Intertek - Ingress - Protection - Rev2013
Intertek - Ingress - Protection - Rev2013
Products
IP vs. NEMA Ratings for Wet Locations
Intertek Italia
Via Principe di Udine, 114 - 33030 Campoformido (UD)
[email protected] www.intertek.it.
Table of Contents
Introduction .........................................................................................................................1
External Drivers Behind Ingress Protection (IP) Testing & Certification .............................1
Overview of IP Specifications .............................................................................................2
IP Testing Required for IEC 60529 Ratings................................................................... 3
Key Equipment and Procedures Required for IEC 60529 Testing ................................ 4
Environmental Testing Required for ANSI/UL 50E (CSA C22.2 No. 94.2) Ratings ...... 4
Common Design Flaws That Can Result in Failure to Certify ....................................... 5
Misconceptions About ANSI/UL 50E ............................................................................. 5
The Critical Role of Third Party Testing Laboratories .........................................................6
About Intertek .....................................................................................................................6
Ingress Protection for Lighting Products -
IP vs. NEMA Ratings for Wet Locations
Introduction
An Ingress Protection (IP) rating refers to the degree of protection an electronic or electrical
enclosure provides against external dust, fluid, or other objects that may pass through into
the product. With the industry’s rapidly growing demand for lighting in an ever-widening
range of outdoor and industrial applications – combined with a global rise in the incidence of
extreme weather, environmental/IP testing helps ensure and validate that a product’s
enclosure will withstand moisture and dust and will perform as expected in environments
where these conditions are prevalent. While not currently a mandatory requirement of U.S.
product safety certification standards, IP testing has become increasingly popular for
lighting products used in outdoor and industrial settings and is often requested by specifiers,
purchasers, and end users as a means to verify the acceptability of the product for the
intended application.
Today’s lighting products are commonly measured against several different IP specifications,
all of which involve precise measurement and unique submission requirements to assure
compliance. The following paper will discuss the range of IP specifications commonly used
today, the measure of protection they each certify, and why the use of a skilled and
accredited third party testing laboratory represents an optimal way for a lighting
manufacturer to help ensure successful compliance with these standards.
*
“LED Lighting Market Holds Steady in 2012,” Vrinda Bhandarkar and Ella Shum (Strategies
Unlimited), LEDs Magazine, September 2012.
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Ingress Protection for Lighting Products -
IP vs. NEMA Ratings for Wet Locations
predict a rise in the frequency of extreme weather events, which will influence an
increasing need for lighting products to stand up to these inclement conditions.
Overview of IP Specifications
Depending on the type of light and the end-use application, IP specifications from a
variety of bodies may apply to a product. Some of the most common standards in use
today are from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and Underwriters
Laboratories (UL), with equivalents from Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and
other organizations, as follows:
IEC 60598 Series (Luminaires – Part 1) – Covering safety requirements and tests for
general lighting that is for use in areas outside of North America. According to IEC
60598-1, “this standard specifies general requirements for luminaires, incorporating
electric light sources for operation from supply voltages up to 1000 V. The
requirements and related tests of this standard cover classification, marking,
mechanical construction and electrical construction.”
IEC 60529 (Degree of Protection Provided by Enclosures) – A general
environmental IP standard for lighting that is permanently mounted and not portable
for use in areas outside of North America.
ANSI/UL 1598/ CSA C22.2 No. 250.0 (ANSI/UL Standard for Safety for Luminaires)
– A general safety standard for lighting that is permanently mounted and not portable
for use in areas within North America; includes testing for temperature, shock, sound
mounting methods, etc.
ANSI/UL 50E/ CSA C22.2 No. 94.2 (ANSI/UL Standard for Safety for Enclosures for
Electrical Equipment) – A general environmental standard for lighting that is
permanently mounted and not portable for use in areas within North America; this
standard measures whether the lighting is acceptable in that application and
environment.
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Ingress Protection for Lighting Products -
IP vs. NEMA Ratings for Wet Locations
Note: Optional additional letter(s) may also be used to indicate additional performance
compliance for protection of equipment or protection of persons.
The first number indicates the size of the foreign body which could enter the enclosure and
possibly damage the components inside. For example, “IP6X” indicates that an enclosure
is “Dust Tight” and provides complete protection against any ingress of dust. The second
number indicates the level of protection from fluid or water provided by the enclosure; per
IEC guidelines, “IPX6” indicates that high pressure water jets directed against the
enclosure from any direction will have no harmful effects and that water can enter the
enclosure but won’t contact any unprotected electrical connections. “IP66” is the highest
common IP rating within IEC 60529 nomenclature and would be the rating an end user
would desire if they were installing an LED light fixture on the outside of a building.
For the dust portion of the test, a dedicated chamber with a specialized
circulator (see below) is employed which allows a closed system circulation of
talc powder. The talc powder dust, verified for particle size, shall pass
through a 75 µm sieve with 2 kg per cubic meter of test chamber volume. The
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Ingress Protection for Lighting Products -
IP vs. NEMA Ratings for Wet Locations
The equipment utilized to conduct the aforementioned tests is both specialized and capital
intensive and manufacturers can rarely simulate these testing conditions on their own.
