IP Rating Explained: IP44, IP65, IP67 and What Every Number Means

You are buying a light fitting for your bathroom ceiling, a socket for the garden, or a downlight for above the kitchen sink. Every product page lists an IP rating — IP44, IP65, IP67 — but what do those numbers actually mean, and which one do you actually need?

IP ratings are one of the most practical pieces of information on any electrical product, and they are among the most misread. This guide decodes the system completely, tells you exactly which rating is required for every location in a bathroom, and explains why fitting the wrong IP rating is both a building regulations failure and a genuine safety hazard.

What IP Rating Means

IP stands for Ingress Protection — the degree to which a product’s enclosure protects its internal components from solid objects (dust, fingers) and liquids (water, rain, spray).

The standard is IEC 60529 (adopted in the UK as BS EN 60529). Every IP rating consists of the letters IP followed by two digits:

IP  4  4
     │  └── Second digit: liquid protection (0–9)
     └───── First digit: solid object protection (0–6)

Higher numbers mean better protection. A product rated IP65 is more resistant to water ingress than IP44. A product with no IP rating (or IP20) offers no water protection at all.

First Digit: Solid Object Protection

In practice, for most domestic electrical fittings:

• IP2X is the minimum for accessible equipment (fingers cannot reach live parts)
• IP4X is required in bathroom Zone 1 and Zone 2
• IP5X / IP6X matters most for outdoor equipment exposed to dust, sand, or soil

Second Digit: Liquid Protection

The jump from 4 to 5 is significant: IP×4 handles splashing from any direction, while IP×5 handles a directed water jet. The jump from 6 to 7 is even bigger: IP×7 means the product can be submerged.

The Most Common IP Ratings

IP20

No dust or water protection beyond basic solid-object protection. Standard for indoor light fittings in dry locations — living rooms, bedrooms, hallways. Never suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, or outdoors.

IP44

Dust: Protected against objects larger than 1 mm
Water: Protected against splashing from any direction

IP44 is the minimum for bathroom Zone 2 — the area beyond 0.6 m from a bath or shower. Suitable for pull-cord switches and light fittings in the outer bathroom zone. Also common for kitchen extractor fans.

IP65

Dust: Dust tight (no ingress)
Water: Protected against water jets from any direction

IP65 is the standard for outdoor light fittings, outdoor sockets under canopies, and bathroom Zone 1 in many product ranges. The dust-tight rating makes it suitable for dusty environments; the jet protection handles rain and hose splash.

IP67

Dust: Dust tight
Water: Immersion up to 1 metre for 30 minutes

IP67 is used where temporary submersion is possible — garden spike lights that may flood, underground cable connectors, outdoor sockets at ground level, and marine environments. Suitable for all bathroom zones including Zone 0.

IP68

Dust: Dust tight
Water: Continuous immersion beyond 1 metre (manufacturer-specified conditions)

IP68 is for permanently submerged equipment — pond lights, pool lighting, underwater cable joints. Manufacturer must specify exact depth and duration.

IPX4 / IP×X Notation

When one digit is replaced by X, that protection class is not specified or not tested. IPX4 means water splash protection (second digit 4) with no declared solid ingress rating. This appears on some older light fittings where the dust rating was not tested.

Bathroom Zones and Required IP Ratings

The UK wiring regulations (BS 7671) divide bathrooms into three zones based on proximity to water sources (bath, shower, basin). Each zone has a minimum IP requirement.

Zone 0 — Inside the bath or shower

The zone inside the actual bath tub or shower tray, up to 10 cm above the bath rim or shower floor.

• Minimum IP rating: IPX7 (immersion-rated)
• Only SELV (Safety Extra Low Voltage) equipment permitted — maximum 12 V AC or 30 V DC
• No switches permitted in this zone
• Pool lights and very specialised fittings only — no domestic mains-voltage equipment

Zone 1 — Above the bath or shower

The volume directly above the bath or shower enclosure to a height of 2.25 m from the floor.

