What is an IP Rated Ceiling Fan?

Ceiling Fans with IP Ratings

IP stands for “Ingress Protection” and an IP rating tells us how well a product is protected against both solids and liquids. This system is published by the International Electrotechnical Commission and applies to lots of products including electrical appliances and lighting.  Because it’s an international standard, it’s very useful no matter where you are in the world, particularly if you’re looking for water-resistant products. When it comes to ceiling fans, the most important part of an IP rating is the second digit, which tells you how well the fan is protected against water. Obviously, if you’re buying a fan for your living room or bedroom, you’re not likely to need water protection, so an Ingress Protection rating won’t be your first priority. However, if you want to install an outdoor ceiling fan where there’s less protection from the elements, an IP rating offers you a bit more assurance. 

Understanding IP Ratings

IP codes have two digits. The first digit indicates the product’s level of protection against solid objects, and the second refers to its protection against liquids. 

Occasionally you may see an “X” in place of one of both of the digits. This means that the product has not been tested against solids or liquids, depending on where the X appears. For example, IPX4 means that the product hasn’t been tested for its protection from solid objects. But the second digit tells us that it has been tested for liquids and received a rating which means it can tolerate water spray from any direction.

The table below shows what each number means. Note that the highest possible protection rating against solids is 6 (dust proof) whereas for liquids it’s 8 (full immersion under water). Therefore, the highest possible protection for any product is IP68. In practice though, ceiling and exhaust products are not designed for under water use, so the highest IP rating on our products is closer to IP66. 

Other Outdoor Fans

You might notice that not all of the fans in our outdoor category have an IP rating. Usually this means that the manufacturer hasn’t had the fan IP tested. Provided that your outdoor installation meets the manufacturer’s warranty conditions, you can still install these fans outdoors. The conditions usually relate to how well the fan is sheltered from wind and rain, which is why most of our outdoor fans need to be installed in a “covered” area.  Each manufacturer has different warranty conditions for outdoor fans, so check the individual warranty statement for further details.