What is the scope of EN 60598-1?

EN 60598-1 is the horizontal safety standard for luminaires. It covers lighting fixtures intended to be supplied from a.c. mains up to 1000 V and d.c. up to 1500 V. The European transposition EN 60598-1 reproduces the international IEC 60598-1, edition 9.0 dated 2020. The text sets the general rules: classification (insulation classes I, II and III, type of mounting, conditions of installation), construction, insulation, earthing, internal wiring, terminals, mechanical strength, resistance to heat and fire, ingress protection (IP) and impact protection (IK), marking and manufacturer information. Requirements specific to each luminaire category are set in the EN 60598-2-xx particulars, which apply in addition and, in case of divergence, prevail over Part 1.

How is the EN 60598-2-xx series organised?

The series contains more than twenty-five particular standards, each dedicated to a category of luminaire. The most commonly used in practice are EN 60598-2-1 (fixed general-purpose luminaires), EN 60598-2-2 (recessed luminaires), EN 60598-2-3 (road and street lighting), EN 60598-2-4 (portable general-purpose luminaires), EN 60598-2-5 (floodlights), EN 60598-2-8 (hand-lamps), EN 60598-2-13 (ground-recessed luminaires), EN 60598-2-17 (stage and studio), EN 60598-2-20 (lighting chains), EN 60598-2-22 (emergency lighting, linked to EN 50171 and EN 50172), EN 60598-2-23 (extra-low-voltage filament lighting) and EN 60598-2-24 (luminaires with limited surface temperature). The manufacturer must identify the applicable Part 2-xx and combine its requirements with Part 1.

What is the difference between insulation classes I, II and III?

The classification mirrors the general electrical safety categories. A Class I luminaire achieves shock protection by basic insulation plus earthing of accessible metallic parts: it has an earth terminal and requires a protective conductor in the supply wiring. A Class II luminaire relies on double insulation or reinforced insulation, with no protective earth; it bears the double-square pictogram. A Class III luminaire is supplied from safety extra-low voltage (SELV) sourced from a separated supply whose output does not exceed the SELV thresholds defined in Part 1. The chosen class drives marking, clearance and creepage distances, and the wiring rules on the installation side.

What do IP and IK ratings cover and how do they differ?

The IP (Ingress Protection) rating, defined by EN 60529, qualifies protection against solid objects (first digit, 0 to 6) and against liquids (second digit, 0 to 8, even 9K for high-pressure spray). The IK rating, defined by EN 62262, qualifies protection against external mechanical impact, from IK00 (no specified protection) to IK10 (20 joule impact energy). The two ratings are independent: a road luminaire can target IP66 and IK10 simultaneously. Part 1 of EN 60598 refers to EN 60529 and EN 62262 for the test methods, and each Part 2-xx may impose a minimum IP or IK depending on use case (ground-recessed, hand-lamp, outdoor floodlight).

What standards cover LED modules and luminaire drivers?

Three references frame the LED side of a luminaire. EN 62031 specifies the safety of LED modules used for general lighting: insulation, marking, resistance to heating, classification. EN 61347-2-13 specifies the safety of electronic controlgear supplied with d.c. or a.c. for LED modules, within the horizontal EN 61347 family. EN 62384 specifies the performance (not just safety) requirements of the same controlgear: output current and voltage tolerances, power factor, residual ripple. An LED luminaire falling under EN 60598 therefore incorporates components subject to these three companion standards, plus the photometric and photobiological performance standards.

What do LM-79, LM-80 and TM-21 measure?

These three protocols, published by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) in the United States, frame the photometric characterisation and lifetime of LED products. LM-79 specifies photometric and electrical testing on the complete LED luminaire: total luminous flux, luminous efficacy, spatial distribution, correlated colour temperature, colour rendering index. LM-80 specifies lumen-maintenance measurement on an LED module or single LED in a controlled chamber over extended durations (typically 6,000 to 10,000 hours of data points). TM-21 specifies the extrapolation method from LM-80 data to project L70 or L80 lifetime (the number of hours after which residual flux is still 70 or 80 per cent of the initial flux). These protocols are not harmonised under the LVD but are widely referenced in technical specifications and in EPREL declarations.

What is the ZHAGA consortium and what does it standardise?

ZHAGA is an international industry consortium hosted by the IEC. It publishes interface specifications between the subassemblies of an LED luminaire: LED modules, drivers, holders, connectors, wireless control interfaces. The ZHAGA Books describe, for example, the mechanical and electrical interface of an interchangeable LED module, or the standardised connector for a communication module on a road luminaire (Book 18, for D4i / DALI nodes). ZHAGA does not replace EN 60598, but it enables modular product strategies where components remain interchangeable after deployment, which aligns with the repairability objectives carried by the ESPR and the ErP directive.

