If you want to light your outdoor area, one solution that may cross your mind is the installation of light emitting diode (lighting) lamp. However, outdoor environments are prone to conditions such as heavy downpour, dust, among others, which may interfere with or even damage your lighting fixture. Fortunately, LED fixture manufacturers are aware of such issues, and for that reason, they make the fixtures with varying waterproof ability. While shopping for such fixtures, you’ll come across different IP Codes, each signifying the degree of protection that an appliance has against harmful elements such as water.
When considering installing a LED lighting device that has a strong waterproof ability, regular flood light is the real deal. Such lights normally have IP65 or IP66 ratings. However, the latter has a more robust waterproof capability, but it is paramount to know what “IP66” means. International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) publishes IP codes, describing the amount of water that a mechanical casing or electrical enclosure can withstand, among other protective capabilities.
The abbreviation, IP, is a short form of Ingress Protection while the first digit, 6, indicates that the fixture is completely protected from dust ingress and contact. The second digit, 6, shows that the LED fixtures has a tightly sealed housing that protects it from strong water jets. A lighting fixture with such a rating can’t be damaged by the high-pressure water jets projected against it from any angle. Therefore, your lighting fixture will continue functioning normally even when it is into contact with heavy rains or water coming out from a source at a high pressure and any direction.
For a LED appliance to qualify to get an IP66 rating, it must go through a test to ensure that possesses all the relevant qualities, especially waterproof capability. During the test, high-pressure water jets from nozzles measuring 0.50 inches are directed towards the fixture. The jets should be projected from various directions and distance between the lamp and the nozzle is supposed to be three yards. The water should be projected at a rate of 26.4 gallons per minute while maintaining a 100-kilopascal pressure. The water jets should hit the appliance for at least three minutes and the device is given the IP66 rating if it remains undamaged upon the completion of the test.
A LED fixture with IP66 waterproof level is able to withstand water with high-pressure during the test as well as in real life conditions. You can install and leave such an appliance in areas with heavy rains or powerful water jets without worrying about possible damages since you’re assured that no harmful quantities of water will be able to penetrate it.
Do you have an area that you feel that requires LED fixture installation but fear that they may be damaged by heavy rains or high-pressure water jets? You can install the ones with IP66 ratings and you’ll stay worry-free knowing that won’t at any time be damaged even when a steady stream of water pours over it.