Lamp and Lighting Abbreviations: What Do They Mean?

When choosing lighting fixtures or bulbs, you may notice that there are several abbreviations on their packaging, such as lm, W, K, V, CRI, IP, and IK. These abbreviations may seem confusing at first, but understanding them can help you make the right lighting choices and ensure that the fixtures are right for your needs.

1. lm (Lumen) – Brightness of light

Lumen ( lm ) is a unit that measures the amount of light a lamp produces. In other words, lumens are a measure of the brightness of the light. The higher the lumen number, the brighter the lamp.

• For example, a standard 60-watt incandescent bulb produces around 800 lumens, while a more efficient LED bulb can produce the same amount of light with only 8–10 watts.
• The lumen count is important because it tells you how well the bulb illuminates a space. If you want bright light, you should choose a bulb with a high lumen count.

2. W (Watt) – Energy consumption

Watts ( W ) tell you how much energy a bulb uses. This is especially important if you want to choose energy-efficient lights that won't put a strain on your electricity bill.

• An old incandescent bulb that consumes, for example, 60 W produces a certain amount of light, but a modern LED bulb can produce the same amount of light with only 8-12 W.
• The number of watts does not directly indicate the brightness of the light, but it does indicate how much electricity the lamp consumes.

3. K (Kelvin) – Color of light

Kelvin ( K ) is a measure of the temperature of light, which determines how "warm" or "cool" the light is produced by a lamp.

• 2700-3000 K : Warm white, reminiscent of a traditional incandescent bulb and creating a cozy and soft atmosphere.
• 4000-5000 K : Neutral white, which is well suited for work spaces, kitchens and bathrooms.
• 6000 K and above : Cool white, almost daylight-like light that is particularly bright and sharp.

The Kelvin number is important when choosing the right kind of light for the mood and purpose. A higher K number means a cooler light, while a lower K number creates a warmer and softer light.

4. V (Volt) – Voltage

Volt ( V ) is a unit that measures electrical voltage. Voltage tells you how strong the electrical current is that flows through the circuit that controls the light bulb. This is usually not a big concern for standard household lights, but certain lights may require special attention, such as outdoor lights that may use a different voltage.

• The voltage generally used in households is 230 V, but low-voltage lamps, for example, can use 12 V or 24 V.

5. CRI (Color Rendering Index) – Color Rendering Index

CRI ( Color Rendering Index ) is a measure of how well a lamp reproduces colors in comparison to sunlight. The CRI value is used to assess how accurately and realistically the colors illuminated by a lamp appear.

• The CRI value ranges from 0 to 100. The higher the CRI value, the more natural the colors appear.
• A CRI of 80–90 is good, but for professional use, such as photography or art, even a CRI of 90–100 may be needed.

A high CRI is especially important if it is important to see colors accurately and naturally in lighting, such as in clothing or art galleries.

6. IP (Ingress Protection) – Protection class

The IP rating ( Ingress Protection ) indicates the level of protection a luminaire has against dust and water. The IP rating is a combination of two numbers that indicate how well the luminaire can withstand external factors.

• The first number indicates the level of protection against dust and solid objects (0–6).
• The second number indicates the water resistance class (0–9).

For example, IP44 means that the luminaire is protected against splashing water and small objects, while IP67 means that the luminaire is completely dustproof and can withstand immersion in water.

7. IK (Impact Protection) – Impact resistance

The IK rating ( Impact Protection ) indicates how impact-resistant a luminaire is. This rating indicates how well the luminaire withstands external impacts and mechanical stress.

• The IK rating ranges from 00 (not impact resistant) to IK10 (withstands impacts of up to 20 joules).
• Impact resistance is important for outdoor lighting, especially in industrial areas and places where the lighting may be subjected to physical impacts.