What are the common pitfalls when applying EN 60598 to an LED luminaire?

Five pitfalls recur in notified-body and laboratory reports. First, addressing only Part 1 without identifying the applicable Part 60598-2-xx; an outdoor floodlight certified to EN 60598-1 without EN 60598-2-5 is not compliant. Second, omitting the EN 62471 evaluation for LEDs with high colour temperature. Third, confusing IP and IK: an IP66 luminaire can be IK02, watertight yet fragile to impact. Fourth, using an LED driver compliant with EN 62384 but not with EN 61347-2-13, which covers performance and not safety. Fifth, deploying a connected luminaire without implementing the ZHAGA Book 18 interface when the public specification assumes it, which prevents later integration of control nodes.

EN 60598: safety of LED and conventional luminaires

Author Hugues Orgitello Last updated 27 May 2026 ~14 min read

Guide - EN 60598

EN 60598 is the European family of safety standards for luminaires. The horizontal text, EN 60598-1, sets the general rules applicable to every lighting fixture intended for domestic, tertiary, industrial or public-area networks. More than twenty-five particular standards in the EN 60598-2-xx series complete the horizontal text for each category of use: fixed, recessed, portable, floodlights, hand-lamps, road and street lighting, emergency lighting, stage and studio luminaires. The family is transposed from the international IEC 60598 series and is listed as a set of harmonised standards under the Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU. This page lays out the scope of Part 1 (edition 9.0 dated 2020), the map of the most commonly used Part 2-xx particulars, the structuring classifications (insulation classes I, II and III, IP and IK ratings), the articulation with companion standards for LED modules, controlgear, photometric performance and photobiological safety, and the pitfalls observed in the field.

Where EN 60598 fits in luminaire electrical safety

Luminaire electrical safety in the European Union falls under Directive 2014/35/EU, the Low Voltage Directive (LVD). The directive covers electrical equipment intended for use at a voltage between 50 and 1000 V a.c. and between 75 and 1500 V d.c. Luminaires supplied from the mains, or via a mains-fed converter, fall within its scope. Presumption of conformity with the essential safety requirements of the directive is obtained by application of the harmonised standards published in the Official Journal of the European Union, and the EN 60598 family is the principal reference for luminaires.

EN 60598-1 occupies a horizontal position: it sets the general requirements shared by every luminaire category. The EN 60598-2-xx particular standards, called vertical, set the requirements specific to each luminaire type. The combination principle is defined in Part 1: particular requirements complete the general requirements and, in case of divergence, the particular requirements prevail. A certification project therefore systematically requires reading Part 1 and the applicable Part 2-xx jointly.

The closest sibling family in the IEC catalogue is EN 60335, dedicated to safety of household and similar electrical appliances. Both families share an identical architecture (Part 1 horizontal, Part 2-xx vertical) and several insulation, marking and thermal-protection requirements. But their scope diverges: EN 60335 covers appliances whose primary function is other than lighting (cooking, washing, refrigeration, heating, personal care), while EN 60598 covers products whose primary function is to provide lighting. A mixed device (a ceiling fan with integrated luminaire, for example) can fall under both families, each for the relevant portion.

EN 60598-1: structure of the horizontal text

The current edition of the international publication, IEC 60598-1, is edition 9.0 dated 2020. The European transposition EN 60598-1 reproduces this text with any CENELEC deviations, and the exact reference of the edition harmonised under the LVD is to be checked on the official European Commission page for the directive. The structure of Part 1 follows the logical order of a design and test dossier.

Section	Content
Definitions	Vocabulary shared across the series: luminaire, light source, controlgear, insulation classes, types of mounting
Classification	Supply mode, insulation class, ingress protection (IP), impact protection (IK), conditions of installation, type of source
Marking	Mandatory information on the product, packaging and user manual: voltage, frequency, power, class, IP, pictograms
Construction	Mechanical strength, fixings, cable routing, covers, accessibility of live parts, lampholders, source mounts
External and internal wiring	Conductor cross-sections, insulation, connection means, strain reliefs, clearance and creepage distances
Earthing	Continuity and impedance of the earth bond for Class I luminaires, earthing of accessible parts
Terminals	Permitted terminal types, conductor capacity, mechanical tightening and loosening tests
Resistance to heat, fire and tracking	Glow-wire test, flammability testing, UL 94 classification of plastic materials
Insulation resistance and dielectric strength	Insulation resistance measurement, dielectric strength tests between live parts and accessible enclosures
Endurance and thermal testing	Steady-state operation, abnormal-condition operation, maximum temperature measurements

The laboratory test sequence follows these sections in order, combining documentary review of the design dossier and physical testing on prototypes. For the detail of the conformity assessment modules applicable to luminaires, see the CE harmonised standards page.

