Introduction

In the field of modern lighting, LED lamps have become a very popular lighting choice. When choosing LED lamps, in addition to paying attention to indicators such as brightness, color and energy efficiency ( Understanding luminous efficacy and strategies for improvement ) , IK rating (impact protection rating) is also a very important consideration.In this article, we will introduce the IK testing for LED lamps.

What is an IK rating? What do the two numbers mean?

IK Rating is the degree of protection of electrical equipment housings, which is measured as resistance to the application of a mechanical shock when hitting an object with a certain mass from a certain height. IK rating is established by standards IEC 62262:2002 and IEC 60068-2-75:1997.

IK ratings are usually expressed in numbers ranging from 0 to 10, with higher numbers representing stronger impact resistance of LED lamps. Below are the impact protection ratings and their corresponding meanings:

IK Code	Impact energy, J
IK00	Not protected
IK01	0.14
IK02	0.2
IK03	0.35
IK04	0.5
IK05	0.7
IK06	1
IK07	2
IK08	5
IK09	10
IK10	20

Why should we care about the impact protection rating of lamps?

The IK rating is used to measure the protection level of LED lamps, that is, its impact resistance. The impact protection rating of LED lamps depends on the design and manufacture of the product. It reflects whether the structure and shell design of the LED lamp can effectively protect the LED light source and other internal components from damage caused by external impact.

When purchasing LED lamps, it is very important to choose the appropriate IK rating according to actual needs. If the LED lamp will be installed in an environment that is susceptible to impact, then choosing a higher impact protection rating can ensure that it can work properly under these conditions. Therefore, for road lighting ( ZGSM road lighting solution ) and stadium lighting ( Guide for LED football pitch lighting – Stadium lights ) , the IK rating of street lights and stadium lights should at least IK08 level to ensure that the lamps will not be damaged when subjected to external impact or accidental impact, ensuring long-term stability and safety.

For example, our GloMax series led stadium lights ( More about GloMax ) , which has passed TUV's IK08/IK10 test ( IK rating test standards ) , integrated design, excellent performance, and equipped with protective grids and visor, are widely used in large venues such as football and basketball courts, It has been well received by customers since its launch.

Relevant standards for IK rating testing

IEC 62262 mechanical impact testing, also known as IK code testing classifies the degrees of protection provided by enclosures for electrical equipment against external mechanical impacts. This standard refers to the classification of the degrees of protection provided by enclosures against external mechanical impacts when the rated voltage of the protected equipment is not greater than 72,5 kV. IEC 62262 compliance testing is only applicable to enclosures of equipment where the specific standard establishes degrees of protection of the enclosure against mechanical impacts.

The standard helps identify the following:

1. Degrees of protection provided by enclosures of electrical equipment
2. Designations for the degrees of protection
3. Requirements for each designation
4. Tests to be performed to verify that the enclosure meets the requirements of IEC 62262

In general, the degree of protection applies to the complete enclosure. If parts of the enclosure have differing degrees of protection, it is indicated separately. Unless otherwise specified, IEC 62262 is carried out under the standard atmospheric conditions for tests described in IEC 60068. Each enclosure must be clean and in new condition. The enclosure must also be complete with all its parts in place unless otherwise specified.

Before the start of the IK testing, the enclosure is mounted on a rigid support. Support is considered to be rigid if its displacement is less than or equal to 0.1 mm. There are to be five impacts on each exposed face unless otherwise specified. The impacts are evenly distributed on the faces enclosures. No more than three impacts are applied in the surroundings of the same point of the enclosure. This standard also applies to empty enclosures provided that the surface of the enclosure is capable of meeting the requirements of the normal tests and that the selected level of protection is applicable to the type of equipment.

Which ZGSM luminaires have passed the appropriate standards?

ZGSM has been committed to the LED lighting industry for more than 19 years. Our lamps have undergone strict IK testing to ensure that our lamps can be used normally. Our regular street lights, factory lights, floodlights ( Please review case studies of LED flood lamp. ), and recessed lights ( ZGSM Recessed lights ) have reached IK08, and some street lights have passed the IK09 test. If the customer has a project that requires IK10, we can also meet the customer's requirements.

The following are the street light models that have passed the IK rating:

IK08 LED Street light: H series, Rifle series, Kmini, Nova series, L, K, Halo series
IK09 LED Street light: Falcon series, Leaf series
Here is an IK testing of one of our best-selling street lamps: Rifle LED street light ( Details of Rifle Class I/II Street Lamp ), the test level is IK08:

During the test, the laboratory conducted IK testing on multiple points of the test sample. The test results are as follows. We can tell from the pictures that the shotgun passed the IK08 test.

If you are looking for street lights or other lamps, please view our website and contact us, we will reply you as soon as possible!

Summary

In general, the IK rating is an important indicator to measure the impact resistance of LED lamps. By choosing the appropriate IK rating, we can ensure that LED lamps can operate safely and stably in various environments, providing reliable lighting for our lives and work.