Types of protection
 
The type of protection of a luminaire indicates the ability of the luminaire to withstand being penetrated by foreign bodies and water. The type of protection is given in the form of a two-digit code following the letters "IP" (ingress protection). The first digit relates to protection against foreign bodies, and the second to protection against water. The minimum requirement for indoor luminaires is IP 20 (in this case the luminaires do not have to be labelled).
 

Protection against contact and foreign bodies: first code number		CODE NUMBER IP...1)	SYMBOL acc. IEC 598	REMARKS
			Specification of IP code numbers prefered	1) remarks: example for the marking of the protection degree acc. EN 60 598; luminaire with IP 54, protected against ingress of solid objects and dripping water.   If only one code number is needed for the protection degree besides the code letters IP (e.g. in descriptions), an X has to be placed instead of the missing code number, e.g. IPX4 - luminaire protected against dripping water
Short description	Brief details of objects which will be "excluded" from the enclosure.
Non-protected	No special protection	IP0X	none
Protected against solid objects greater than 50 mm diameter	A large surface of the body, such as a hand (but no protection against deliberate access). Solid objects exceeding 50 mm in diameter.	IP1X	none
Protected against solid objects greater than 12 mm diameter	Fingers or similar objects not exceeding 80 mm in length. Solid objects exceeding 12 mm in diameter.	IP2X	none
Protected against solid objects greater than 2,5 mm diameter	Tools, wires, etc., of diameter or thickness greater than 2,5 mm. Solid objects exceeding 2,5 mm in diameter.	IP3X	none
Protected against solid objects greater than 1,0 mm diameter	Wires or strips of thickness greater than 1,0 mm. Solid objects exceeding 1,0 mm in diameter.	IP4X	none
Dust-protected	Ingress of dust is not totally prevented but dust does not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with satisfactory operation of the equipment.	IP5X
Dust-tight	No ingress of dust	IP6X
Protection against water: second code number				2) NOTE - Normally, this will mean that the equipment is hermetically sealed. However with certain types of equipment it can mean that water can enter but only in such a manner that it produces no harmful effects.
Short description	Details of the type of protect, provided by the enclosure
Non-Protected	No special protection	IPX0	none
Protected against dripping water	Dripping water (vertically falling drops) shall have no harmful effect	IPX1
Protected against dripping water when tilted up to 15°.	Vertically dripping water shall have no harmful effect when the enclosure is tilted at any angle up to 15° from its normal position	IPX2	none
Protected against spraying water	Water failing as a spray at an angle up to 60° from the vertical shall have no harmful effect	IPX3
Protected against splashing water	Water splashed against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect	IPX4
Protected against water jets	Water projected by a nozzle against the enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effect	IPX5
Protected against heavy seas	Water from heavy seas or water projected in powerful jets shall not enter the enclosure in harmful quantities	IPX6	none
Protected against the effects of immersion	Ingress of water in a harmful quantity shall not be possible when the enclosure is immersed in water under defined conditions of pressure and time	IPX7
Protected against submersion	The equipment is suitable for continuous submersion in water under conditions which shall be specified by the manufacturer.	IPX8