The Rundown
Topics: IP Ratings, Outdoor Equipment | 1 min read
Why can some equipment be used outside when other kit cannot? It comes down to the Ingress Protection rating, usually shortened to IP.
It is a common frustration in live events. You want to light a beautiful outdoor area or put a video screen in a courtyard, and cannot, because the equipment available is not protected against rain.
Most people assume this is binary - waterproof or not. It is not. There is a whole spectrum of protection standards defined by the European Standards Organisation, and knowing where a fixture sits on it tells you exactly what it will survive.
Here is how the rating is constructed, what each digit means, and how to read it when specifying equipment for an outdoor event.
How the Rating Works
Reading the Code
An IP rating consists of the letters IP followed by a two-digit code - IP65, IP44, IP20 and so on.
Each digit describes a different kind of protection, and they are read separately rather than as a single number. IP65 is not sixty-five of anything; it is a 6 for solids and a 5 for liquids.
When You See an X
Sometimes a digit is replaced with the letter X - IPX4, for example.
That does not mean no protection. It means the equipment has not been rated for that part of the standard, usually because it was never tested for it.
Treat an X as an unknown rather than a zero, and ask the manufacturer if it matters for your application.
Why It Matters
Specifying kit by IP rating is the difference between an installation that runs for three weeks in British weather and one that fails on the first wet night.
It also affects insurance, warranty and safety sign-off on public installations, so it is worth getting right on paper before anything is booked.
What Each Digit Means
First Digit - Solid Matter
The first digit rates protection against solids: dust, sand, grit and debris.
This matters enormously in sandy or dusty environments. In the UK it is less often the deciding factor, unless you are working on a beach, a construction site or a particularly dusty industrial space.
It also covers protection against contact - whether fingers or tools can reach live parts, which is a safety consideration as much as an environmental one.
Second Digit - Liquids
The second digit rates protection against liquids, and in the UK this is almost always the one that matters.
Our weather is changeable enough that any outdoor installation should be specified for rain rather than hoping for a dry week.
There is a meaningful difference between a fixture rated for dripping water, one rated for spray from any direction, and one rated for jets or immersion. A light that survives drizzle may not survive being hosed down at derig.
The Scale
Ratings run from 0, meaning no protection, up to the highest levels of sealing. The higher the digit, the more the equipment will tolerate.
Specifying for Outdoors
Match the Rating to the Reality
Work from the worst conditions the installation will realistically face, not the average.
An event running for one evening in summer is a different specification to a trail running for six weeks through November. The second needs equipment that will tolerate sustained rain, standing water and temperature swings.
Do Not Forget the Connections
A well-sealed fixture connected with unsealed cabling is not an outdoor installation. Connectors, distribution and any control equipment need the same consideration as the lights themselves.
This is one of the most common failures on outdoor events, and one of the easiest to design out.
Covered Is Not Sealed
Placing indoor-rated equipment under a marquee or a canopy helps, but it does not make it outdoor kit. Wind-driven rain, condensation and humidity all still reach it.
Where budget forces that compromise, plan for it explicitly rather than by accident.
Hiring Outdoor Equipment
Premier Live carries a full range of IP-rated lighting and AV suitable for outdoor use.
For advice on specifying an outdoor event, or to hire equipment, get in touch on 0116 202 9953 or info@premier-ltd.com.
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