What IP Rating Do I Need? A Plain Guide for Irish Homes

For most jobs around an Irish house the answer is IP65. That is the safe default for anything fully exposed to weather. IP44 is enough under a deep porch or in a sheltered spot. IP66 or IP67 is for things that get hosed down, walked on or may sit in standing water.

If you read nothing else, that covers it. The rest of this explains why, so you can judge the odd case yourself rather than guessing. At Shamrock Electrical in Rathcoole, just off the N7, this is one of the questions we answer at the counter most often.

What the two digits actually mean

IP stands for Ingress Protection. The first digit is solids, the second is water. IP65 means 6 for solids and 5 for water, not sixty five of anything.

First digit, solids and dust:

• 4 keeps out objects over 1mm, such as wires and screws
• 5 is dust protected, some may enter but not enough to interfere
• 6 is dust tight, nothing gets in

Second digit, water, and this is the one that decides most purchases:

• 3 spraying water up to 60 degrees from vertical
• 4 splashing from any direction
• 5 low pressure jets from any direction
• 6 powerful jets, hosing down
• 7 temporary immersion up to a metre
• 8 continuous immersion

An X in either position means it was not tested for that, not that it failed. IPX4 is common on indoor bathroom fittings.

What to use where, in an Irish house

• Fully exposed outdoors: IP65. Walls, driveways, gardens, anything taking rain and wind driven damp
• Under a deep porch or soffit: IP44 is usually enough, though IP65 costs little more and removes the judgement call
• Ground level, deck and path lights: IP67, because water pools and these get walked on
• Garage, shed, workshop: IP65, and a corrosion proof fitting where there is condensation
• Farm buildings and washdown areas: IP66
• Bathrooms: depends on the zone, see below
• Coastal or very exposed: IP65 as a minimum plus a stainless steel body, because salt air attacks the housing long before water gets in

Bathrooms work differently

Bathrooms are divided into zones by distance from the bath and shower, and each zone has its own minimum rating. Inside the bath or shower is the strictest, the area immediately around it is next, and the rest of the room is more relaxed.

Because the zone boundaries depend on the actual layout, this is one to confirm with a registered electrician for the specific position rather than to work out from a chart. Getting it wrong is a safety issue, not a preference.

The mistakes we see most

Buying on the first digit. People compare IP54 against IP65 and see one number higher. For weather it is the second digit that matters, and going from 4 to 5 is the difference between splashing and jets.

Assuming higher is always better. IP68 fittings are sealed, which usually means non serviceable. For a normal garden wall, IP65 is the right answer, not the highest number available.

Forgetting the joint. The fitting may be IP65 while the cable connection behind it is not. A joint in a damp or outdoor position needs a rated enclosure. An IP65 terminal junction box is the tidy answer, and both sizes come with strip connectors already fitted. For temporary or garden setups, a DRiBOX IP55 weatherproof connection box houses plugs and transformers outdoors.

Ignoring the fixing. An IP65 fitting screwed to a wall with the gland pointing upwards will let water track in along the cable. Glands go downwards.

Some real examples from our range

Our IP65 weatherproof floodlights in 10W to 50W are the standard choice for driveways and yards. The Vesta 11W wall light is IP65 with switchable colour temperature. Our LED strip light ribbon is IP65, which is why it can be used under a kitchen unit or outside under cover, where unrated strip cannot. For ground level, the IP67 decking lights are rated for water sitting on them.

Quick reference

• IP20: indoor, dry only
• IP44: sheltered outdoor, under cover, most bathroom areas outside the immediate zones
• IP54: dust protected and splash resistant, light industrial
• IP65: the general purpose outdoor answer for Irish weather
• IP66: washdown, farm buildings, exposed commercial
• IP67: ground level, decking, anywhere water pools
• IP68: permanently submerged, pond and pool

Buying rated equipment from Shamrock Electrical

We are an Irish owned electrical supplier in Rathcoole, County Dublin, just off the N7 and well positioned for the M50. We stock IP rated floodlights, bulkheads, wall lights, strip, junction boxes and weatherproof enclosures, and we deliver free on every order to all 26 counties with no minimum spend. You are also welcome to collect from the counter and ask, because the right rating depends on the exact position and it is a quick conversation.

Ranges are in outdoor lights and LED strip lights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What IP rating do I need for outdoor lights in Ireland?
A: IP65 for anything fully exposed to weather, which covers most garden, driveway and wall lighting. IP44 is usually enough under a deep porch or soffit. Use IP67 at ground level for deck and path lights, because water pools there and they get walked on.

Q: What does IP65 actually mean?
A: The first digit, 6, means dust tight. The second digit, 5, means protected against low pressure water jets from any direction. Together that covers rain, wind driven damp and hosing at low pressure, which is why it is the general purpose outdoor rating.

Q: Is IP54 good enough for outdoors?
A: Usually not for a fully exposed position. IP54 is dust protected and splash resistant, which suits sheltered spots and light industrial use, but Irish weather drives rain sideways. IP65 is the safer default outdoors.

Q: Is a higher IP rating always better?
A: No. Higher ratings usually mean fully sealed fittings that cannot be serviced or opened, and they cost more. For a normal garden wall IP65 is the correct answer rather than the highest number on the shelf. Match the rating to the position.

Q: What IP rating do I need in a bathroom?
A: It depends on the zone, which is set by distance from the bath and shower. Because the boundaries depend on the actual layout, confirm the requirement for the specific position with a registered electrician rather than working from a general chart.

Q: Does the cable joint need an IP rating too?
A: Yes, and it is the step most often missed. An IP65 fitting with an unprotected joint behind it is not weatherproof. Use an IP65 terminal junction box for a permanent joint, or a weatherproof connection box for plugs and transformers in a garden.

Q: Where can I buy IP rated outdoor electrical equipment in Ireland?
A: Shamrock Electrical stocks IP65 floodlights, bulkheads and wall lights, IP65 LED strip, IP65 terminal junction boxes, IP67 decking lights and weatherproof connection boxes. We are in Rathcoole, County Dublin, just off the N7, and we deliver free to every county in Ireland on every order with no minimum spend.