Contact usAre you a professional looking for reliable, safe lighting for yourself or your staff? So you're looking for the best possible IP or IK... But first of all, what are IP and IK? What's the difference between IP and Ik?
Following on from our previous article on ATEX standards, find out what these two indices mean in the rest of this article.
What is the IP index? What's it for?
The IP or International Protection rating is an international classification system used to indicate the resistance of a product according to two main criteria. In our case, of course, we're talking about lighting accessories.
The IP is made up of two numbers: IPXX
- The first of these two numbers refers to light protection against solid objects (e.g. dust).
- The second number refers to the product's resistance to liquids (e.g. water).
Depending on your activities or the use of your lamps, you can therefore determine the IP rating that best suits your needs.
IK, a very different index from IP
Now you're wondering what the IK index stands for, and how it might influence your choice of lamp?
The IK index is known for determining your light's resistance to mechanical shock. In physics, a mechanical shock is one that occurs when two bodies collide.
Once again, depending on your activity, your lamp needs to have a higher or lower IK rating for the safety of the person using it, but also for those around him or her.
Which IP to choose?
Let's take a look at all the possible classifications of your IP rating to help you select your lamp or lighting accessory.
Here's a summary:
For the first part of the index :
|
IP0x |
No protection |
|
IP1x |
Protection against solid objects (> 50 mm Ø) - Surface contacts (e.g. back of hand) |
|
IP2x |
Protection against solid objects (>12 mm Ø) or small body parts (e.g. finger) |
|
IP3x |
Protection against solid objects (>2.5 mm Ø), small objects (e.g. tools, screwdriver) |
|
IP4x |
Protection against solid objects (>1 mm Ø), very small objects (paper clip) |
|
IP5x |
Protection against harmful dust inside products (small quantities) |
|
IP6x |
Total protection against dust inside products. |
For the second part of the index :
|
IPx0 |
No protection |
|
IPx1 |
Protection against vertical water drops |
|
IPx2 |
Protection against water drops (15° inclination) |
|
IPx3 |
Protection against rain (60° inclination) |
|
IPx4 |
Splash protection |
|
IPx5 |
Protection against water jets |
|
IPx6 |
Protection against waves |
|
IPx7 |
Protection against immersion |
|
IPx8 |
Protection against submersion |
|
IPx9 |
Protection against high-pressure cleaning |
Recap of IK :
| 00 | Material not protected against impact. |
| 01 | Equipment protected against an impact energy of 0.15 Joules (shock equivalent to the fall of a 150 g mass from a height of 10 cm). |
| 02 | Equipment protected against an impact energy of 0.2 Joules (shock equivalent to a mass of 200 g falling from a height of 10 cm). |
| 03 | Equipment protected against an impact energy of 0.35 Joules (shock equivalent to the fall of a 250 g mass from a height of 15 cm) |
| 04 | Equipment protected against an impact energy of 0.5 Joules (shock equivalent to the fall of a 350 g mass from a height of 20 cm) |
| 05 | Equipment protected against an impact energy of 0.7 Joules (shock equivalent to the fall of a 350 g mass from a height of 20 cm) |
| 06 | Equipment protected against an impact energy of 1 Joule (shock equivalent to the fall of a 250 g mass from a height of 40 cm) |
| 07 | Equipment protected against an impact energy of 2 Joules (shock equivalent to the fall of a 0.5 kg mass from a height of 40 cm) |
| 08 | Equipment protected against an impact energy of 5 Joules (shock equivalent to the fall of a 1.25 kg mass from a height of 40 cm) |
| 09 |
Equipment protected against an impact energy of 10 Joules (shock equivalent to the fall of a 2.5 kg mass from a height of 40 cm) |
| 10 | Equipment protected against an impact energy of 20 Joules (shock equivalent to the fall of a 5 kg mass from a height of 40 cm) |
For example, an IK08 flashlight is fairly shock-resistant, so it won't be damaged.
Where can I find products with an IP or IK rating to suit my needs?
To conclude, you'll find various lighting products on our website with very different IP and IK ratings, so it's up to you to see what suits you and select the light or lamp best suited to your working environment.
Prolutech products are LED professional lighting products, rechargeable or not, so it's up to you to find the best one for you.
If you're interested in any of them, contact us to be put in touch with a sales representative.
There are 2 ways of doing this: write to us at info@prolutech.eu or call +33 974 777 447.