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What does IP44 rated mean?

IP44 rated means a light or fitting is built to resist water splashed against it from any direction, and to keep out small solid objects. It is not made for jets of water or for going under water, and an electrician should advise on the rating each place needs.

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By the QuoteZila editorial team. Editorial policy.

What do the two digits in IP44 mean?

IP stands for ingress protection. An IP rating is a short code that tells you how well an electrical product's casing keeps things out. It is made of the letters IP followed by two digits.

  • The first digit is about solid objects, from fingers and tools down to fine dust. A higher number means smaller things are kept out.
  • The second digit is about water, from drips through splashes and jets to full immersion. A higher number means more water is kept out.

So in IP44, the first 4 refers to protection against small solid objects, and the second 4 refers to water. A government product safety report describes an IP44 rating as protected from water splashed from all directions [S1].

Sometimes you will see an X in place of a digit, such as IPX4. The X means no rating is given for that part. IPX4 tells you the water protection, but nothing about solid objects.

Where are IP44 fittings used?

IP44 is common on products that will get splashed but not soaked:

  • outdoor wall lights in sheltered spots, such as under a porch canopy
  • garden string lights and plug-in festoon lights
  • some bathroom lights and extractor fans, depending on where they go
  • outdoor sockets and switches with covers
  • lights in utility rooms and kitchens near sinks

In a bathroom, Electrical Safety First says enclosed ceiling lights are preferable to ones that hang down [S2]. It says any light fitting that is not enclosed should be out of reach of someone using, or still wet from using, the bath or shower [S2].

What is IP44 not made for?

IP44 resists splashes. It is not designed for:

  • direct jets of water, such as a hose or a jet washer
  • standing water, or being buried in wet ground
  • being submerged, such as pond or pool lights
  • heavy, wind-driven rain on very exposed walls, unless the maker says so

For those places, you need a fitting with a higher second digit. Ask an electrician, and check the maker's instructions for where the product can go.

A rating only means something if the product actually meets it. In one case, a GOV.UK product safety report found a lighting chain marked IP44, but considered that the level had not been met because suitable gaskets were missing [S1]. Buy from a known retailer, and check the fitting for seals and covers before it goes up.

Bathroom zones and IP ratings

Bathrooms are split into zones based on how close a spot is to the bath or shower, where water is most likely. Each zone has its own rules for what can be fitted and what IP rating is needed. The rules come from the wiring regulations that electricians work to.

You do not need to learn the zones yourself. Tell the electrician where you want each light, fan or shaver point, and they will choose fittings suitable for each spot. Electrical Safety First says there are special requirements for electrical installations in bathrooms, as most electrical work must comply with Part P of the Building Regulations, and to use a registered electrician [S2]. It also says all circuits in or passing through bathrooms are required to be protected by an RCD [S2].

Do not open up or extend existing circuits yourself to add a light. Electrical Safety First: find a registered electrician; NICEIC; NAPIT. QuoteZila is not affiliated with this organisation. See the Electrical Safety First bathroom safety page.

Outdoor lights and RCD protection

Outdoors, IP44 is a common rating for wall lights and plug-in garden lights. Mains-wired outdoor lights, sockets and garden lighting circuits are electrical installation work for a registered electrician.

For plug-in lights and tools, Electrical Safety First says to use a residual current device (RCD) with all outdoor electrical equipment [S3]. It also says not to use electrical equipment outdoors until it is dry, even if there is just dew on the ground [S3].

Getting IP44 lights fitted

QuoteZila is starting in Cheshire, with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach among the first towns, and anyone in the UK can post a job. Describe where the light or fan is going, whether there is existing wiring, and add a photo. Up to five matched local businesses can reply [QZ2]. QuoteZila is free for customers and local businesses [QZ1].

Honest status: QuoteZila is new. We're starting in Cheshire, beginning with Crewe, Nantwich and Sandbach, and growing area by area. Anyone in the UK can still post a job or register a business. How fast you get quotes depends on how many local businesses have joined near you. Businesses can register and receive jobs straight away. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire.

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See the electricians page or the electrician cost guide.

Jobs you might post

These are examples, not taken from real job posts. "Replace the bathroom ceiling light with an enclosed fitting suitable for the zone." Or: "Fit two outdoor wall lights by the back door, wired to a switch inside." Or: "New extractor fan in the shower room, with the right rating for its position."

Official and public sources

QuoteZila is not affiliated with these organisations.

Questions about IP44 ratings

Is IP44 waterproof?

No. IP44 means protected against water splashed from all directions, which is not the same as waterproof. A fitting with this rating is not made to be hit by a hose jet, left in standing water or submerged. Higher second digits cover jets and immersion.

Can IP44 lights be used outside?

Outdoor lights often carry an IP44 rating, which suits spots that get rain and splashes, such as a sheltered porch or a wall by the back door. For exposed spots, ground level or anywhere a hose might reach, ask an electrician whether a higher rating is needed.

Is IP44 enough for a bathroom?

It depends on where in the bathroom the fitting goes. Bathrooms are divided into zones around the bath and shower, and each zone has its own requirements. An electrician will tell you the rating each position needs. Electrical Safety First says to use a registered electrician for bathroom electrical installations.

Who should fit IP44 lights?

Fitting or moving a mains light is electrical work, and most of it in bathrooms and outdoors must meet the building regulations. Ask a registered electrician. A plug-in light that comes with its own lead and plug is different, but outdoors it should still be used with an RCD.

Does QuoteZila check the businesses who quote?

No. We don't check insurance, qualifications or registrations, so please check these yourself before you hire. You can report a quote or a business from your job page.

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Sources

  1. QZ1: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila home and jobs-for-tradesmen copy.
  2. QZ2: QuoteZila product fact. QuoteZila terms and matching notes.
  3. S1: Product Safety Report: Achin Outdoor String Lights sold via Amazon (2308-0085), GOV.UK (Office for Product Safety and Standards). Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.gov.uk/product-safety-alerts-reports-recalls/product-safety-report-achin-outdoor-string-lights-via-amazon-2308-0085
  4. S2: Electrical safety advice for the bathroom, Electrical Safety First. Accessed 2026-10-30. https://electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guidance/safety-around-the-home/bathroom-safety
  5. S3: Staying safe in the garden, Electrical Safety First. Accessed 2026-10-30. https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guidance/safety-around-the-home/garden-safety/