IP ratings protect against water and dust; Ex ratings protect against ignition. A car park needs IP65, a food plant needs IP66, a high-pressure wash bay needs IP69K — and only a solvent-vapour or fuel environment needs the Ex-rated batten. Picking the right grade is mostly about knowing which of those four problems you actually have; here is the selection logic and the tri-proof series that matches each.
What “tri-proof” means, and what it does not
A tri-proof light is a sealed linear batten rated against three enemies: water ingress, dust ingress and corrosion. The name promises protection, not explosion safety — that is a separate certification. LOWCLED’s tri-proof range spans eight series from a 10W single-tube car park fitting to an IP69K vapor-tight batten and an Ex-rated version for hazardous locations.
| Series | Power | Output | Efficacy | Length | Ingress / impact | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TP-F1 single | 10W, 15W, 25W, 30W | 1,000–3,000 lm | 100 lm/W | 600/1200/1500 mm | IP65 | PC housing, stainless clips |
| TP-F2 twin | 20W, 40W, 50W, 60W | 2,000–6,000 lm | 100 lm/W | 600/1200/1500 mm | IP65 | Replaces 2 × 36W fluorescent |
| TP-M | 20W, 40W, 60W | 2,100–6,300 lm | 105 lm/W | 600/1200/1500 mm | IP65 | General-purpose sealed batten |
| TP-T1 | 10W, 18W, 22W | 850–1,900 lm | 85–90 lm/W | 600/1200/1500 mm | IP65 | Underground car park, low ceiling |
| TP-T2 twin | 20W, 36W, 44W | 1,600–3,800 lm | 80–90 lm/W | 600/1200/1500 mm | IP65 | Twin-tube car park fitting |
| TP-EN2 | 20W–100W | Per model | Per model | 300–1500 mm | IP66 / IK10 | PC + aluminium heatsink, die-cast end caps |
| TP-EX | 20W–60W | Per model | Per model | 300–1500 mm | IP66, Ex-rated | 2.5 KV surge, PF >0.95 |
| TP-T80 | 20W–60W | Per model | Per model | 600–1500 mm | IP69K | Vapor-tight, 2.5 KV surge |
The four protection grades, in plain language
| Grade | Meaning | Real-world test |
|---|---|---|
| IP65 | Dust-tight; protected against water jets from any direction | Survives rain, condensation and hose splashing |
| IP66 | Dust-tight; protected against heavy seas and powerful jets | Survives pressure-washing at close range |
| IP69K | Dust-tight; protected against high-temperature, high-pressure water jets | Survives 80°C wash-down at 80–100 bar — dairy and brewery practice |
| IK10 | Impact energy up to 20 joules | Survives hard mechanical blows — forklift brush, vandalism |
| Ex-rated | Not an IP grade at all: certified not to ignite a surrounding explosive atmosphere | Solvent vapour, flour dust, fuel handling zones |
Match the environment to the series
| Environment | Required rating | Series |
|---|---|---|
| Covered car park, warehouse, cold store | IP65 | TP-F1, TP-F2, TP-M, TP-T1, TP-T2 — tri-proof series overview |
| Food plant, wash-down bay, abattoir | IP66 | TP-EN2 |
| Dairy, brewery, high-pressure foam cleaning | IP69K | TP-T80 |
| Solvent vapour, flour dust, fuel zone | Ex-rated (in addition to, not instead of, IP66) | TP-EX |
Explosive atmospheres: zones and what they demand
Explosive atmospheres are classified by how often a flammable atmosphere is present. The fixture’s job in every zone is the same — no hot surface, no spark, no ignition — but the required certification level rises with the frequency of the hazard.
| Zone (gas) | Hazard frequency | Typical example | What the fitting must be |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 0 | Continuous or long periods | Inside solvent tanks, closed process vessels | Specially certified apparatus; lighting almost never installed here |
| Zone 1 | Occasional in normal operation | Filling areas around fuel handling | Certified Ex luminaire with appropriate marking |
| Zone 2 | Rare, short, abnormal only | Perimeter of fuel stores, paint mixing rooms | Ex-certified luminaire; Ex n or equivalent construction |
| Zone 20/21/22 (dust) | Cloud layers from continuous to rare | Flour milling, sugar, powdered additives | Dust-ignition-proof certification, tight enclosures |
Ex zones are defined under the ATEX directives (EU) and IECEx scheme (international). Before ordering, confirm the exact zone and the required Ex marking for your installation with the site’s safety officer — we supply the TP-EX certification documentation with the quotation.
