Ingress Protection for Lighting
Products
IP vs. NEMA Ratings for Wet Locations
Intertek Italia
Via Principe di Udine, 114 - 33030 Campoformido (UD)
info.etls-italy@intertek.com
www.intertek.it.
Table of Contents
Introduction .........................................................................................................................1
External Drivers Behind Ingress Protection (IP) Testing & Certification .............................1
Overview of IP Specifications .............................................................................................2
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IP Testing Required for IEC 60529 Ratings................................................................... 3

Key Equipment and Procedures Required for IEC 60529 Testing ................................ 4
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Environmental Testing Required for ANSI/UL 50E (CSA C22.2 No. 94.2) Ratings ...... 4
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Common Design Flaws That Can Result in Failure to Certify ....................................... 5
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Misconceptions About ANSI/UL 50E ............................................................................. 5
The Critical Role of Third Party Testing Laboratories .........................................................6
About Intertek .....................................................................................................................6
Ingress Protection for Lighting Products IP vs. NEMA Ratings for Wet Locations
Introduction
An Ingress Protection (IP) rating refers to the degree of protection an electronic or electrical
enclosure provides against external dust, fluid, or other objects that may pass through into
the product. With the industry’s rapidly growing demand for lighting in an ever-widening
range of outdoor and industrial applications – combined with a global rise in the incidence of
extreme weather, environmental/IP testing helps ensure and validate that a product’s
enclosure will withstand moisture and dust and will perform as expected in environments
where these conditions are prevalent. While not currently a mandatory requirement of U.S.
product safety certification standards, IP testing has become increasingly popular for
lighting products used in outdoor and industrial settings and is often requested by specifiers,
purchasers, and end users as a means to verify the acceptability of the product for the
intended application.
Today’s lighting products are commonly measured against several different IP specifications,
all of which involve precise measurement and unique submission requirements to assure
compliance. The following paper will discuss the range of IP specifications commonly used
today, the measure of protection they each certify, and why the use of a skilled and
accredited third party testing laboratory represents an optimal way for a lighting
manufacturer to help ensure successful compliance with these standards.
External Drivers Behind IP Testing & Certification
A number of external factors have driven the popularity and utilization of IP testing in the
marketplace:

Growth in Outdoor Lighting – as a category, outdoor lighting is a key growth area
within the overall lighting market, particularly as many outdoor and industrial fixtures
continue to convert from traditional sources to more energy-efficient, long-lasting, and
durable LED technology. According to market forecasting firm Strategies Unlimited, the
$2 billion market for LED lighting in 2012 was punctuated by growth in outdoor area
lighting and commercial and industrial lighting, sector-wide sales of which they estimated
to have increased by 13% and 12% respectively over 2011 levels.*

Rise in Extreme Weather – Haiti’s devastating earthquake in 2010, Japan’s
catastrophic tsunami in 2011, and the rash of punishing tornados, droughts, and other
natural disasters that have recently stricken communities around the world have
sensitized global markets to the wrath of Mother Nature’s fury and its fallout. On the east
coast, where 2012’s Superstorm Sandy caused an estimated $50 billion in damage,
climate scientists are predicting that the violent storms responsible for causing what used
to be once-a-century devastating floods in that area may now occur as often as every 3 –
20 years. Whether caused by global warming or a turbulent weather cycle, experts
*
“LED Lighting Market Holds Steady in 2012,” Vrinda Bhandarkar and Ella Shum (Strategies
Unlimited), LEDs Magazine, September 2012.
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Ingress Protection for Lighting Products IP vs. NEMA Ratings for Wet Locations
predict a rise in the frequency of extreme weather events, which will influence an
increasing need for lighting products to stand up to these inclement conditions.

Harmonization of Standards – IP ratings have become an increasingly utilized,
recognized, and valued measure of a product’s performance and safety, particularly as
global efforts to harmonize standards continue to progress.

Growth in Marketing Efforts – Lighting manufacturers are increasingly using IP ratings
as sales and marketing tools based on their ability to help differentiate a product from
others in today’s competitive market. IP testing helps to enhance consumer confidence
in a product’s overall quality and suitability for an outdoor or “extreme” application.
Overview of IP Specifications
Depending on the type of light and the end-use application, IP specifications from a
variety of bodies may apply to a product. Some of the most common standards in use
today are from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and Underwriters
Laboratories (UL), with equivalents from Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and
other organizations, as follows:

IEC 60598 Series (Luminaires – Part 1) – Covering safety requirements and tests for
general lighting that is for use in areas outside of North America. According to IEC
60598-1, “this standard specifies general requirements for luminaires, incorporating
electric light sources for operation from supply voltages up to 1000 V. The
requirements and related tests of this standard cover classification, marking,
mechanical construction and electrical construction.”

IEC 60529 (Degree of Protection Provided by Enclosures) – A general
environmental IP standard for lighting that is permanently mounted and not portable
for use in areas outside of North America.

