What the two digits describe
The first digit covers solids and dust, the second covers water. IP20 is an open strip for dry interiors. IP54 resists splashes from any direction. IP65 withstands water jets. IP67 allows temporary immersion. IP68 is agreed against a stated depth and duration with the supplier, not a general promise.
Water does not enter through the face
A coated strip usually fails at the terminations: the cut end, the end cap, the cable exit and any connector added on site. Silicone coating protects the face and the sides, but the cut point has to be sealed again with neutral-cure silicone, and the end cap has to be bonded rather than pushed on.
For a pool edge or a planter, full potting or an extruded neon body is more reliable than a coated strip, because there is no open cut face to reseal on site.
Match the body to the exposure
- Dry interior cove and cabinet: IP20 with a closed profile.
- Bathroom zone away from direct spray: IP65 coating with sealed ends.
- Exterior soffit, canopy or facade outline: IP67 neon body or potted strip.
- Pool coping and water features: IP68 agreed with the supplier for the depth and chemistry.
- Areas with chlorine or salt: confirm the cable jacket and cap material, not only the strip rating.
The parts around the strip matter as much
The driver must be located where it stays dry and ventilated, or be rated for the location itself. Cable glands, junction boxes and connectors need the same or better rating than the strip, and any drain point in the profile should sit at the lowest point of the run.
Condensation is common in sealed exterior profiles. If the channel has no drainage, water can collect at the lowest section even when the strip is rated for jets.
Before the order is placed
- State the location, not only the IP number.
- Confirm how cut ends will be sealed on site.
- Agree who supplies the end caps, connectors and glands.
- Decide the driver location and its IP rating.
Key takeaways
- IP67 covers temporary immersion; IP68 must be agreed against a depth and duration.
- End caps, cut faces and cable entries are the usual water paths.
- Drivers and connectors need the same protection as the strip.
