What is the IP? What degree of protection should my lighting have?
Before deciding where to install the lighting, it is very important to know the degree of IP protection of a product.
The IP (Protection Index in English) is the degree of protection of a product based on the level of protection that its materials provide against the entry of solid materials such as dust or liquids such as water. Id est, it helps us understand where the lighting product can be installed and how to make a correct use of it.
The IP value is made up of two digits, the first indicates the degree of protection against solids and the second digit indicates the protection against humidity and water. A product with IP00 would not have any protection, while the maximum possible would be IP68, this being totally waterproof and the most protected against the entry of external agents. A track of spotlights for a dressing room, a wall light for a corridor or a hanging lamp in a dining room do not require extraordinary protection, an IP20 would be sufficient. While in outdoor lighting for gardens an IP65 is recommended.
Let’s see the digits ratio in the following table:
For all these reasons, the most important aspect when planning an outdoor installation is the degree of protection offered by the luminaire, thus preventing it from working incorrectly due to excess humidity.