Technical Talk

One of the most significant considerations when using and installing commercial lighting (especially outdoors!), is how safe and reliable the product is. But how do we find this out? There is an IP rating associated with the most commercial lighting products, but what does this mean?

The IP Code or ‘International Protection Rating’ consists of the letters IP followed by two digits and an optional letter. This code classifies the degrees of protection provided against the intrusion of solid objects, dust, accidental contact, and water in electrical enclosures. The certification aims to provide a more straightforward way of acquiring necessary information rather than undescriptive terms such as “waterproof”.

The first digit indicates the level of protection that the enclosure provides against access to hazardous parts (e.g., electrical conductors, moving parts) and the ingress of solid foreign objects. The digits range from 0 to 6 and will indicate the foreign object size the product is protected against. The second digit indicates the level of protection of the equipment within the enclosure against harmful ingress of water. The digits range from 0 to 8 and will indicate if the product is protected from dripping water, splashing water, and immersion at different depths.

Our Connectable Lights products commonly have an IP67 rating. IP67 equipment is the most frequently found in the connectivity market. The “6” indicates the sensor is completely protected against solid objects from entering the sensor, including dust. In contrast, the “7” indicates the sensor can be completely submerged in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes before the moisture penetrates the housing.

Using connectable lights with a superior IP rating, we can assure our customers that they are receiving the highest quality product. Meaning using the connectable lights system is faster, simpler, and safer.