IP65, IP67 and IK08: Selecting Emergency Lights for Wet and High-Impact Areas

Short answer: the IP code (IEC 60529) measures dust and water ingress, while the IK code (IEC 62262) measures impact energy in joules. They are independent tests. For most car parks and covered outdoor escape routes IP65 is the working minimum; for washdown, flooding risk or ground-level installation specify IP66/IP67 and check the cable glands, because that is where a sealed fitting usually fails first.

1. Read the two digits separately

In IP65, "6" is the solids rating (dust-tight) and "5" is the water rating (low-pressure water jets from any direction). A higher number is not automatically a better buy: it must match the cleaning method and exposure the fitting will actually see.

• IP20 — dry, clean indoor corridors and offices; no water protection.
• IP65 — dust-tight, protected against water jets (6.3 mm nozzle). Car parks, warehouses, covered walkways.
• IP66 — dust-tight, protected against powerful water jets (12.5 mm nozzle). Loading bays and hose-down areas.
• IP67 — dust-tight, temporary immersion (typically 1 m for 30 minutes under the test conditions). Areas subject to flooding or ground-level mounting.
• IP68 / IP69K — continuous immersion or high-pressure, high-temperature jets; relevant to food processing and steam cleaning, and only meaningful with the manufacturer's stated test conditions.

2. IK is a completely different test

IEC 62262 grades the impact energy the enclosure withstands: IK07 = 2 J, IK08 = 5 J, IK09 = 10 J, IK10 = 20 J. Corridors and plant rooms typically specify IK08; workshops, loading areas and sports halls IK09; car parks and areas with vehicle or trolley traffic IK10. Note that the IK test evaluates the enclosure, not the gasket line and not damage caused during installation — both are common real-world failure points for a sealed emergency fitting.

3. Where the seal actually fails

• Cable entries and glands. A perfect housing with an unsealed gland is an IP20 housing. Specify the gland rating and check it on the delivered sample.
• Gasket compression. Over-tightened covers, UV-aged seals and field-drilled holes all destroy the rating. Ask for the recommended torque and the gasket material.
• Condensation. A fitting that keeps water out can still collect moisture inside through repeated temperature cycling; look for a vent membrane where the design allows it.
• Cleaning chemistry. Smooth, easily cleaned lens profiles matter in washdown and diesel-exhaust environments; deposits reduce light output and can push a marginal 1 lux design below the minimum.

4. Match the rating to the environment

• Open-sided multi-storey car park: IP65 minimum for wind-driven rain; vehicle ramps need the full 1 lux along the centre line, with extra attention to the daylight-to-dark transition. Stair cores are escape routes in the strictest sense — several codes require higher illuminance on treads and landings.
• Enclosed underground / washdown level: IP65 to IP66 with rated glands; IK08 to IK10 depending on vehicle and trolley traffic.
• Coastal or chemical atmosphere: IP rating says nothing about corrosion. Specify housing material, stainless fixings and salt-spray evidence separately.
• Cold stores and unheated plant rooms: the battery, not the housing, is the constraint (see below).

5. Do not forget temperature derating

Emergency duration is normally declared at a reference ambient temperature, often 25 °C. Battery capacity falls at low temperature, so a fitting rated for 3 hours can deliver substantially less in a cold store, an unheated car park or a cold roof void. Ask for the permitted ambient temperature range, the duration at the minimum temperature, and the battery chemistry and replacement interval. LiFePO4 is generally preferred for thermal stability and cycle life, but every chemistry derates — the datasheet should say by how much.

6. A short specification checklist

• IP and IK codes written as tested standards (IEC 60529 / IEC 62262), not "waterproof" marketing words.
• Cable gland and connector ratings equal to the luminaire rating.
• EN 1838 spacing calculation for the actual mounting height and environment.
• Battery duration at the lowest expected ambient temperature.
• Self-test or DALI monitoring where manual inspection is impractical.
• SKU-specific test reports for the ingress, impact and product safety claims.

Quick answers

Is IP67 always better than IP65?

Only if the fitting may be temporarily immersed or flooded. IP67 is a different test, not a higher grade of jet protection, and it usually costs more. Specify for the actual exposure.

Does IK10 mean the light is vandal-proof?

It means the enclosure withstood a 20 J impact under a defined test. It does not cover the gasket, the lens seal or installation damage.

Can a 3-hour fitting be used in a cold store?

Only if the manufacturer confirms the rated duration at that ambient temperature. Battery capacity derating is one of the most common causes of failed annual duration tests.

About Anshine — JiangMen Anshine Technology Co., Ltd. is a Jiangmen, Guangdong-based manufacturer of LED emergency luminaires, exit signs and emergency power supplies for B2B buyers. The company was registered in 2025; our founding team has about 20 years of experience in the emergency lighting industry. To request documentation for a specific model, use the enquiry form on this website.

Standards and transport rules change. This article is general buying guidance, not a declaration of conformity or legal advice. Verify the current edition of each standard, the applicable national annex and the requirements of the authority having jurisdiction, and always request SKU-specific documents before placing an order.