What IP Ratings Mean for Greenhouse Equipment

Posted by Brian Sparks|April 10, 2019

Because all greenhouse growing facilities expose equipment to water and dust, experts at LumiGrow say it is important for growers to understand what their electrical equipment’s rating means for their facility and growing style. Just as you would choose your waterproof boots over your delicate suede shoes to wear for work in the greenhouse, you want to choose greenhouse equipment that is designed to perform reliably in dusty, damp conditions over equipment that isn’t.

IP Ratings and How They Work

IP rating stands for Ingress Protection (or International Protection) rating. IP ratings are an international standard that defines an electrical enclosure’s sealing effectiveness against intrusion by solid and liquid foreign bodies, such as dirt and water.

IP ratings consist of two numbers. The first number indicates protection against solid objects, on a scale of 0 (none) to 6 (completely dust tight). The second number indicates moisture protection, on a scale of 0 (no protection) to 8 (can be immersed underwater at pressure for extended periods of time).

For example, LumiGrow’s TopLight has a rating of IP67. The 6 indicates that the item is protected against intrusion from all dust. This is the highest rating possible for protection against solid objects. The 7 indicates that TopLight can be immersed in water up to 1 meter in depth for up to 30 minutes and can withstand high-pressure jets of water.

Light is an indispensable growing variable, so it’s crucial that your fixtures are rugged enough to withstand exposure to day to day life in the greenhouse, while reliably delivering the light output your crop needs.