Insulation classes I, II and III

The insulation class describes the shock-protection principle adopted by the design. The choice drives marking, the construction of insulating barriers and the wiring rules at installation.

Class	Protection principle	Typical marking	Application
Class I	Basic insulation plus earthing of accessible metallic parts	Earth symbol, PE terminal	Fixed industrial luminaires, road lighting, pole-mounted floodlights
Class II	Double or reinforced insulation, no protective earth	Double-square pictogram	Domestic luminaires, certain consumer LED luminaires, hand-lamps
Class III	Supplied from safety extra-low voltage (SELV) from a separated supply	SELV pictogram	Furniture luminaires, low-voltage decorative lighting, battery-powered emergency lighting

The class choice is rarely neutral. Class I imposes an earth terminal and a protective conductor through all downstream wiring, which weighs on installation cost and product complexity. Class II avoids the earth but requires a double insulation layer or reinforced material dimensioned beyond simple basic insulation; clearance and creepage distances increase. Class III moves the issue to the SELV source, which must itself be separately certified (typically under IEC 61558 or IEC 61347, depending on the case).

IP rating: protection against solid objects and liquids

The IP (Ingress Protection) rating follows the EN 60529 grid. The first digit qualifies protection against solid objects, the second against liquids. An additional letter may be appended for specific conditions (testing with a foreign body, equipment energised during the water test).

Code	Solids protection (1st digit)	Liquids protection (2nd digit)
0	No specified protection	No specified protection
1	Solid objects above 50 mm	Vertical drips
2	Solid objects above 12.5 mm	Drips tilted up to 15 degrees
3	Solid objects above 2.5 mm	Rain tilted up to 60 degrees
4	Solid objects above 1 mm	Water sprays from all directions
5	Dust: limited ingress, no functional impact	Water jets from all directions
6	Dust-tight	Powerful water jets
7	(not applicable to first digit)	Temporary immersion (up to 1 m, 30 min)
8	(not applicable to first digit)	Continuous immersion, depth specified by manufacturer

IP requirements vary with the applicable Part 2-xx. An indoor office luminaire may target IP20 (finger protection, no water protection), a bathroom luminaire IP44 or IP65 depending on the installation zone, an outdoor floodlight IP65 or IP66, a pool-deck ground-recessed luminaire IP68 with specified immersion. Part 1 of EN 60598 refers to EN 60529 for test methods and the coding grid.

IK rating: protection against mechanical impact

The IK (Impact Protection) rating, defined by EN 62262, qualifies the resistance of the luminaire to external mechanical impact. The grid runs from IK00 to IK10, indexed on the impact energy applied during the test.

Code	Impact energy	Typical application
IK00	Not protected	Indoor luminaires in protected zones
IK02	0.2 J	Standard indoor luminaires
IK04	0.5 J	Luminaires in semi-protected areas
IK06	1 J	Indoor industrial luminaires
IK07	2 J	Industrial and communal luminaires
IK08	5 J	Luminaires in public-access zones
IK09	10 J	Robust outdoor luminaires
IK10	20 J	Road, sports, anti-vandal luminaires

IP and IK are independent. An IP66 watertight luminaire can be IK02 if its housing is thin and brittle plastic: it resists rain but not a projectile. An IK10 anti-vandal luminaire can be IP44 if its seal is limited to splash protection. The product specification must show both ratings simultaneously, and the assessment must check consistency with the intended use category.

Map of the main EN 60598-2-xx particulars

The particular series has more than twenty-five publications. The table below groups the parts most commonly encountered in European certification dossiers.

Reference	Luminaire category	Typical application
EN 60598-2-1	Fixed general-purpose luminaires	Ceiling fixtures, wall fixtures in residential and tertiary buildings
EN 60598-2-2	Recessed luminaires	Recessed spots and downlights in ceilings or walls
EN 60598-2-3	Road and street-lighting luminaires	Road lanterns, urban lampposts
EN 60598-2-4	Portable general-purpose luminaires	Desk lamps, bedside lamps
EN 60598-2-5	Floodlights	Facade, sports-field and construction-site floodlights
EN 60598-2-8	Hand-lamps	Workshop inspection lamps, portable industrial lighting
EN 60598-2-9	Photo and film luminaires	Professional shooting light sources
EN 60598-2-13	Ground-recessed luminaires	Walkway lighting, ground marking, pool-deck lighting
EN 60598-2-17	Stage and studio luminaires	Theatre and television set lighting
EN 60598-2-20	Lighting chains	Decorative festoons, seasonal lighting
EN 60598-2-22	Emergency-lighting luminaires	Self-contained units, centrally supplied emergency luminaires
EN 60598-2-23	ELV filament lighting	Extra-low-voltage track lighting, decorative low-voltage installations
EN 60598-2-24	Luminaires with limited surface temperature	Luminaires for thermal-risk or dust-loaded environments

