Today we are going to bring you closer to the true meaning of a product’s IP. The IP is an indicative measurement of the luminaires. Useful especially outdoors, since it tells us the product’s ability to be resistant to water and/or solids and to what extent. This way we will know depending on exposure to water and weather which one is best for us.
The lamps and luminaires that we place in patios and gardens, even streets, must have special characteristics that allow them to withstand the elements.
Not only will it help us know its water resistance but we will also know if it resists humidity and dust. Today, we are going to focus on outdoor luminaires but this measurement is also useful to decide which product to place in places such as the bathroom, where humidity increases considerably.
Lets start by the beginning. What does IP mean? The acronym IP comes from the word “Ingress Protection” which literally means “Ingress Protection”. This degree of protection is regulated by an international standard, IEC 60529, which is used in most countries in the world.
This measurement must be indicated on all types of luminaires. It is represented by two numbers. The first value describes protection against dust while the second describes protection against liquids. 
There is also a third value that indicates its resistance against impacts. It is known as IK protection index. Today it is not used, only in some countries such as France. This last data is regulated by the UTE C20 010 standard and with a scale of 1 to 10 it measures the different forces, masses and distance that the product can resist in the event of an impact. IK01 being the least resistant and IK10 the most.
You should pay close attention to the IP of your luminaire before installing it outdoors. A bad decision can lead to the product stopping working or working incorrectly due to excess humidity.
What IP should I use in each area of my garden?
Zone 1: POOLS OR PONDS
They need the maximum possible protection against water. They must be designed to besubmerged installations. The recommended protection is IP68.
On our website you will find products like PAR 56 Swimming Pool that presents these characteristics.
Zone 2: ON THE EDGE OF POOLS OR PONDS
Luminaires protected to the maximum in terms of dust and footsteps. They must be prepared for temporary immersion. Even if they are not really going to occur, it makes it easier for us not to have to be scared because water is splashed from the pool. IP67 protection is recommended.
Within our range we would opt for the recessed spotlights for floor with GU10 socket perfect for the edges of your pool.
Zone 3: MARKERS ON THE GROUND
They must present total resistance to dust and dirt. Also, be resistant to footsteps and the impacts that they may cause. It must have resistance against water leaks. That there is no risk of problem in case of rain. Minimum protection of IP65.
In this case there are a large number of products that you could use. We leave you two completely different items at hand depending on the environment you want to create. On the one hand, a LED strip RGB and on the other, a oval LED ceiling light.
Zone 4: EMBEDDED IN WALLS, WINDOWS AND LOW CEILINGS
They run the risk of getting wet in case of rain so they need protection against it. In addition, they are exposed to mud, as they are outdoors and in an area that is usually traveled, so they also need to be protected against it. IP44 is recommended. This is a middle ground. As a detail, say that it would be the ideal product for example for a bathroom.
For your home walls, we propose certain ideas such as downlights or < span style="color: #008000;">ceiling lights that you will find in different models, colors and shapes.
We hope that with this data you know what IP you need in each area of your garden. If you need advice, do not hesitate to contact us.
