IK Rating Levels & Impact Energy
| IK Code | Impact Energy (Joules) | Equivalent example |
|---|---|---|
| IK00 | No protection | Not tested |
| IK01 | 0.14 – 0.15 J | Minor touch |
| IK02 | 0.20 J | Light bump |
| IK03 | 0.35 J | Moderate knock |
| IK04 | 0.50 J | Moderate impact |
| IK05 | 0.70 J | Medium impact |
| IK06 | 1.00 J | 500g dropped from 20 cm |
| IK07 | 2.00 J | 500g dropped from 40 cm |
| IK08 | 5.00 J | 1.7kg dropped from 29.5 cm |
| IK09 | 10.00 J | 5kg dropped from 20 cm |
| IK10 | 20.00 J | 5kg dropped from 40 cm |
Test Methods
The testing procedure is divided into two groups:
IK01 – IK06: Tested with a spring‑hammer (simulating smaller impacts).
IK07 – IK10: Tested with a pendulum hammer (simulating heavier impacts).
Each exposed surface of the enclosure must typically withstand 5 impacts at evenly distributed points.
Typical Applications
| IK Range | Typical Use Cases |
|---|---|
| IK00 – IK04 | Indoor environments (home appliances, office equipment) |
| IK05 – IK06 | General industrial or handheld devices |
| IK07 – IK08 | Outdoor or heavy‑industry (street lights, charging stations, control cabinets) |
| IK09 – IK10 | High‑security or extreme environments (prisons, military, mining machinery) |
Difference from IP Rating
IK rating measures mechanical impact resistance.
IP rating (e.g., IP66) measures ingress protection against dust and water.
They are complementary – for example, a product marked IP66/IK10 offers both high dust/water protection and strong impact resistance.
Selection Tip
Choose an IK level based on the actual risk of mechanical shock in your installation environment. Higher IK levels mean thicker materials, heavier design, and higher cost – so select what is adequate, not necessarily the maximum, you can know more IK10 information on: https://www.benweilight.com/industrial-lighting/led-explosion-proof-light/led-tri-proof-light-l9-ip67-ip69k-ik10.html
