IP rating (grado IP, protection against dust and water)

What the IP rating means

The letters stand for International Protection. Two numbers follow:

• First digit, 0 to 6: solids and dust. A 4 protects against objects over 1 mm, such as wires or thin tools; a 5 against harmful amounts of dust; a 6 is fully dust-tight.
• Second digit, 0 to 8: water. A 4 protects against splashes from any direction; a 5 against water jets; a 7 against temporary immersion; an 8 against prolonged immersion.

If a digit has not been tested, it is replaced by an X, as in IPX4.

Common examples

• IP20: indoor equipment in dry areas, such as most switches and living room lights.
• IP44: protected against objects over 1 mm and splashes. Common in bathroom lights and sockets with covers.
• IP65: dust-tight and protected against jets. Typical for outdoor, garden and terrace lights and sockets.
• IP67 and IP68: withstand immersion. Underwater pool lights are IP68 and, in zones 0 and 1 of the pool, run at 12 V safety extra-low voltage under ITC-BT-31.

What each area of your home needs

In bathrooms, ITC-BT-27 sets water protection for each zone: IPX7 inside the bath or shower tray, IPX4 in zones 1 and 2 and IPX1 in zone 3. Outdoors, in pools, garages and damp rooms, the REBT also requires sealed enclosures. An outdoor light with too low an IP fills with water and trips the RCD every time it rains. See outdoor, pools and gates in Seville, Spain.