IP and IK ratings: definition, full tables and choice by use

Two codes appear on every professional luminaire data sheet: IP and IK. The first describes the ingress protection of the enclosure, the second its impact resistance. They come from two separate standards, and confusing them is paid for on site: an IP69K installed in a gymnasium will be destroyed by the first ball, a poorly sealed IK10 will not survive a season of washing in a wine cellar.

This article details the two ratings, gives the full tables, then gives the IP/IK pair to choose by use: sports hall, food processing, wine cellar, outdoors, industry, poultry farming.

IP and IK: two ratings, two distinct risks

The IP rating, for Ingress Protection, is defined by the IEC 60529 standard, adopted in Europe under the reference EN 60529. It qualifies the protection of the enclosure against the ingress of solid bodies and water.

The IK rating is defined by the IEC 62262 standard (EN 62262), which succeeded the former EN 50102. It qualifies the resistance of the enclosure to an external mechanical impact, in joules.

A luminaire therefore always carries two markings, which cannot be deduced from each other: a floodlight can be IP66 and IK07, or IP54 and IK10. Each value results from separate tests on a new sample.

The reading rule is simple: IP protects against the environment, IK protects against use. A humid wine cellar requires a high IP, a gymnasium a high IK, an indoor swimming pool both.

The IP rating: two digits, two tests

The IP code has two digits: the first for solids, the second for liquids. A digit that has not been assessed becomes an X: IPX4 means that only water resistance has been evaluated.

First digit: solid bodies and dust

| Digit | Protection against solid bodies |

| --- | --- |

| 0 | No protection |

| 1 | Solid bodies larger than 50 mm (accidental contact with the back of the hand) |

| 2 | Solid bodies larger than 12.5 mm (finger) |

| 3 | Solid bodies larger than 2.5 mm (tool, thick wire) |

| 4 | Solid bodies larger than 1 mm (fine wire, screws) |

| 5 | Dust-protected: ingress is not totally prevented, but remains without a quantity harmful to operation |

| 6 | Totally dust-tight |

The difference between 5 and 6 is often underestimated. In joinery, cement works or flour milling, an IP5X lets through fine particles that clog the heat sink and cause the LED junction temperature to drift: there, the 6 determines the lifetime.

Second digit: water and washing

| Digit | Protection against liquids |

| --- | --- |

| 0 | No protection |

| 1 | Vertically falling water drops |

| 2 | Falling drops up to 15° from the vertical |

| 3 | Rain water up to 60° from the vertical |

| 4 | Splashing water from all directions |

| 5 | Water jets from a nozzle, 6.3 mm nozzle, about 12.5 l/min |

| 6 | Powerful water jets, 12.5 mm nozzle, about 100 l/min |

| 7 | Temporary immersion (1 m for 30 minutes) |

| 8 | Prolonged immersion, under conditions specified by the manufacturer |

| 9 (9K) | High-pressure, high-temperature water jets, steam cleaning |

The most common IP ratings in lighting

| Rating | Practical meaning | Typical use |

| --- | --- | --- |

| IP20 | Protected against fingers, no protection against water | Office, suspended ceiling, dry room |

| IP40 | Solid bodies larger than 1 mm, no protection against water | Clean commercial premises, suspended ceiling |

| IP44 | Splashing water from all directions | Toilets, sheltered circulation |

| IP54 | Limited dust, splashing water | Sheltered workshop, covered car park |

| IP65 | Dust-tight, water jets from a nozzle | Warehouse, sports hall, canopy |

| IP66 | Dust-tight, powerful jets | Exposed outdoors, stadium, façade, livestock building |

| IP67 | Dust-tight, temporary immersion | In-ground recessed, flood-prone area |

| IP68 | Dust-tight, prolonged immersion | Pool, underwater lighting |

| IP69K | Dust-tight, hot high-pressure washing | Food processing, wine cellar, milking parlour |

Three pitfalls to know about the IP rating

Beyond digit 6, the tests are not cumulative. The progression is cumulative up to 6: an IPX6 also satisfies IPX5, but not beyond. An IPX7, tested in static immersion, is not qualified against powerful jets. If your site combines both constraints, require a dual marking IP66/IP67.