• Minimum IP rating: IPX4 (splash from any direction)
• In shower areas where jets can be directed at walls: IPX5
• Shaver sockets and pull cords permitted if rated IPX4
• SELV luminaires commonly used here
• No socket outlets (other than shaver socket to BS EN 61558-2-5)

Zone 2 — 0.6 m outside the bath or shower

Extends 0.6 m horizontally from the edge of Zone 1, and from floor to 2.25 m height. Also applies to the area around a basin within 60 cm radius.

• Minimum IP rating: IPX4
• Standard light switches (IP2X) not permitted in Zone 2 — pull cords or remote/outside switches instead
• Socket outlets not permitted in Zone 2
• Shaver sockets permitted if rated IPX4

Outside the zones (general bathroom area)

Beyond Zone 2 — the rest of the bathroom floor area.

• Minimum IP rating: IP2X (finger-safe) for general fittings
• Standard accessories permitted
• Standard light switches, socket outlets, and fused spurs are acceptable if beyond the zone boundaries

IP Rating Quick Reference by Location

IP Rating vs “Weatherproof”

The word “weatherproof” on a product label is not a standard — it has no defined meaning. Always look for the actual IP code.

A product labelled “weatherproof” could be IP44 (splash-proof only) or IP65 (jet-proof). For an exposed outdoor socket or fitting, IP44 is insufficient — heavy rain at an angle exceeds “splash from any direction” and can enter an IP44 enclosure. Use IP65 minimum for anything that will be directly rained on.

Checking Your Existing Fittings

The IP rating is stamped or moulded onto most electrical products — usually on the back of the fitting, inside the terminal compartment, or on the product label near the CE mark. If the fitting has no IP marking and no visible gaskets or seals, assume IP20.

For bathroom fittings, checking the IP rating should be part of any bathroom renovation or EICR. Incorrectly rated fittings in bathroom zones are a Category 2 (C2) defect on an EICR — potentially dangerous, requiring improvement.

Common Mistakes

Fitting IP44 in Zone 1
Zone 1 above a shower requires IPX4 minimum, but many installers use IP44 (which satisfies this). However, in a shower where the spray can be directed at the ceiling or walls, IPX5 is required. IP44 is splash-rated from any direction but is not jet-rated. Always use IP65 or higher directly above a shower for margin.

Using IP20 fittings above a bath
Any fitting within Zone 1 — even a downlight in the ceiling above a bath — must be IPX4 minimum. A standard IP20 GU10 downlight without a fire hood or IP gasket fails this requirement.

Ignoring Zone 2 switch requirements
A standard face-plate light switch inside Zone 2 (within 0.6 m of the bath edge) is non-compliant. The switch must be outside Zone 2 or be a pull-cord type.

Outdoor sockets rated only IP44
Many “outdoor” socket outlets sold in DIY stores are IP44. For a socket exposed to rain — on an external wall without a deep canopy — IP65 is the appropriate minimum.

Simulate Circuit Zones in ElectraSim

ElectraSim lets you build complete lighting circuits and explore how different protective devices and components interact. While IP rating is a physical property of the enclosure rather than an electrical property, you can use ElectraSim to:

• Build bathroom lighting circuits and understand the SELV requirement for Zone 0 (low-voltage supply to a fitting)
• Explore how RCD protection works on bathroom and outdoor circuits — all socket outlets and lighting circuits in bathrooms and outdoors must have 30 mA RCD protection under BS 7671
• Simulate fault conditions on outdoor circuits where water ingress could cause an earth fault

Open ElectraSim — free, no sign-up →

Related: What Is an RCD and Why Do You Need One?

Related: Distribution Board Explained: How a Consumer Unit Is Wired

Key Points

• IP rating = Ingress Protection — first digit is solids, second digit is liquids
• Higher number = better protection
• IP44 — splash from any direction (bathroom Zone 2 minimum, kitchen extractor)
• IP65 — dust tight + water jets (outdoor standard, bathroom Zone 1 preferred)
• IP67 — dust tight + 1 m immersion (garden, bathroom Zone 0 minimum)
• IP20 — indoor dry locations only; never bathrooms, kitchens near sinks, or outdoors
• Always check the actual IP code — “weatherproof” is not a standard
• All bathroom and outdoor circuits must have 30 mA RCD protection regardless of IP rating