The answer in two lines
Use an LED tube in dry, covered places and a sealed IP65 linear luminaire where there is damp, dust or water splash. Under IEC 60529, the 6 in IP65 means dust-tight and the 5 means protection against water from a 6.3 mm nozzle from any direction (Wikipedia). IP65 does not cover immersion (that is IPX7). Our tube page does not state an IP rating, so we do not call it moisture-resistant. Final installation should be done by a qualified electrician.
You are lighting a kitchen, garage or shop and see 60 and 120 cm linear lights: an LED tube or a sealed luminaire? The difference is not length, it is protection and place. In this guide, Tawredaat (توريدات), an Egyptian supplier of electrical and finishing materials serving Cairo and Giza (FAQ here), explains what IP65 means and how to choose between tube and luminaire and between 60 and 120 cm, based on named public sources and with no prices.
What does IP65 mean?
IP stands for Ingress Protection, defined by IEC 60529 (EN 60529 in Europe). The two digits mean two things: the first is dust, the second is water (Wikipedia).
| Part | Meaning | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| IP6x | Dust-tight | No ingress of dust and full protection against contact |
| IPx5 | Protected against water jets | Water from a 6.3 mm nozzle from any direction has no harmful effect. Tested at 12.5 litres per minute at 30 kPa from 3 m |
| Not covered | Immersion | Immersion is a different rating (IPX7), so IP65 does not mean a fitting can go under water |
Note: IP ratings concern the enclosure (Wikipedia). Our Luma luminaire pages state IP65 only, without a test report, so rely on the stated rating.
LED tube or IP65 luminaire: what is the difference?
This table compares what our product pages actually state, without adding specifications they do not give:
| Point | Luma 18W LED tube, 120 cm | Luma IP65 linear luminaire (63.5 cm 18W / 123.5 cm 36W) |
|---|---|---|
| IP rating | Not stated on the page | IP65 stated |
| Body | "Plastic" per the page | Polycarbonate with opal diffuser, glare-reduced, per the page |
| LED chip | Page does not say | Samsung SMD per the page |
| Length and power | 120 cm, 18 W | 635x40x27 mm 18 W, and 1235x40x27 mm 36 W |
| Light colour | Cool White or Cool Daylight | 4000K or 6000K |
| Use per the page | Homes, offices, kitchens, retail | Indoor and outdoor |
| Base / fitting / lumens / dimmable | Page does not state them | Page states no lumens and no dimmability |
| Warranty | 4 years | Page does not state a warranty period |
In practice: the sealed IP65 luminaire is the one whose page states dust and water protection, so it suits damp or dusty places. The tube page states no IP rating, so use it in a dry, covered place. Ask our team or your electrician about the tube's fitting before buying, because the page does not state it.
Which one suits a kitchen, garage or shop?
| Place | Conditions | Suggested choice |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen (over the counter or ceiling) | Steam, grease, occasional splashes | IP65 luminaire if there is steam or splashing; tube if dry and covered |
| Garage or store room | Dust, damp, sometimes hosing down | IP65 luminaire (page states indoor and outdoor) |
| Shop (interior or shelving) | Usually dry | Tube or luminaire as conditions require; luminaire where dusty or washed with water |
| Covered outdoor entrance or passage | Dust and weather humidity | IP65 luminaire |
This is guidance based on the stated ratings, not a fixed recipe. See also our outdoor LED floodlight and IP65 guide for open outdoor areas.
Can I fit an IP65 luminaire in a bathroom?
IP65 protects against dust and water jets, but bathrooms are divided into zones under IEC 60364-7-701. Zone 0 (inside the bath or shower tray) requires IPX7, i.e. protection against immersion, which IP65 does not cover (electrical-installation.org and Wikipedia). Zones 1 and 2 require IPX4 in the site's table, which follows the French standard NFC 15-100, and the site itself says to refer to national standards.
- ✔ Do not fit an IP65 luminaire in zone 0 (inside the bath or shower), because that zone requires IPX7.
- ✔ A qualified electrician or engineer must determine the zones and the required rating in your bathroom under the local code.
- ⚠ Do not assume any IP65 luminaire can go anywhere in a bathroom: ask the electrician before buying.
60 or 120 cm: how do I decide the length and the count?
The length is set by the space; the count is set by the light you need, in lumens. Super Bright LEDs gives the rule: required lumens = room area x recommended light level. Since lux means lumens per square metre (Wikipedia), you can work in square metres: lumens = lux x area in m².
| Place | Recommended light level (lux) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen, general | 215-538 | Super Bright LEDs |
| Kitchen, preparing/cooking | 538-1,076 | Super Bright LEDs |
| Garage or workshop | 215-807 | Super Bright LEDs |
| Shop (sales areas) | 200-500 | Designing Buildings (IESNA) |
An illustration only: a 5 m² kitchen needing 215 lux needs about 1,075 lumens (5 x 215), before fixture losses. Our product pages state no lumens, so read the lumens on the box or ask our team before counting fittings. We do not give a fixed number of fittings per room without lumens.
- ✔ 60 cm (635 mm luminaire, 18 W): small areas, over a counter or shelf, narrow passages. Note: our tube is 120 cm only.