ANSI/UL 1598/ CSA C22.2 No. 250.0 (ANSI/UL Standard for Safety for Luminaires)
– A general safety standard for lighting that is permanently mounted and not portable
for use in areas within North America; includes testing for temperature, shock, sound
mounting methods, etc.

ANSI/UL 50E/ CSA C22.2 No. 94.2 (ANSI/UL Standard for Safety for Enclosures for
Electrical Equipment) – A general environmental standard for lighting that is
permanently mounted and not portable for use in areas within North America; this
standard measures whether the lighting is acceptable in that application and
environment.
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Ingress Protection for Lighting Products IP vs. NEMA Ratings for Wet Locations
IP Testing Required for IEC 60529 Ratings
IEC 60529 ratings enable a manufacturer to sell products in Europe and other locations
outside of North America and they are based on the following nomenclature:
First Number:
IP 0x - No Protection
IP 1x - Objects > 50mm
IP 2x - Objects > 12mm
IP 3x - Objects > 2.5 mm
IP 4x - Objects > 1 mm
IP 5x - Dust Protected (Vacuum)
IP 5x - Dust Protected (Non-Vacuum)
IP 6x - Dust Tight
Second Number:
IP x0 - No Protection
IP x1 - Protected Against Vertically Dripping Water
IP x2 - Protected Against Dripping Water (15º tilted)
IP x3 - Protected Against Sprayed Water
IP x4 - Protected Against Splashed Water
IP x5 - Protected Against Water Jets
IP x6 - Protected Against Powerful Water Jets
IP x7 - Protected Against Effects of Temporary Immersion
IP x8 - Protected Against Continuous Immersion
Note: Optional additional letter(s) may also be used to indicate additional performance
compliance for protection of equipment or protection of persons.
Additional Letter (optional)
A
B
C
D
Against access to hazardous parts with:
Back of hand
Finger
Tool
Wire
Supplementary Letter (optional)
H
M
S
W
Supplementary information specific to:
High voltage apparatus
Motion during water test
Stationary during water test
Weather conditions
The first number indicates the size of the foreign body which could enter the enclosure and
possibly damage the components inside. For example, “IP6X” indicates that an enclosure
is “Dust Tight” and provides complete protection against any ingress of dust. The second
number indicates the level of protection from fluid or water provided by the enclosure; per
IEC guidelines, “IPX6” indicates that high pressure water jets directed against the
enclosure from any direction will have no harmful effects and that water can enter the
enclosure but won’t contact any unprotected electrical connections. “IP66” is the highest
common IP rating within IEC 60529 nomenclature and would be the rating an end user
would desire if they were installing an LED light fixture on the outside of a building.
Key Equipment and Procedures Required for IEC 60529 Testing

For the dust portion of the test, a dedicated chamber with a specialized
circulator (see below) is employed which allows a closed system circulation of
talc powder. The talc powder dust, verified for particle size, shall pass
through a 75 µm sieve with 2 kg per cubic meter of test chamber volume. The
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Ingress Protection for Lighting Products IP vs. NEMA Ratings for Wet Locations


dust is not used for more than 20 tests.
Various access probes are used to determine maximum particle size entry
into the enclosure (IP1X-IP4X). The calibrated probes, shaped like Allen
wrenches, come in different diameters that are sized for the particle the test
is trying to prevent from entering the fixture.
A water supply, water spray nozzles, and fixtures are also used to conduct IEC
60529 testing.
The equipment utilized to conduct the aforementioned tests is both specialized and capital
intensive and manufacturers can rarely simulate these testing conditions on their own.
Environmental Testing Required for ANSI/UL 50E (CSA C22.2 No. 94.2) Ratings
ANSI/UL 50E ratings (First Edition Enclosures for Electrical Equipment, Environmental
Considerations, harmonized with CSA C22.2 No. 94.2), enable a manufacturer to certify
ingress protection for electrical products used within North America. Compliance will result in
a certification mark (i.e. ETL, UL, etc.), a critical designation which is increasingly required
for the sale of products possessing an electrical connection in many municipalities and retail
outlets. An enclosure is traditionally defined as a housing constructed to provide protection
against contact or environmental elements. Depending on the application, the test applied to
the enclosure will be assigned an enclosure type. Some examples include: 


Type 1 for indoor enclosure, to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt.
Type 3 for indoor/outdoor enclosure to provide a degree of protection against
falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow, and windblown dust; and that will be undamaged
by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.
Type 4 to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow,
windblown dust, splashing water, and hose-directed water; and that will be
undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.
Similar to the IP (IEC) rating, the requirement of a type designation varies based on the
needs of the manufacturer. A rated enclosure can help in safety compliance for
certification and is also useful as a marketing and sales tool. Lighting products can be
tested to Type 1, Type 3R, and Type 4X, which is the most commonly-applied extreme
enclosure type rating and is described below:

Type 4X – Enclosures constructed for either indoor or outdoor use to provide a
degree of protection to personnel against incidental contact with the enclosed
equipment; to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow,
windblown dust, splashing water, hose-directed water, and corrosion; and that
will be undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.
Overview of UL/CSA Type Ratings
UL/CSA ratings are largely based on “NEMA 250 – Enclosures for Electrical Equipment”
ratings and are outlined below:


Type 1 -- Indoor use, protected against limited amounts of falling dirt.
Type 2 -- Indoor use, protected against limited amounts of falling water dirt.
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Ingress Protection for Lighting Products IP vs. NEMA Ratings for Wet Locations

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Type 3 -- Outdoor use, protected against rain, sleet, windblown dust and damage
from external ice formation.
Type 3R -- Outdoor use, protected against rain, sleet and damage from external
ice formation.
Type 3S -- Outdoor use, protected against rain, sleet and windblown dust and
proper operation of external mechanisms when ice laden.
Type 4 -- Indoor or Outdoor use, protected against windblown dust and rain,
splashing water, hose directed water and damage from external ice formation.
Type 4X -- Indoor or Outdoor use, protected against corrosion, windblown dust
and rain, splashing water, hose directed water and damage from external ice
formation.
Type 5 -- Indoor use, protected against settling airborne dust, falling dirt and
dripping noncorrosive liquids.
Type 6 -- Indoor or Outdoor use, protected, hose directed water, the entry of
water during occasional temporary submersion at a limited depth and damage
from external ice formation.
Type 6P -- Indoor or Outdoor use, protected, hose directed water, the entry of
water during occasional prolonged submersion at a limited depth and damage
from external ice formation.
Type 12 -- Indoor use, protected against circulating airborne dust, falling dirt and
12K, dripping noncorrosive liquids.
Type 13 -- Indoor use, protected against dust, spraying of water, oil, and
noncorrosive coolant.
Common Design Flaws That Can Result in Failure to Certify
Common design failures that can lead to non-compliance with IP standards include gasket
butt joints and seams that are not sealed/tightly fitted or which improperly overlap, improper
gasket thickness or insufficient and/or inconsistent compression across the seal,
inappropriate hardware that doesn’t allow for the proper application of torque to create a
complete seal, improperly placed/spaced hardware creating large gaps that result in an
incomplete seal, or the presence of components in a rated enclosure which are not rated for
the applicable ingress.
Misconceptions About ANSI/UL 50E and the Relationship Between UL, NEMA,
& IEC Standards
ANSI/UL 50E/ CSA C22.2 No 94.2 Standards for Ingress Protection, which are largely based
on National Electrical Manufacturer Association (NEMA) 250 standards, are often crossreferenced and considered to be “equivalent” to corresponding IP (IEC) standards, but it’s
important for manufacturers to understand that these different standards are not the same
and that compliance with one standard does not imply compliance with the other, as there
are differences in the test protocols (for example, many of the ANSI/UL 50E tests include
corrosion, gasket, and plastics testing, while the IP tests reflect dust and fluid penetration
only). IP and ANSI/UL standards are written for specific applications and involve different
and precise methods of testing which must be undertaken (and the documentation made
available) in order to prove compliance. For example, in order to confirm that a product is
“IP66” rated, the product must undergo the specific test for IP66 certification and no
“equivalency” through NEMA 250/ ANSI/UL 50E will suffice, etc.
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Ingress Protection for Lighting Products IP vs. NEMA Ratings for Wet Locations
The Critical Role of Third Party Testing Laboratories
In today’s fast-paced lighting industry and rapidly-growing outdoor and industrial lighting
segments, a manufacturer’s ability to certify that products provide Ingress Protection helps to
qualify those products for specific applications and delivers marketing and sales advantages.
As an Ingress Protection rating may be the additional verification of product quality that
delivers a competitive advantage, manufacturers are encouraged to consider the potential
operating environments that their product may be exposed to and to engage of a skilled
testing organization. Accredited third party (external) safety and performance testing
organizations like Intertek help take the guess work out of the design and testing processes,
and work in partnership with manufacturers to help achieve compliance with all standards.
Intertek’s ETL Listed Mark is proof of compliance to electrical, gas, and other safety
standards and is the fastest growing certification mark in North America. The ETL mark has
more than 80,000 product listings and is featured on millions of products sold by major
retailers, delivering confidence in quality to both manufacturers and customers
Intertek has invested in the most precise advanced testing equipment in facilities worldwide
to ensure precise, repeatable testing procedures and results. Their exceptional
understanding of all industry certification and regulatory programs, current requirements and
anticipated future changes, and relationships with certifying organizations, provide the
utmost in quality coverage and representation, allowing manufacturers to focus on their own
core competencies.
About Intertek
Intertek is the leading quality solutions provider to industries worldwide. From auditing and inspection,
to testing, training, advisory, quality assurance and certification, Intertek adds value to customers’
products, processes and assets. With a network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over
35,000 people in more than 100 countries, Intertek supports companies’ success in a global
marketplace. Intertek helps its customers to meet end users’ expectations for safety, sustainability,
performance, integrity, and desirability in virtually any market worldwide. Visit www.intertek.com.
Please visit our website at www.intertek.it,
contact info.etls-italy@intertek.com or call the Italian lab at +39 0432653411
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