Each Part 2-xx complements EN 60598-1 with specific requirements: minimum IP and IK ratings, particular mechanical constraints, additional test methods, regulatory pictograms. Emergency-lighting luminaires under EN 60598-2-22 are an important special case: compliance in practice implies adherence to the installation and monitoring rules set by EN 50171 (central power supplies) and EN 50172 (emergency lighting systems), which extend the product standard with a system-level approach.

Companion standards: LED modules, controlgear, photometric performance

An LED luminaire is not fully covered by EN 60598 alone. Several companion standards apply to internal subassemblies and declared performance.

LED module safety: EN 62031

EN 62031 specifies the safety of LED modules used for general lighting. The text covers classification, insulation requirements, dielectric strength tests, marking, heating conditions and resistance to mechanical fixing stresses. An LED module used inside an EN 60598 luminaire must demonstrate EN 62031 compliance on its own, either through the module manufacturer's separate dossier or via integration into the luminaire dossier.

Controlgear: EN 61347-2-13 and EN 62384

The LED driver is covered by two complementary standards. EN 61347-2-13 specifies the safety requirements for electronic controlgear supplied with d.c. or a.c. for LED modules. It is the electrical safety standard for the driver, within the horizontal EN 61347 family for controlgear of all light sources. EN 62384 specifies the performance requirements for the same drivers: output current tolerances, output voltage tolerances, power factor, residual ripple, input conditions. A driver certified to EN 62384 but not to EN 61347-2-13 does not cover electrical safety and cannot be integrated into a luminaire targeting CE marking under the LVD without supplementary evidence.

Photometric performance: LM-79, EN 13032, EN 12464

Photometric characterisation of an LED luminaire follows protocols distinct from the safety standards. LM-79, published by the IES, specifies photometric and electrical testing on the complete luminaire: total luminous flux, efficacy, spatial distribution, correlated colour temperature, colour rendering index. In Europe, EN 13032 (in several parts) specifies the method of measurement and presentation of photometric data of lamps and luminaires, and is the measurement reference in the EPREL declaration chain under the energy labelling regulation. EN 12464 (in several parts) does not specify measurement but the lighting requirement applicable to indoor workplaces (Part 1) or outdoor workplaces (Part 2): it is a use-side standard, read by the installer and the lighting designer, not by the manufacturer.

Lumen maintenance: LM-80 and TM-21

LED lumen maintenance over time is characterised in two stages. LM-80, published by the IES, specifies the conditions for measuring the luminous flux of an LED or LED module in a temperature-controlled chamber over extended durations (at least 6,000 hours, with 10,000 hours recommended for long-horizon declarations). TM-21 specifies the extrapolation method from LM-80 data to project useful lifetime, expressed as L70 or L80 values: the time at which residual flux remains at 70 or 80 per cent of the initial flux. Neither protocol is harmonised under the LVD, but both are the de facto reference in B2B technical specifications and in public procurement performance declarations.

Photobiological safety: EN 62471

EN 62471, the transposition of IEC 62471, addresses the risks to eyes and skin from the optical radiation emitted by a light source. The standard classifies sources into risk groups (exempt, risk group 1 low risk, risk group 2 moderate risk, risk group 3 high risk) according to flux measured in sensitive spectral bands (UV-A, UV-B, retinal blue, infrared). LEDs with high colour temperature or concentrated flux often fall into risk group 1, sometimes risk group 2, which triggers specific marking and warning obligations. EN 62471 is not covered by EN 60598: its compliance is evaluated in parallel, and the LVD covers both aspects.

Energy and ecodesign: articulation with ErP and the energy label

A luminaire's electrical compliance under EN 60598 does not suffice for placement on the European market when it falls within the implementing regulations of the ErP Directive 2009/125/EC. For light sources, Regulation (EU) 2019/2020 sets ecodesign requirements (minimum luminous efficacy, dismountability requirements, declarations) and mandates registration in the EPREL database. Regulation (EU) 2019/2015 sets the energy labelling rules for light sources with the A to G scale, applicable since September 2021. The EPREL declaration is an obligation distinct from LVD compliance: a luminaire compliant with EN 60598 but not registered in EPREL cannot be placed on the market. For the detail of this regime, see the ErP and energy labelling guide.