- ✔ 120 cm (18 W tube or 1235 mm 36 W luminaire): ceilings, workshops, shop fronts, longer spans.
- ✔ Measure the real space before buying and lay the lengths out on it so the light is even.
- ⚠ Do not compare by watts alone: watts are not brightness, so compare lumens.
4000K or 6000K: which light colour?
Our Luma luminaires come in 4000K (described on the page as neutral) and 6000K, and the tube in Cool White and Cool Daylight. The choice depends on the place and the feel you want; see our LED colour temperature guide for details. If you fit several in one place, keep the same colour temperature so the light looks consistent.
Linear LED lights available at Tawredaat
These products are active and in stock now. What a page does not state (lumens, base, dimmability) we do not claim:
| Product | What the product page says |
|---|---|
| Luma 18W LED linear tube 120 cm (Cool White) | 18 W, 120 cm, Cool White, plastic, 4-year warranty |
| Luma 18W LED linear tube 120 cm (Cool Daylight) | 18 W, 120 cm, Cool Daylight, 4-year warranty |
| Luma IP65 luminaire 63.5 cm 18W 4000K | 635x40x27 mm, 18 W, IP65, Samsung SMD, opal diffuser, 4000K |
| Luma IP65 luminaire 63.5 cm 18W 6000K | Same size and power, 6000K |
| Luma IP65 luminaire 123.5 cm 36W 4000K | 1235x40x27 mm, 36 W, IP65, Samsung SMD, opal diffuser, 4000K |
| Luma IP65 luminaire 123.5 cm 36W 6000K | Same size and power, 6000K |
See all bulbs and lighting in the bulbs collection (tawredaat.com/collections/bulbs).
Frequently asked questions
What does IP65 mean?
6 is dust-tight and 5 is protected against water from a 6.3 mm nozzle from any direction, under IEC 60529 (Wikipedia). It does not mean protection against immersion.
Can IP65 go in a bathroom?
Not in zone 0 inside the bath or shower, which requires IPX7 (electrical-installation.org). A qualified electrician should decide the right place.
Is the LED tube moisture-resistant?
Our tube page states no IP rating, so we do not say it is. For damp places choose an IP65 luminaire.
How do I install it?
Installation and wiring should be done by a qualified electrician or engineer with the breaker off. The pages do not state the tube's fitting type.
How do I work out how many I need?
Lumens = lux x area in m² (Super Bright LEDs, Wikipedia), then divide by the lumens printed on the box for one fitting.
Do you deliver?
Tawredaat delivers in Cairo and Giza only.
Ready to choose your linear light?
See LED lighting at Tawredaat, with delivery in Cairo and Giza.
About Tawredaat: Tawredaat (توريدات) is an Egyptian supplier of electrical and finishing materials, serving homeowners, companies and contractors in Cairo and Giza. Questions? See our FAQ.
English summary: For dry, covered places use an LED tube; for damp, dusty or splash-prone places use a sealed linear luminaire rated IP65. Under IEC 60529, 6 means dust-tight and 5 means protected against 6.3 mm nozzle water jets, but not immersion (Wikipedia). Choose the number of fittings by lumens (lux x area; Super Bright LEDs, Wikipedia Lux) and have a qualified electrician install them; our tube page states no IP rating.
Sources
- Wikipedia, IP Code (IEC 60529 / EN 60529; first digit 6 = dust-tight, no ingress of dust; second digit 5 = water projected by a 6.3 mm nozzle from any direction has no harmful effects, tested at 12.5 litres per minute at 30 kPa from 3 m; immersion is a different rating, IPX7; IP ratings concern enclosures) — en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_Code
- electrical-installation.org, Bathroom electrical installation (bathroom zones per IEC 60364-7-701 sub-clause 701.30; the page's IP table follows the French standard NFC 15-100 and says to refer to national standards: zone 0 = IPX7, zone 1 = IPX4, zone 2 = IPX4) — electrical-installation.org/enwiki/Bathroom_electrical_installation
- Super Bright LEDs, Residential recommended lighting levels (kitchen general 20-50 foot-candles = 215-538 lux; kitchen preparing/cooking 50-100 fc = 538-1,076 lux; basement/garage workshop 20-75 fc = 215-807 lux; required lumens = room area x recommended foot-candles) — superbrightleds.com/blog/residential-recommended-lighting-levels.html
- Wikipedia, Lux (one lux = one lumen per square metre; 1 foot-candle is about 10.764 lux) — en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lux
- Designing Buildings, Lighting in commercial buildings (citing the IESNA Lighting Handbook: retail sales areas 200-500 lux; workshop 300-750 lux) — designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Lighting_in_commercial_buildings
- Tawredaat product pages (Luma 18W LED Linear Bulb 120 cm, Cool White / Cool Daylight, plastic, 4-year warranty; Luma polycarbonate surface-mounted luminaire 635x40x27 mm 18W and 1235x40x27 mm 36W, opal diffuser, Samsung SMD, IP65, 4000K or 6000K, indoor and outdoor. The tube page gives no IP rating, base/fitting type, lumens or dimmability; no luminaire page gives lumens or dimmability) — tawredaat.com/collections/bulbs
