IP Ratings IP rating stands for 'Ingress Protection'
An IP number is used to classify
environmental protection of enclosures around electronic equipment.
The first digit relates to foreign bodies such as tools, hands, fingers and dust.
The second digit related to liquids.
First Digit - Foreign Bodies
0 - No protection 1 - Protected against solid objects greater than 50mm2. (eg hands) 2 - Protected against solid objects up to 12mm2. (eg fingers) 3 - Protected against solid objects greater than 2.5mm2. (eg tools and wires) 4 - Protected against solid objects up to 1mm2. (eg small tools and wires) 5 - Protected against dust, limited ingress (eg no harmful deposit). 6 - Totally protected against dust.
Second Digit - Liquids
0 - No protection
1 - Protection against vertically falling drops of water (example, condensation. 2 - Protection against direct sprays of water up to 15 degrees from vertical. 3 - Protection against direct sprays of water up to 60 degrees from vertical. 4 - Protection against water sprayed from all directions - limited ingress permitted. 5 - Protected against low pressure jets of water from all directions - limited ingress permitted. 6 - Protected against low pressure jets of water, limited ingress permitted (eg ship deck). 7 - Protected against effect of immersion between 15cm and 1m. 8 - Protected against long periods of immersion under pressure. (eg. swimming pools)
Example IP Ratings
An IP rating of IP44 is protected against solid objects greater than 1mm and water sprayed from all directions
An IP rating of IP68 is totally protected against dust and can be immersed under water at high pressure for long periods
The higher IP Rating more protection offered for your home lighting.
Having right level of protection is especially important in Bathroom Lighting
The bathroom is a functional room, and lighting priority should be given to grooming at mirror. Lighting at mirror serves for cleaning, make up, shaving and dressing, bathroom lighting should be plentiful and evenly distributed without shadows, and free from glare. Lighting in centre of ceiling, places face in shadow and while useful for general lighting, will not serve well for tasks based here. Lighting at both sides of mirror works best providing even light across face and avoids shadow under chin. Fluorescent lighting is ideal for tasks and provides high levels of illumination with less heat and lower operating cost than normal GLS fittings. GLS or halogen, offer greater decorative possibilities and if well spaced and diffused, can be used very effectively. Bathroom lighting, including fluorescent lights @ SelectLighting UK.
