IP Ratings Explained

June 6, 2017

IP stands for 'Ingress Protection'.

First Digit - Protection against ingress of foreign bodies e.g. tools, dust, fingers, etc.

Second Digit - Protection against ingress of liquids. e.g. IP44 is protection against solid objects greater than 1mm IP4X and waters sprayed from all directions IPX4.

	Foreign Bodies - First digit		Liquids - Second Digit
0	No protection	0	No protection
1	Protected against solid objects greater than 50mm e.g. Accidental touch by hands.	1	Protection against vertically falling drops of water e.g. condensation.
2	Protected against solid objects up to 12mm e.g. Fingers	2	Protection against direct sprays of water up to 15 degrees from vertical
3	Protected against solid objects greater than 2.5mm e.g. Tools and wires	3	Protection against direct sprays of water up to 60 degrees from vertical
4	Protected against solid objects greater than 1mm e.g. Small Tools and wires	4	Protection against water sprayed from all directions - Limited ingress permitted.
5	Protected against dust, limited ingress e.g. no harmful deposit.	5	Protection against low pressure jets of water from all directions - Limited ingress permitted.
6	Totally protected against dust.	6	Protection against high pressure jets of water (Used on ship deck) - Limited ingress permitted.
		7	Protected against the effects of immersion between 15cm and 1m
		8	Protected against long periods of immersion under pressure.

IP Ratings In Bathrooms

The bathroom area has been divided up into 'zones' or areas which are classified using the numbers 0-2. Light fittings are then assigned an IP rating which indicates how much protection they provide against ingress of water and other particles. Each zone has a minimum IP requirement that must be met if a fitting is to be installed in this area.

ZONE 0	Inside the bath or shower. Any fittings used here must be SELV (max 12v) and have a minimum rating of IPX7 (protected against immersion in water)
ZONE 1	Above the bath or shower to a height of 2.25m. A minimum rating of IPX4 is required. If there is a likelyhood of water jets being used for cleaning the IPrating should be increased to IPX5.
ZONE 2	The area stretching to 0.6m outside the bath or shower and above the bath or shower if over 2.25m. An IP rating of at least IPX4 is required. If there is a likelyhood of water jets being used for cleaning the IPrating should be increased to IPX5.

Our team are on hand to help with any enquiry, and we may be reached between 9am - 4pm Monday to Friday on 0115 8240259 or via our online ticket system.

Call Us

Email Us

IP Ratings Explained

IP Ratings In Bathrooms