The document provides an overview of key luminaire technical aspects that decision makers should consider when evaluating lighting solutions. It discusses luminaire classification standards, as well as technical attributes like IP ratings for protection from solids and liquids, IK ratings for mechanical impact protection, maximum operating temperatures, mounting requirements, electrical protection classes, and relevant IEC standards. The purpose is to familiarize readers with important technical specifications of luminaires.

1. Luminaires – An Overview:
Facts, Basics and Considerations
Target Audience:
Facility managers, Procurement managers,
Technical managers, Maintenance managers
and General Lighting enthusiasts
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2. Luminaire Overview – Objectives
The purpose of this outline is to provide an overview
and to familiarize the decision maker with the key
considerations when evaluating a lighting solution
Luminaire Overview Topics:
a. Luminaire classification
b. Luminaire technical aspects
c. Luminaire functional aspects
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3. Module 2
Luminaire Technical Aspects
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4. Luminaire – Technical Aspects
As with the infamous saying of Wilhelm Leibniz that ”… a lion
be can spotted by it toenail…”, so a quality luminaire can be
spotted by its technical attributes.
A given luminaire carries several types of technical
information that is to be overviewed in this section while
addressing relevant IEC standards:
 IP Rating (Ingress Protection Code)
 IK Rating (Mechanical Impact Code)
 tC max (Operating Temperature)
 Mounting Codes
 IEC Standards
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5. IP Rating
IP ratings are international designed symbols to numerically rate an
electrical product on the level of protection its enclosure provides.
By assigning different number codes, the product's degree of
protection can be identified quickly and easily.
Example: IP 54
5 - describes the level of protection from solid objects
4 - describe the level of protection from liquids
The IP code is defined in standard IEC 60529
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6. IP Rating, 1’st Numeral: Solid Objects
First IP Luminaire Protected against
Numeral description
0 Not protected
1 Hand protected Ingress of solid object > 50 mm diameter, shall not
fully penetrate
2 Finger protected Ingress solid object > 12.50 mm diameter, shall not
fully penetrate
3 Tool protected Ingress solid object > 2.50 mm diameter, shall not
fully penetrate
4 Wire protected Ingress solid object > 1 mm diameter, shall not fully
penetrate
5 Dust protected Harmful dust accumulation
6 Dust tight No ingress of dust
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7. IP first numeral Illustrated
Luminaire with low IP first numeral
would suffer from dust and “dead
bugs” accumulated at the base of the
protective lens of the luminaire.
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8. IP Rating - Second Numeral: Liquids
First IP Luminaire Protected against
Numeral description
0 Not protected
1 Drip protected Vertically falling drops shall have no harmful effects
2 Drip protected when Vertically falling drops have no harmful effects when the
tilted enclosure is tilted up to 15° vertically
3 Rain/Spray protected Water sprayed at an angle up to 60° degrees vertically shall
have no harmful effects
4 Splash protected No harmful effects when water splashed in any direction
5 Water jets protected Water projected in jets against the enclosure from any
direction shall have no harmful effects
6 Powerful water jets Water projected in powerful jets against the enclosure from
protected any direction shall have no harmful effects
7 Water tight No harmful effects when the enclosure is temporarily
immersed 1 meter in water under defined conditions
8 Pressure water tight Enclosure is continuously immersed in water under conditions
that are more severe than for number 7
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9. Mechanical IK Rating
The IK rating specifies the level of mechanical protection the
enclosure provides and is measured in joules (J).
The IK code is defined in standard IEC 622662
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10. IK Rating: Mechanical impact
IK Impact energy Equivalent drop mass and height
Number
00 Not protected
01 0.15 joules Drop of 200 g object from 7.5 cm height
02 0.2 joules Drop of 200 g object from 10 cm height
03 0.35 joules Drop of 200 g object from 17.5 cm height
04 0.5 joules Drop of 200 g object from 25 cm height
05 0.7 joules Drop of 200 g object from 35 cm height
06 1 joules Drop of 500 g object from 20 cm height
07 2 joules Drop of 500 g object from 40 cm height
08 5 joules Drop of 1.7 kg object from 29.5 cm height
09 10 joules Drop of 5 kg object from 20 cm height
10 20 joules Drop of 5 kg object from 40 cm height
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11. Luminaire Operating Temperature –
tC max
tC max defines the maximum operating temperature where warranty holds for
the system
Example: tC 70°C / 158F
tC label marks the temperature sensing or measurement point on a Luminaire.
This point is marked on the luminaire with a temperature degree number.
Most Light systems require a drive or gear which is an electronic component. These
components generally experience functional wear out in heat above that they had been
designed for.
Example:
Mounting a LED system with tC max of 70°C/158F in a very hot manufacturing environment
like a chocolate factory will probably result in system life of about 8% only, eg 3,000 hours
instead of specified 35,000 service hours
Mounting considerations
• Operate all electronic components, including LED, drivers at lower temperatures to
achieve a longer service life.
• Consider the following: (a) System thermal requirements (b) Proper heat dissipation
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12. Luminaire – Mounting marks
Luminaire suitable for direct mounting on non-
combustible surfaces only
Luminaire suitable for direct mounting on
normally flammable surfaces when thermal
insulation may cover the luminaire
Luminaire suitable for direct mounting on
normally flammable surfaces
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13. Luminaire – Electrical protection class
There are 3 common IEC 61140 electrical protection classes to
mark luminaire safety requirements
Class I – Luminaires in this class are electrically insulated and
provided with earth safety connection. The earth/grounds
connects exposed metal and prevents live shock in case of fault.
Class II – Luminaires in this class are designed that exposed metal
parts cannot become live and safety connection is not required
to electrical earth/ground.
Class III – Luminaires in this class of electrical protection rely on
SELV, Safety Extra Low Voltage supply less than 50V. This class is
not provided with electrical earth connection.
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14. Luminaire – Standards
Standard IEC 60598 specifies general requirements for luminaires, incorporating various
aspects of light systems addressing operation for voltage up to 1000 V. The standard
addresses classification, marking, mechanical construction and electrical construction.
Fixtures for specific locations have specific standards like – Blast Proof, Emergency Lighting, Street and High
Lighting, Cold Storage Lighting, Underwater and more.
In many cases luminaries comprise of the fixture and the ballast. There are usually ballast specific standards that
address Safety and Electro Magnetic Emission.
IEC 61347 – Low Voltage Directive (LVD) standard
Standard IEC 61347 specifies safety requirements for electronic control gear for use on AC and DC supplies up to
1000V at 50 Hz or 60 Hz. Refer to standards IEC 60081 and IEC 60901 for other fluorescent lamps for high-
frequency operation. The standard addresses test conditions when dimming; safety aspects of construction
requirements and limits for HF leakage currents.
IEC 61347 Annex B defines general and safety requirements applicable to thermally protected lamp control gear.
IEC 61347 Annex C defines general and safety requirements for electronic lamp control gear with means of
protection against overheating.
IEC61000-3-2 - Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) - Low-Frequency Standards
Standard specifies limitation of harmonic components of the input current impressed on the public low-voltage
supply system.
EN 55015 - Standard specifies limits and addresses both the Radiated Emissions and Conducted Emissions,
defines limits of radio disturbance characteristics of electrical lighting and similar equipment. Radiated emissions
are measure in db against the norm as defined in the standard.
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15. The End
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