IP67 Versus IP68 Choosing Waterproof LED Strip
What the two digits mean, where each grade belongs, and the specification trap in outdoor strip.
In This Guide
Reading An IP Code
An ingress protection code has two digits. The first describes protection against solids, on a scale to 6, where 6 means completely dust tight. The second describes protection against water, on a scale to 9.
In IP67 and IP68, the 6 means dust tight. The difference is entirely in the second digit.
What 7 And 8 Actually Mean
IP67 means the product withstands temporary immersion - conventionally up to one metre for thirty minutes. It is specified for exposure to rain, splashing and occasional flooding.
IP68 means continuous immersion under conditions the manufacturer states. It is the grade to specify where the strip will actually sit in water rather than merely get wet.
The Specification Trap
Suppliers frequently describe strip as 'waterproof' without a code at all, or quote a code for the strip while the connectors and the joints are unsealed. Water enters at the cut end and the joint, not through the middle of a metre of silicone.
We hold the two grades as separate item numbers rather than as options against one code, precisely so an order cannot be ambiguous about which was bought.
Choosing By Application
Interior cove, cabinet and display lighting rarely needs any sealing at all, and unsealed strip is cheaper, thinner and easier to dissipate heat from.
Covered outdoor use, soffits and signage generally want IP67.
Ground-level installations, pond and fountain edges, and anywhere that floods want IP68 - and the sealing of the end caps and joints matters as much as the grade of the strip itself.
Installation Notes That Decide Whether The Grade Holds
Seal every cut end with the correct end cap and adhesive. An unsealed cut end turns IP68 strip into unrated strip.
Keep joints and driver connections out of standing water even when the strip itself is rated for immersion.
Allow for heat: encapsulation that keeps water out also keeps heat in, so sealed strip should be driven more conservatively than unsealed strip.
Product ranges covered in this guide
Products Discussed In This Guide
Questions About This Topic
Can I use IP67 strip in a pond?
No. Specify IP68 for continuous immersion, and seal the ends and joints properly - that is where installations fail.
Do I need waterproof strip indoors?
Usually not. Unsealed strip is cheaper and runs cooler. Sealing is worth paying for in bathrooms, kitchens and anywhere it will be cleaned with water.
Which grades do you supply?
Both, as separate part numbers - the IP67 and IP68 versions of the 5060 strip at 30 and 60 LEDs per metre.
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Design GuideHave A Specification Question
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