IEC 60598 Ingress Protection of Luminaires

The IEC 60598 test standard provides specific requirements for luminaires. A luminaire is defined as an electric light source for operation from supply voltages up to 1,000 volts. IEC 60598-1 speaks to many tests for luminaires. This document covers only the ingress protection section of the standard. For information about the who standard, please visit our IEC 60598-1 Testing page.

A luminaire is defined as an apparatus that distributes, filters or transforms the light transmitted from one or more lamps. The luminaire includes all the parts necessary for supporting, fixing and protecting the lamps. The luminaire also includes the circuit auxiliaries together with the means for connecting them to the supply. It however, does not include the lamps themselves.

I. Ingress Protection Testing
IEC-60598 requires ingress protection testing, also known as IP Code testing. This tests the luminaires for the degree of protection it provides from the ingress of dust, solid objects and moisture. The test standard states, that the enclosure of a luminaire shall provide the degree of protection against the ingress of dust, solid objects and moisture in accordance with the classification of the luminaire and the IP number marked on the luminaire.

To gain a thorough understanding of the IP Code, please visit our IP Code rating chart.

It is important to note that before the tests for the second characteristic numeral, the luminaire complete with lamp(s) shall be switched on and brought to a stable operating temperature at rated voltage. The lone exception is IPX8. The water for the tests shall be at a temperature of 15 °C ± 10 °C.

IEC 60598 ingress protection testing states that rough service luminaires shall have protection against ingress of solid objects and moisture of at least IP54.

II. IEC 60598 Product Classes
IEC 60598 Class I Luminaire:
A Class I Luminaire offers protection against electric shock that does not rely on basic insulation only. These luminaires include an additional safety precaution. This precaution is provided for in the connection of accessible conductive parts. This connection is to the protective (earthing) conductor in the fixed wiring of the installation. This is completed in such a way that accessible conductive parts cannot become live in the event of a failure of the basic insulation

III. IEC 60598 Class II Luminaire:
A Class II Luminaire also offers protection against electric shock that does not rely on basic insulation only. However, in this class of luminaire, the additional safety precautions are double insulation or reinforced insulation. There are no provisions for protective earthing or reliance upon installation conditions.

Examples of these luminaires include items having a durable and substantially continuous enclosure of insulating material. This enclosure envelopes all metal parts with the exception of small parts such as nameplates, screws and rivets. These are typically isolated from live parts by insulation at least equivalent to reinforced insulation. This type of luminaire is called an insulation encased class II luminaire.

Another example of a Class II Luminaire is a luminaire having a substantially continuous enclosure of metal. This enclosure is insulated from live parts by insulation at least equivalent to double or reinforced insulation. Such a luminaire is called a metal-encased class II luminaire.

The final type of IEC 60598 Class II Luminaire is a luminaire which is a combination of the previous two types mentioned.

IV. IEC 60598 Class III Luminaire.
An IEC 60598 Class II Luminaire offers protection against electric shock relying on supply at safety extra-low voltage (SELV). These luminaires do not generate voltages higher than those of the SELV level.

V. Scope of Testing:
To complete the testing, the IEC 60598 test lab must complete a number of tests including:

Dust ingress tests
Solid objects ingress tests
Moisture ingress tests
Humidity tests
Insulation resistance tests
Electric strength tests
Touch current tests
Protective conductor current tests
Electric burn tests
Creepage distances tests
Creepage clearances tests
Endurance tests
Thermal tests
Heat resistance tests
Fire resistance tests
Tracking resistance tests
Keystone Compliance is an ISO-170925 accredited test lab with expertise in IEC 60598-1 testing. Our capabilities include ingress protection testing, EMC testing, vibration testing and temperature testing. We can complete testing to all ingress protection code standards. We have significant luminaire vibration and luminaire temperature testing and thermal shock experience.

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