What is IP?, Episode 6

NLC Academy · Episode 6

What is IP?

Ingress Protection, the IEC 60529 code in under two minutes.

Two digits, in this order

IP 6 5

1st digit = access & solid objects

2nd digit = water

First digit, protection from solids

From 0 to 6

0none

1>50 mm

2>12.5 mm

3>2.5 mm

4>1 mm

5dust-protected

6dust-tight

6 means no dust gets in, the Saudi outdoor floor.

Second digit, protection from water

From 0 to 9, plus 9K

0none

3spray

4splash

5jets

6strong jets

7immersion

8submersion

9Khot washdown

Up to 6, higher covers lower; immersion (7 and 8) is separate and does not cover jets.

How the rating is earned

The test runs on the fixture

Each digit is a separate lab test on the real luminaire: dust circulated around the sealed body, then a calibrated jet aimed at every gasket and gland.

The Shamal test

Street lighting under SASO 2927: IP66

PM10 can exceed 1,000 µg/m³ during severe Saudi dust events. Products in SASO 2927's scope require IP66; elsewhere, match the rating to the exposure.

The trade-off

Sealing changes the thermal design

Vented body coolerSealed body hotter

A sealed enclosure may run warmer if its thermal paths are not well designed. Verify data at the project ambient.

Where each code belongs

IP20Indoor offices & classrooms

IP54Garages & sheltered exterior

IP65General outdoor & canopies

IP66Streetlights & façades

IP67Walkway uplights & planters

IP68Fountains & pool walls

IP69KFood production & car wash

Spec the minimum IP you actually need.

NLC Outdoor & Industrial defaults to IP66, stainless glands, Gulf-graded gaskets.

0:00 / 0:00

Animated explainer. The filmed episode will appear here when production wraps.

Key Takeaways

What you'll walk away with

Four ideas to carry into the next specification conversation you have.

Two digits, in this order: solids then liquids.

IP65 means 6 = dust-tight, 5 = protected against water jets. Higher is more sealed, not automatically better: sealing changes the thermal design.

Street lighting under SASO 2927 requires IP66.

PM10 can exceed 1,000 µg/m³ during severe dust events. Outside SASO 2927's scope, select the rating by the actual exposure and the applicable product standard.

IP66 ≠ IP67 ≠ IP68 ≠ IP69K.

Immersion is not jets: IPX7/IPX8 do not cover IPX5/IPX6, hence dual codes like IP66/IP68. Up to IPX6, a higher rating covers the lower ones.

Sealing changes the thermal design.

A sealed enclosure may raise internal temperatures if its thermal paths are not well designed. Compare rated ambient, output and lifetime data at project conditions, not only at 25 °C.

Reference

IP code matrix, what each digit certifies

Per IEC 60529 (IP69K per ISO 20653; IEC 60529: IPX9). Typical examples, subject to project zones and applicable product standards; marine sites also need corrosion evaluation, and pools and fountains additionally require the luminaire safety standard.

IP code	Protects against	Where it belongs
IP20	Solid > 12.5 mm · no water	Indoor offices · classrooms
IP44	Solid > 1 mm · splash from any direction	Bathrooms · semi-covered balconies
IP54	Limited dust · splash	Garages · sheltered exterior
IP65	Dust-tight · water jets	General outdoor · canopies
IP66	Dust-tight · strong jets	Streetlights · façades · marine-adjacent
IP67	Dust-tight · 1 m immersion 30 min	Walkway uplights · planters
IP68	Continuous submersion (depth defined)	Fountains · pool walls
IP69K	High-pressure hot washdown	Food production · car wash

Deep Dive

Reading IP in context

Five facts that change how you spec ingress protection on a Saudi project.

The Shamal is the test no lab can replicate.

PM10 can exceed 1,000 µg/m³ during severe Saudi dust events. Ratings are earned under clean laboratory conditions; field service adds heat, UV and repeated storms, so choose the rating for the real exposure and plan maintenance accordingly.

An IP rating is a snapshot. Re-test critical sites.

The rating describes a tested sample under defined conditions. Heat, UV, chemicals, installation quality, opening for maintenance and gasket ageing can change sealing performance over time. For tunnels, airports and critical infrastructure, define inspection intervals and re-test requirements in the maintenance plan.

First-digit 6 means dust-tight, not just dust-protected.

IP6X is verified with circulating talc dust under the conditions set for the enclosure category, with vacuum applied where the standard requires: none may enter. Digit 5 (dust-protected) allows limited, harmless ingress; digit 6 allows none. "Dust-proof" is a marketing word with no definition in the code.

Sealing changes the thermal design.

A sealed enclosure may raise internal temperatures if its thermal paths are not properly designed. Compare rated ambient temperature, lumen output and lifetime data at the project's actual conditions, not only at 25 °C.

The weakest interface puts the assembly at risk.

A gland or connector with lower protection can compromise the enclosure. Component ratings alone do not establish the final IP rating: verify the complete luminaire, cable, gland and connector assembly in its installed configuration.

From the Academy to the Field

NLC Outdoor & Industrial, built to the IP the Gulf actually demands.

Our outdoor catalogue defaults to IP66 with stainless cable glands and silicone gaskets specified for Gulf service, with scheduled gasket inspection on critical sites.

See the solution

Sources

Sources & further reading

IEC 60529, Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code). webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/2452
ISO 20653, Road vehicles, Degrees of protection (IP code). iso.org/standard/76116.html
SASO 2927, Lighting products, Part 3, SASO standard workshop. saso.gov.sa/…/Lighting part 3 standard workshop_vf.pdf
Atmospheric Environment, PM10 measurements in Saudi Arabia. sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231001001595

Shareable

Forward the carousel to a colleague

A 13-slide explainer, ready to post straight to LinkedIn as an image carousel. Same content, faster reading.

SLIDE 01

What IP65 really means, and what it doesn't

SLIDE 02

What does IP65 mean?

SLIDE 03

The solids scale: from a hand to zero dust

13 slides · LinkedIn-ready. Download all 13 as high-res PNGs and post them straight to LinkedIn as a carousel. PDF version still available.

Download 13 PNGs or grab the PDF

What is IP? What IP65 really means, and what it doesn't

What you'll walk away with

Two digits, in this order: solids then liquids.

Street lighting under SASO 2927 requires IP66.

IP66 ≠ IP67 ≠ IP68 ≠ IP69K.

Sealing changes the thermal design.

IP code matrix, what each digit certifies

Reading IP in context

The Shamal is the test no lab can replicate.

An IP rating is a snapshot. Re-test critical sites.

First-digit 6 means dust-tight, not just dust-protected.

Sealing changes the thermal design.

The weakest interface puts the assembly at risk.

NLC Outdoor & Industrial, built to the IP the Gulf actually demands.

Sources & further reading

What is IK?

Forward the carousel to a colleague

Get the next episode by email