What Does IP Stand For?
IP stands for Ingress Protection. It is defined by the international standard IEC 60529 and tells you how well an electrical enclosure (such as an LED light fitting) is protected against the intrusion of solid particles (dust) and liquids (water). The rating consists of two digits — the first for dust, the second for water.
How to Read an IP Code
IP
6
Dust
5
Water
Example: IP65 = fully dust-tight + protected against water jets
IP Rating Reference Table
| Rating | Typical Use |
|---|---|
| IP20 | Dry indoor use only. Offices, living rooms, dry warehouses. |
| IP44 | Bathrooms (zone 2), covered outdoor areas, light industrial. |
| IP54 | Dusty environments, garages, covered outdoor areas. |
| IP65 | Outdoor use, car washes, food production, wet industrial. |
| IP66 | Heavy-duty outdoor, chemical environments, power washing. |
| IP67 | Bathrooms (zone 0/1), underground, temporary flooding risk. |
| IP68 | Underwater lighting, fountains, permanently submerged fittings. |
Which IP Rating Do I Need?
Dry indoor rooms (offices, living rooms, dry warehouses)
Bathrooms — outside zones 0, 1 and 2
Bathrooms — zone 2 (within 0.6m of shower/bath)
Bathrooms — zone 1 (above shower/bath)
Bathrooms — zone 0 (inside shower/bath)
Covered outdoor areas (porches, canopies)
Exposed outdoor use
Car washes, food production, wet industrial
Underwater / fountains
Common Questions
What IP rating do I need for a bathroom?
UK wiring regulations (BS 7671) define bathroom zones. Zone 0 (inside the bath or shower) requires IP67 minimum. Zone 1 (directly above the bath/shower up to 2.25m) requires IP45 minimum. Zone 2 (within 0.6m of zone 1) requires IP44 minimum. Outside these zones, IP20 is acceptable but IP44 is recommended for safety.
What does IP65 mean?
IP65 means the fitting is fully dust-tight (first digit 6) and protected against water jets from any direction (second digit 5). It is suitable for outdoor use, car washes, food production areas and anywhere that may be hosed down. It is not suitable for submersion.
Is IP44 good enough for outdoor use?
IP44 provides protection against solid objects over 1mm and water splashing from any direction. It is suitable for covered outdoor areas such as porches, canopies and car ports where the fitting is not directly exposed to rain. For fully exposed outdoor use, IP65 or higher is recommended.
Key Takeaways
- The first IP digit = dust protection (0–6). 6 = fully dust-tight.
- The second IP digit = water protection (0–8). 5 = water jets, 7 = immersion.
- For outdoor use, always use IP65 or higher.
- For bathrooms, check the zone and match the minimum IP rating required by BS 7671.
- A higher IP rating does not mean better light output — it only affects protection.