The ZHAGA consortium: standardised interfaces for LED

ZHAGA is an industrial consortium hosted by the IEC. It publishes mechanical, electrical and control interface specifications for the subassemblies of an LED luminaire. The aim is to enable interchangeability of LED modules, drivers and control accessories across manufacturers. The specifications, called ZHAGA Books, cover specific scopes.

Book	Scope
Book 1	Vocabulary and general rules for LED luminaire interfaces
Book 3	LED module with connector, for directional spot use
Book 7	Round LED module with connector, for ceiling use
Book 18	Communication-node interface on outdoor lighting luminaires, aligned with D4i / DALI 2
Book 20	Electrical and communication interface for emergency modules

ZHAGA is not a harmonised standard under the LVD. Compliance with a ZHAGA Book does not exempt EN 60598 certification. But the ZHAGA interface in practice conditions a product's eligibility for certain European public road-lighting tenders and its suitability for modular field replacement, which aligns with the repairability objectives carried by Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 (ESPR) and the digital product passport.

Marking, photometric data sheet and manufacturer information

EN 60598-1 sets the list of information mandatory on the luminaire and in the accompanying documentation. Product markings include, at minimum, the manufacturer's mark, the model reference, the rated voltage, the rated frequency (for a.c. luminaires), the rated power, the insulation class (double-square pictogram for Class II), the IP rating, possibly the IK rating, the maximum ambient temperature (ta), the source surface temperature (tc) and the specific pictograms required by the applicable Part 2-xx.

The photometric data sheet, when it accompanies the luminaire, follows the EN 13032 format and indicates: total luminous flux, efficacy (lumens per watt), correlated colour temperature, colour rendering index (CRI), spatial distribution (polar curve), half-intensity angles. For light sources within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2019/2020, these data are reported in the EPREL declaration.

The user manual must include conditions of installation, precautions for use, maintenance conditions and warnings linked to the EN 62471 photobiological risk group when it exceeds the exempt group. An incomplete or inconsistent manual is a frequent cause of non-conformity during a market-surveillance check.

Common pitfalls observed in the field

Without claim to exhaustiveness, several pitfalls recur in notified-body reports, accredited laboratory reports and surveillance-authority findings.

Addressing only Part 1 without identifying the applicable Part 2-xx. An outdoor floodlight certified to EN 60598-1 without application of EN 60598-2-5 is not compliant: it lacks the requirements specific to floodlights (IP, IK, fixing, orientation). Likewise, a ground-recessed luminaire without application of EN 60598-2-13 has not demonstrated compliance with the use category.
Confusing IP and IK. The two ratings are independent and characterise distinct risks. An IP66 luminaire can be IK02, watertight yet fragile to impact. Road lighting systematically requires IP66 and IK10 together; office interior lighting may make do with IP20 and IK02. Failure to evaluate one of the two ratings is flagged in inspection.
Omitting the EN 62471 evaluation on high-flux LED sources. The LVD covers both electrical safety and photobiological safety. A risk-group 1 or 2 LED without specific marking and warning constitutes a non-conformity, particularly for luminaires intended for public spaces and workplaces.
Integrating an LED driver compliant with EN 62384 but not with EN 61347-2-13. The first standard covers performance, the second covers safety. A driver must demonstrate EN 61347-2-13 compliance to enter a luminaire targeted by EN 60598 and CE marking under the LVD. Verification must be made in the dossier for each critical component.
Failing to implement a ZHAGA interface when the public specification assumes it. Several European public road-lighting tenders explicitly specify the ZHAGA Book 18 interface to allow later addition of a D4i / DALI communication node. A luminaire mechanically and electrically compliant with EN 60598-2-3 but missing this interface is excluded from the target market with no simple technical recourse.
Underestimating the EN 60598-2-22 / EN 50171 / EN 50172 coupling for emergency lighting. The product standard EN 60598-2-22 does not by itself cover installation: the central supply conditions (EN 50171) and the emergency lighting system design (EN 50172) must be verified upstream. A delivery limited to product compliance, without system verification, is insufficient to commission a complete site.
Neglecting the EPREL and energy-labelling chain. A light source compliant with EN 60598 but not registered in EPREL cannot be placed on the market. The EPREL declaration combines the electrical data from the LVD side, the EN 13032 photometric data and the efficacy indicators from Regulation (EU) 2019/2020. See the ErP guide for the full regulatory sequence.