Impact Protection – IK Rating
The IK rating is an international code which measures the degree of protection against mechanical wear and tears as well as the amount of impact a specific fixture can take. Essentially it is a measure of fixtures robustness and durability. It provides a means of specifying the capacity of an enclosure to protect its contents from external impacts in accordance with IEC 62262:2002 and IEC 60068-2-75:1997.
The international standard IEC 62262 (2002) & the European EN 62262 relate to IK ratings and give a numeric classification to each fixture tested, representing the degree of impact protection.
So why is a fixture IK rating important and when do they become relevant when choosing a fixture?
If you are choosing a fixture that will be fitted within a high traffic area such as highway, street or other commercial environments, then it will be important to choose a fixture with an appropriate IK rating.
If a fixture was to become damaged, it might result in the fixture failing to work efficiently, or even failing completely.
You don’t need a fixture which is highly resistant if there is little or no risk impact. So, analyzing your risk of an impact if the first step in deciding if you need a fixture with a high IK rating. Additionally, not just high traffic areas which need IK rated fixtures, but also area that is prone to vandalism too.
We recommend an IK07 for areas of low risks, IK08 for areas which provide a reasonable risk of impact and IK10 for maximum protection in places such as schools, parks, subways, and prisons.
