Watertightness and IP rating
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A headlamp's watertightness is ensured by its IP rating
This rating classifies the level of protection offered by equipment against ingress by solids (e.g. dust) and liquids (e.g. water, oil).
Two standards govern the IP rating
- The IEC 60529 standard involves all electronic products, including headlamps. It defines the levels of protection against solids and liquids and describes the tests to be done depending on the product's IP rating.
The IP rating consists of two digits:
- The first digit indicates protection against solids.
- The second digit indicates protection against liquids. More commonly called watertightness.
| Rating | 1st digit (tens) Protection against solids |
2nd digit (ones) Protection against water ingress with harmful effects |
| 0 | No protection | No protection |
| 1 | Protection against solids greater than 50 mm in diameter |
|
| 2 | Protection against solids greater than 12.5 mm in diameter |
|
| 3 | Protection against solids greater than 2.5 mm in diameter |
|
| 4 | Protection against solids greater than 1.0 mm in diameter |
|
| 5 | Dust protection |
|
| 6 |
Completely protected against dust |
|
| 7 | - |
-1 meter for 30 minutes |
| 8 | - |
duration and depth defined by the manufacturer |
NB : When a criterion has not been tested, the number is replaced by X (e.g., IPX6 indicates that the product has not been tested for solids).
- ANSI/PLATO FL 1 standard defines an additional concept by giving test acceptance criteria for the IPX4, IPX7 and IPX8 ratings.
| IPX4 | The lamp functions just after the test and 30 minutes after the test. Water drops allowed in the lamp after the test, provided there is no short-circuit or electrical fault. |
| IPX7 | The lamp functions just after the test and 30 minutes after the test. No water allowed in the lamp after the test |
| IPX8 |
To define a headlamp IP rating, a manufacturer can rely solely on the IEC 60529 standard by defining its own test acceptance criteria, or use the acceptance criteria given in the ANSI/PLATO FL 1 standard.
What watertightness tests are done on Petzl headlamps?
To claim an IP rating on its headlamps, Petzl chose to do its testing internally. Petzl follows the test protocol defined in the IEC 60529 standard and the test acceptance criteria from the ANSI/PLATO FL1 standard.
Petzl has a test laboratory (oscillating tube, water tank and watertightness chamber) that allows the necessary tests to be done in order to determine the watertightness of a lamp.
What are the IP ratings of Petzl headlamps?
All of our headlamps are at least IPX4 (weather resistant): a rating suitable for most headlamp use in rain, snow or a humid environment.
The e+LITE® lamp is IPX7 (watertight to -1 meters for 30 minutes in fresh water).
The DUO S lamp is IP67 (watertight to -1 meters for 30 minutes in fresh water and dust tight).