What should I check before buying 110V Site Lighting?
Check seven things before you buy: the IP rating (IP65 for outdoor and wet areas), the IK impact rating (IK08 or higher on site), real light output in lumens from a spec sheet, emergency duration (3 hours is the usual site specification), the cable type (arctic grade or rubber, not ordinary PVC flex), CE or UKCA marking with the voltage on the label, and the warranty and whether parts can be replaced. Cheap lights often fall down on two or three of these, and a light that fails on site costs far more than the difference in price.
The checklist
| Check | What to look for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| IP rating | IP65 for outdoor, wet or dusty areas; IP44 at least for sheltered use | Water and dust are the main reasons site lights fail |
| IK rating | IK08 or higher | Site lights get knocked by ladders, materials and plant |
| Light output | Lumens on a spec sheet, not just watts | Two 100W lights can give very different amounts of light |
| Emergency | Stated duration, usually 3 hours, and the output in emergency mode | Stairwells and escape routes must stay lit when the power fails |
| Cable | Arctic grade (marked with a code such as 3183YA) or rubber H05RN-F | Ordinary PVC flex can crack in the cold |
| Markings | CE or UKCA, voltage and maker on the label | No marking, no comeback |
| Warranty and parts | A real warranty and replaceable parts | A light you can repair costs less over its life |
1. IP rating: water and dust
The first number is dust (6 means dust-tight), the second is water (4 is splashing, 5 is water jets). IP65 is the sensible minimum outdoors and in buildings that aren't yet watertight. Our Floodlights and LED Bulkheads are IP65.
2. IK rating: knocks
IK08 means the light withstands a 5 joule impact, roughly a 1.7kg mass dropped from 300mm. Our Floodlights and LED Bulkheads are IK08.
3. Light output: lumens, not watts
Watts tell you what a light uses, lumens tell you what it gives. Ask for the spec sheet. Our LED Floodlights give about 120 lumens per watt, and our 2ft Site Fittings give 3,200 lumens from 27W. Use the lighting calculator to turn lumens into the number of lights you need.
4. Emergency lighting
Check how long the emergency mode lasts and how bright it is. Our Emergency Festoon gives 3 hours at 10% of normal output when the mains fails, and the 2ft Site Fittings come with a built-in emergency module. See how to light a stairwell.
5. The cable
Site leads need cable that stays flexible in the cold: arctic grade flexible cable or rubber cable. Industry testing has found ordinary PVC flex dyed yellow and sold as arctic, which can split in cold weather and expose live conductors. Our 2ft Site Fittings are pre-wired with Arctic Cable and our Floodlights have a rubber H05RN-F lead. More in why one Arctic Cable costs more than another.
6. Markings and paperwork
Look for CE or UKCA marking, the voltage and the maker on the label, and a spec sheet you can download. If a light has none of these, you have nothing to go back to if it fails.
7. Warranty and repairs
A longer warranty is a sign the maker expects the light to last. Our Floodlights and switchable Bulkheads carry a 3-year warranty, and our 2ft contract fittings have a replaceable emergency module, battery, driver, case and diffuser, so they can be refurbished rather than thrown away.