Environmental Testing Required for ANSI/UL 50E (CSA C22.2 No. 94.2) Ratings
ANSI/UL 50E ratings (First Edition Enclosures for Electrical Equipment, Environmental
Considerations, harmonized with CSA C22.2 No. 94.2), enable a manufacturer to certify
ingress protection for electrical products used within North America. Compliance will result in
a certification mark (i.e. ETL, UL, etc.), a critical designation which is increasingly required
for the sale of products possessing an electrical connection in many municipalities and retail
outlets. An enclosure is traditionally defined as a housing constructed to provide protection
against contact or environmental elements. Depending on the application, the test applied to
the enclosure will be assigned an enclosure type. Some examples include:
Type 1 for indoor enclosure, to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt.
Type 3 for indoor/outdoor enclosure to provide a degree of protection against
falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow, and windblown dust; and that will be undamaged
by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.
Type 4 to provide a degree of protection against falling dirt, rain, sleet, snow,
windblown dust, splashing water, and hose-directed water; and that will be
undamaged by the external formation of ice on the enclosure.
Similar to the IP (IEC) rating, the requirement of a type designation varies based on the
needs of the manufacturer. A rated enclosure can help in safety compliance for
certification and is also useful as a marketing and sales tool. Lighting products can be
tested to Type 1, Type 3R, and Type 4X, which is the most commonly-applied extreme
enclosure type rating and is described below:
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Ingress Protection for Lighting Products -
IP vs. NEMA Ratings for Wet Locations
Type 3 -- Outdoor use, protected against rain, sleet, windblown dust and damage
from external ice formation.
Type 3R -- Outdoor use, protected against rain, sleet and damage from external
ice formation.
Type 3S -- Outdoor use, protected against rain, sleet and windblown dust and
proper operation of external mechanisms when ice laden.
Type 4 -- Indoor or Outdoor use, protected against windblown dust and rain,
splashing water, hose directed water and damage from external ice formation.
Type 4X -- Indoor or Outdoor use, protected against corrosion, windblown dust
and rain, splashing water, hose directed water and damage from external ice
formation.
Type 5 -- Indoor use, protected against settling airborne dust, falling dirt and
dripping noncorrosive liquids.
Type 6 -- Indoor or Outdoor use, protected, hose directed water, the entry of
water during occasional temporary submersion at a limited depth and damage
from external ice formation.
Type 6P -- Indoor or Outdoor use, protected, hose directed water, the entry of
water during occasional prolonged submersion at a limited depth and damage
from external ice formation.
Type 12 -- Indoor use, protected against circulating airborne dust, falling dirt and
12K, dripping noncorrosive liquids.
Type 13 -- Indoor use, protected against dust, spraying of water, oil, and
noncorrosive coolant.
Misconceptions About ANSI/UL 50E and the Relationship Between UL, NEMA,
& IEC Standards
ANSI/UL 50E/ CSA C22.2 No 94.2 Standards for Ingress Protection, which are largely based
on National Electrical Manufacturer Association (NEMA) 250 standards, are often cross-
referenced and considered to be “equivalent” to corresponding IP (IEC) standards, but it’s
important for manufacturers to understand that these different standards are not the same
and that compliance with one standard does not imply compliance with the other, as there
are differences in the test protocols (for example, many of the ANSI/UL 50E tests include
corrosion, gasket, and plastics testing, while the IP tests reflect dust and fluid penetration
only). IP and ANSI/UL standards are written for specific applications and involve different
and precise methods of testing which must be undertaken (and the documentation made
available) in order to prove compliance. For example, in order to confirm that a product is
“IP66” rated, the product must undergo the specific test for IP66 certification and no
“equivalency” through NEMA 250/ ANSI/UL 50E will suffice, etc.
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Ingress Protection for Lighting Products -
IP vs. NEMA Ratings for Wet Locations
Intertek’s ETL Listed Mark is proof of compliance to electrical, gas, and other safety
standards and is the fastest growing certification mark in North America. The ETL mark has
more than 80,000 product listings and is featured on millions of products sold by major
retailers, delivering confidence in quality to both manufacturers and customers
Intertek has invested in the most precise advanced testing equipment in facilities worldwide
to ensure precise, repeatable testing procedures and results. Their exceptional
understanding of all industry certification and regulatory programs, current requirements and
anticipated future changes, and relationships with certifying organizations, provide the
utmost in quality coverage and representation, allowing manufacturers to focus on their own
core competencies.
About Intertek
Intertek is the leading quality solutions provider to industries worldwide. From auditing and inspection,
to testing, training, advisory, quality assurance and certification, Intertek adds value to customers’
products, processes and assets. With a network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over
35,000 people in more than 100 countries, Intertek supports companies’ success in a global
marketplace. Intertek helps its customers to meet end users’ expectations for safety, sustainability,
performance, integrity, and desirability in virtually any market worldwide. Visit www.intertek.com.
This publication is copyright Intertek and may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the prior
written permission of Intertek. While due care has been taken during the preparation of this document, Intertek cannot be held
responsible for the accuracy of the information herein or for any consequence arising from it. Clients are encouraged to seek
Intertek’s current advice on their specific needs before acting upon any of the content.
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