The rating is measured on new equipment, in the laboratory. On site, it is quickly lost: seal pinched on reassembly, cable gland not tightened, cable entry left open, cover closed without its seal. A catalogue IP66 can thus offer in service only the equivalent of an IP40, after a few minutes of careless installation: the rating is not downgraded within the meaning of the standard, it is the actual performance of the luminaire that collapses. This is the leading cause of premature failure outdoors.

IP69K comes from the automotive world. Introduced by the German standard DIN 40050-9, now taken up by ISO 20653, it has its equivalent in IEC 60529 under the designation IPX9. In industrial lighting, "IP69K" remains the usual term. The test sprays water at about 80 °C, at 80 to 100 bar and 14 to 16 l/min, from 10 to 15 cm, at four successive angles (0°, 30°, 60° and 90°), on a turntable.

The IK rating: impact resistance, in joules

The IK test consists of striking the enclosure with a calibrated mass dropped from a defined height. Mass times height gives the impact energy, in joules.

| IK code | Impact energy | Mass | Drop height |

| --- | --- | --- | --- |

| IK00 | Not protected according to the standard | - | - |

| IK01 | 0.14 J | 0.25 kg | 56 mm |

| IK02 | 0.20 J | 0.25 kg | 80 mm |

| IK03 | 0.35 J | 0.25 kg | 140 mm |

| IK04 | 0.50 J | 0.25 kg | 200 mm |

| IK05 | 0.70 J | 0.25 kg | 280 mm |

| IK06 | 1 J | 0.25 kg | 400 mm |

| IK07 | 2 J | 0.5 kg | 400 mm |

| IK08 | 5 J | 1.7 kg | 300 mm |

| IK09 | 10 J | 5 kg | 200 mm |

| IK10 | 20 J | 5 kg | 400 mm |

In practical terms, an IK08 absorbs the equivalent of a tool dropped from a cherry picker, an IK10 that of a 5 kg mass dropped from 40 cm. Between the two, the admissible energy is multiplied by four: it is a change in the design of the cover and the body, not a step in the range.

What the IK rating does not say

• The tested configuration counts. An IK10 obtained with a grille fitted is not an IK10 without the grille. Check which reference and which accessory the rating relates to.
• The test is a single impact per point of impact, not a fatigue test: a cover that withstands 20 J does not necessarily withstand thousands of impacts in the same place.
• A ball is not a hammer: its contact surface is large and its energy distributed. The German reference DIN 18032-3 deals with ball impact safety in sports halls; it is often requested in addition to the IK rating.

Which IP/IK pair to choose for your application

Gymnasium and sports hall: the ball dictates the IK

In a hall, humidity is low and dust limited: an IP65 covers the need. The real risk is impact, with balls regularly hitting the ceiling luminaires. It is the IK that must be pushed: IK10 as soon as the units are within the playing volume.

The FLUXO SPORT GRID illustrates this compromise at IP66 / IK10. See the sports hall lighting category and our article on lighting a basketball hall to FFBB standards, which deals with ball protection together with illuminance levels.

Food processing and wine cellars: washing dictates the IP

In a cutting room or a wine cellar, cleaning is done with a high-pressure jet, hot water and detergents. An IP66 is no longer enough: the combination of pressure and temperature eventually forces the seals. This is the domain of IP69K.

The REXHALO FOOD is stated as IP69K / IK10, withstanding 100 bar at 80 °C, with a geometry without sharp angles that limits bacterial stagnation. For wine cellars, the REXSHOCK TUBULAR IP offers IK10 with IP69K in the PMMA version or IP67 in polycarbonate: the cover material is not neutral for the rating. See the food processing lighting category and our guide to lighting wine cellars.

Outdoors, stadiums and public lighting: IP66 as the base

Outdoors, the dominant constraint is driving rain combined with wind, plus the day/night thermal cycle that makes the enclosure breathe and encourages condensation. IP66 is the base; IP65 remains acceptable under a canopy.

