ingress protection.. The letter X signifies that the product was not tested for the respective category (either solids or liquids).
IP Rating Chart
| Digit | First Digit (Solid Protection) |
Second Digit (Liquid Ingress Protection) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No protection assured. | No protection assured. |
| 1 | Protection assured against solid objects that are over 50mm (e.g. hands). | Protection assured against vertical drops of water. |
| 2 | Protection assured against solid objects that are over 12.5mm (e.g. fingers). | Protection assured against vertical drops of water when the product is tilted up to 15° from its normal position. |
| 3 | Protection assured against solid objects that are over 2.5mm (e.g. wires). | Protection assured against direct sprays of water at any angle up to 60°. |
| 4 | Protection assured against solid objects that are over 1mm (e.g. tools and small wires). | Protection assured against water splashing from any angle. |
| 5 | Protected against quantity of dust that could interfere with the normal operation of the product but not fully dust tight. Complete protection against solid objects. | Protection assured against water jets projected by a nozzle (6.3mm) from any angle. |
| 6 | Fully dust tight and complete protection against solid objects. | Protection assured against powerful water jets projected by a nozzle (12.5mm) from any angle. |
| 7 | Protection assured against water immersion at a depth between 15 cm and 1 meter for maximum 30 minutes. | |
| 8 | Protection assured against long periods of water immersion at a depth of over 1 meter. | |
| 9K | Protection assured against the effects of high-pressure water jets and steam cleaning. |
What does IP44 mean?
IP44 means the degree of protection of a product against solid objects and splashing water. A mechanical casing or electrical enclosure with an IP44 rating indicates that it is protected against solid objects that are bigger than 1 mm and water splashing from all directions.
Is IP44 waterproof?
IP44 is not waterproof. Lighting units, electrical devices or enclosures with an IP code 44 are not impervious to the intrusion of water. They are only protected against splash of water but will be damaged if immersed in water.
To be waterproof, the product must have at least an IP66 rating.
Is IP44 suitable for rain?
IP44 is not rainproof. Products with protection class IP44 are not suitable for heavy rain or extended exposure to rainfall. However, since IP44 offers protection against splashing of water, exposure to a little rain is not a problem. Thus, IP44 lights can be fixed outdoors but it is advisable that they are either installed on the house wall or under a canopy.
Is IP44 suitable for outdoor use?
IP44 can be used outdoor but because they are not weatherproof, they should not be exposed to heavy rain. If you have IP44 luminaries, they can be fixed outside on the wall of your home or ceiling of your porch or even under a canopy to avoid exposure to heavy rains.
Since IP44 also offers protection against solid objects that are bigger than 1 mm, IP44 outdoor lights or enclosures are protected against the intrusion of insects. So, there’s no risk of damage to your LED lamp or device by the ingress of foreign bodies.
The only issue you may get with your IP44 outdoor wall lights or outdoor spotlights is that dust may settle inside them because IP44 does not offer protection against dust particles.
For your garden, we would recommend using path lights or garden spotlights that have a minimum rating of IP66. These waterproof lights can be used outdoors or other wet areas without any problem.
Is IP44 suitable for bathroom use?
IP44 is suitable for bathroom use. Unlike other indoor areas in your home, the bathroom is a damp area and the presence of water, steam and moisture is one of the major factor to consider before buying and installing bathroom lights. If water, moisture or steam gets inside your bathroom lamps, this can cause serious damages. Because water and electricity is a very dangerous combination. Thus, choosing LED lights or lamps with the proper IP rating for your bathroom is very important. The minimum safe rating recommended for bathroom lighting fixtures is IP44.
Because IP44 lamps are protected against water splashes, they can be installed near water sources but not directly inside the shower cubicle or bath. If you are going to fix a bathroom lamp on the wall, it should be fixed at a minimum distance of 0.6 meter from the bathtub, shower or sink.
If it’s an IP44 bathroom ceiling light, downlight or pendant light, it should be fixed at a minimum height of 2.5 meters from the floor.
IP44 interior lights can add a unique touch to your bathroom but they should be installed at the right places to avoid any kind of incident like short circuits.
What is better, IP44 or IP65?
IP65 is better than IP44 because it is fully dust tight and is completely protected against solid objects. Moreover, IP65 is more resistant to water splashes and water jets.
What does IP54 mean?
IP54 means that the product is protected against quantity of dust that could interfere with the normal operation of the product but is not fully dust tight. The product is completely protected against solid objects. It is also protected against water splashing from any angle.
Is IP54 waterproof?
No, IP54 is not waterproof. If immersed in water, the product will be damaged. However, IP54 products are protected against water splash.
Is IP54 suitable for rain?
No, IP54 is not suitable for heavy and extended exposure to rain.
Is IP54 suitable for outdoor use?
Yes, IP54 is suitable for outdoor use provided that the product is not exposed to heavy rain.
Is IP54 suitable for bathroom use?
Yes, IP54 is suitable for bathroom use. If it’s a bathroom wall lamp for example, make sure it is fixed at a minimum distance of 0.6 meter from the bathtub, shower or sink. For ceiling lamps, the distance between the floor and the lamp must be at least 2.5 meters.
Where can IP54 be used?
IP54 can be used both indoors and outdoors.
What is better IP54 or IP65?
IP65 is better than IP54 because it is fully dust tight and is completely protected against solid objects. Plus, it is more resistant to water splashes and water jets.
What does IP55 mean?
IP55 means that the product is protected against quantity of dust that could interfere with the normal operation of the product but is not fully dust tight. The product is completely protected against solid objects. It is also protected against water jets projected by a nozzle (6.3mm) from any angle.
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