What IP Rating Do I Need for Lighting Near the Ocean or in Heavy Rain Areas?

What IP Rating Do I Need for Lighting Near the Ocean or in Heavy Rain Areas?

IP rating (Ingress Protection) tells you how well a fixture resists dust and water — and for B2B buyers sourcing lighting for coastal, waterfront, or high-rainfall regions, picking the wrong IP rating is one of the most expensive mistakes a project can make, since fixture replacement after installation is far costlier than paying slightly more upfront.

Understanding the IP Code

The first digit after "IP" indicates dust protection (0 to 6), and the second indicates water protection (0 to 9). For outdoor project lighting, you'll mostly see IP65, IP66, IP67, and IP68 quoted.

• IP65 — protected against low-pressure water jets from any direction. This is the minimum acceptable rating for any fixture mounted outdoors.

• IP66 — protected against powerful water jets. Recommended for flood lights, wall washers, and street lights exposed to driving rain or wave spray.

• IP67 — protected against temporary immersion up to 1 meter. Suitable for low-mounted garden lights, step lights, and fixtures in splash zones.

• IP68 — protected against continuous or deeper immersion. Required for in-ground lights, underwater fixtures, and water ripple lights.

Our Recommendation by Application

For seafront promenades and marina lighting, we recommend IP66 minimum for all pole-mounted fixtures and IP67 to IP68 for anything mounted close to ground level or exposed to tidal spray. Every batch we produce is tested with a water-jet or immersion test before shipment, and we can provide the test video or report on request for your QC documentation.

See IP66+ rated options across our LED Flood Light and LED In-Ground Light ranges.