Replacing fluorescent battens with tri-proof units
| Existing fluorescent | System lumens | Tri-proof replacement | Power saved | Typical room |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 × 18W batten | 1,400 lm | TP-F1 15W (1,500 lm) | ≈55% | Stairwell, store room |
| 1 × 36W batten | 3,000 lm | TP-F1 25W or 30W | ≈45% | Car park, corridor |
| 2 × 36W twin | 6,000 lm | TP-F2 50W or 60W | ≈45% | Warehouse aisle, workshop |
| 1 × 58W batten | 4,900 lm | TP-M 40W (4,200 lm) | ≈50% | Production area |
| 2 × 58W twin | 9,800 lm | TP-EN2 80W or 2 × TP-M 40W | ≈45% | High workshop, plant room |
The sealed body is itself the upgrade: no yellowing diffusers, no dead tubes above wet processes, and with the T80 series nothing to corrode even under foam cleaning.
Installation notes that decide the outcome
The fitting is half the job; the installation detail is the other half. Stainless clips (TP-F1/F2) resist the corrosion that plain spring clips fail with in car park air. Through-wiring lets a corridor run as one linked row from a single feed, which removes the junction boxes that leak first. In wash-down rooms, mount the T80 with the cable gland pointing down and leave a drip loop — the number of IP69K fittings defeated by an upward gland is remarkable. And in hazardous areas, the certification is only valid with the certified gland set and blanking plugs installed per the Ex instructions; an uncertified gland on an Ex fitting is an uncertified fitting.
Row layouts also deserve a moment of design: 600 mm units under stair soffits, 1500 mm rows over aisles, and enough spacing to keep the diffuser out of forklift reach. For car park decks, the twin-tube T2 gives the wide, low-glare spread drivers prefer at 2.5–3 m ceilings — a narrow-beam high bay at that height only produces glare.
Putting a specification together
A workable tri-proof line item reads like this: TP-EN2 60W, 1500 mm, IP66 IK10, 4000K, 6 units linked, stainless glands — series, wattage, length, grade, CCT, quantity and accessories. The grade follows the environment table above; the length follows the mounting plane; the CCT follows the task (4000K general, 5000K inspection-heavy, 3000K where staff linger). The full range, datasheets and the batten-by-batten comparison sit on the tri-proof category page, and the LED tube equivalents for dry offices and retail back-of-house are on the tube series page — a car park wants battens, a storeroom can often take a tube retrofit.
For moisture-and-impact zones that are not hazardous, the EN2′s IP66/IK10 pairing is usually the whole answer in one line. For hazardous zones, add the site’s zone classification and required temperature class to the enquiry and the Ex documentation follows the quotation.
Tri-proof selection FAQ
What is a tri-proof light?
A sealed linear LED batten protected against water, dust and corrosion (hence “tri-proof”). Ratings in the range run from IP65 for covered car parks to IP66/IP69K vapor-tight builds and an Ex-rated version for hazardous locations.
Is IP66 enough for a car wash?
For the wet bay itself, specify IP69K (TP-T80): automatic washes use high-temperature, high-pressure jets that defeat IP66. IP66 (TP-EN2) is the right grade for food plants and general wash-down areas.
What is the difference between IP69K and Ex?
Completely different jobs. IP69K says the enclosure survives high-pressure hot water; Ex says the fitting cannot ignite an explosive atmosphere. A hazardous-area fitting needs the Ex certificate — IP69K alone is irrelevant to that approval.
Can I use a normal IP65 batten in a dusty flour mill?
No. Combustible dust zones need Ex certification for dust ignition, not just an ingress rating. A sealed IP65 body reduces the risk but does not carry the certification the installation legally requires.
What does IK10 mean next to IP66 on the TP-EN2?
IK10 is the top impact rating: the fitting withstands 20 joules of impact, the energy of a heavy mechanical blow. It matters wherever forklifts, trolleys or vandalism share the space with the luminaire.
How do I link multiple tri-proof battens?
Series in the range support through-wiring and continuous row mounting, so corridors and car park decks can be run as linked rows with a single feed point. Confirm the linking count for the exact wattage with the quotation.
Data sources: IEC 60529 (IP code), IEC 62262 (IK code), ATEX equipment directives and the IECEx scheme (zone classification). Series specifications (TP-F1/F2/M/T1/T2/EN2/EX/T80) follow the published data on this site’s tri-proof product pages.
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About this LED indoor light (panel / downlight / grow light)
LOWCLED indoor lighting covers LED panel lights, downlights, linear lights, track lights, tube / batten lights and horticulture grow lights for offices, shops, hotels, showrooms and indoor farms. The aluminium housing and diffused optical design give even, low-glare light with UGR<19 for comfortable working conditions.
Panel and downlight series run from 3W to 45W with 100-130 lm/W, IP20-IP65 rating, 3000K / 4000K / 6000K and dimmable or smart WIFI / BLE options. Grow light bars from 50W to 300W use full-spectrum diodes for greenhouse and hydroponic cultivation, with 3-5 years warranty and OEM / ODM service.
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