For the IK, reason by accessibility height: a floodlight at the top of a 12-metre column is out of reach, an IK08 is enough there; a car park luminaire or one at the foot of a façade deserves an IK10 against vandalism. The FLUXO SPORT 20A, at IP66 / IK10, illustrates the level expected outdoors. Its surge protection, stated at 20 kV on the product sheet, is a manufacturer figure: it is outside the usual market orders of magnitude, which are rather around 10 kV, and needs to be confirmed by a test report before being written into a technical specification. Photometric requirements are dealt with in our article on lighting a football pitch to FFF standards.

Dusty industry and high ceilings

In dry, dusty production, aim for IP6X on the first digit; the second can remain modest without washing. At great heights, the risk of impact is low, but every intervention mobilises a cherry picker: it is better to oversize the IP to space out maintenance than to chase the IK.

The STARLOG 31, at IP65 / IK10, is aimed at logistics structures up to 30 metres. In an explosive atmosphere, the IP is only a prerequisite: compliance depends on ATEX marking. See the luminaires for ATEX zones category.

Poultry farming: washing, ammonia and corrosion

A livestock building combines three attacks: high-pressure washing between two flocks, permanent humidity and an atmosphere laden with ammonia. The first two fall under the IP: IP66 minimum, IP69K if washing is intensive. The AVITUB-A is stated as IP66 / IK08.

The third is covered by no rating: neither IP nor IK qualifies resistance to ammonia. It is a matter of materials, stainless steel screws and seals: ask the manufacturer for a declaration of compatibility with the site's cleaning products. Our article on LED poultry lighting details the other parameters, including spectrum and dimming.

Reading a data sheet without being misled

Before comparing two offers on the displayed ratings alone, go through this list:

• Is the IP/IK pair given for the complete luminaire, or only for the optical block?
• Is the tested configuration the one you will install: grille, cover, cable gland, fixing?
• Is the dual marking present if your site combines powerful jets and temporary immersion?
• Do the materials resist the cleaning product used: chlorine, caustic soda, peracetic acid, ammonia?
• Does the manufacturer provide the test report or the declaration of conformity?
• Does the warranty mention a restriction linked to the installation environment?

These checks are made at the stage of comparing offers, not after installation, ideally in a preliminary study cross-referencing environmental constraints and photometric requirements. Our article explaining why to carry out a photometric study before buying details the approach; the one on how to assess the reliability of LED lighting completes the analysis.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between IP65, IP66 and IP67?

All three are totally dust-tight: that is the meaning of the 6 in first position. The difference concerns water: IP65 resists a nozzle jet (6.3 mm nozzle), IP66 a powerful jet (12.5 mm nozzle), IP67 temporary immersion at 1 metre. IP67 therefore does not guarantee resistance to jets: if you need both, require an IP66/IP67.

Is an IK10 luminaire unbreakable?

No. IK10 corresponds to 20 joules, that is, a 5 kg mass dropped from 40 cm, applied once per point of impact on a new sample. Beyond that, or after thousands of repeated impacts, resistance is no longer guaranteed. In a sports hall, an IK10 can also be supplemented by a grille if exposure to balls is direct.

Is IP69K needed in all humid environments?

No, and oversizing it has a cost. IP69K is justified when cleaning is done with a hot high-pressure jet: food processing, wine cellar, milking parlour, certain livestock buildings. For a humid room or a changing room, an IP65 is enough. Outdoors in ordinary conditions, IP66 is the right level.

Are IP and IK ratings mandatory on a construction site?

The level required depends on the external influence conditions of the room, determined when the electrical installation is designed according to the reference framework in force, and where applicable on the requirements of the project owner or the federation concerned. These values must appear in the technical specification. If in doubt, have them validated by a design office before tendering.

Need to validate the IP and IK ratings of your project?

The choice of an IP/IK pair follows from the environment, the cleaning method, the installation height and the photometric requirements. Get in touch with our technical partner, the Luminance-Consulting agency, a lighting solutions consultancy since 2013.

The design office carries out the audits, the photometric studies in DIALux and the compliance checks, then sets down the IP and IK levels in your specifications.

• Luminance Consulting: lighting design office, 1 Route de Bartres, 65100 Adé, France
• Contact Rexylum for a quotation on the luminaires mentioned