What are IP & IK ratings?
In the majority of business facilities IP rating is key to a consumer to ensure the product meets the basic quality standards. This is key for electrical and mechanical components to see the resistance levels a product has to certain environments.
What is IP?
An IP rating is shorthand for an Ingress Protection mark. An IP rating is usually a two-digit grading system that’s applied to the product item.
In the UK, IP codes are assigned in accordance with British standard BS EN 60529:1992. In Europe, they fall in line with IEC standard 60509:1989, and internationally they conform to EN 60529 certification.
IP rating relate to three key metrics:
- Resistance to ingress, accidental or otherwise, by the user
- Resistance to ingress from foreign bodies (dust, dirt etc)
- Resistance to moisture ingress
IP ratings for outdoor lights
An IP rating for outdoor lights is key to both the safety and function of any unit installed where condensation, rain or wind-blown foreign bodies might pose a potential risk.
For example with the Hilclare Isla Advanced Gen 2 which has a rating of IP20, which means you are protected against solid objects up to 12mm (2) but there is no protection against liquids (0).
Whereas if you take a look at the Phasor LED floodlight which has a rating of IK08, which means that the luminaire is protected against a 1.7kg object dropped from 29.5cm in height.
First digit – protection from foreign body and particulate ingress:
Second digit – protection from moisture ingress:
What is IK?
IK in its simplest term means the impact protection rating.
Stating how protected a luminaire is from mechanical impact. The higher ratings describe a higher tolerance for impact.
