IC Rating vs. NON-IC Rating on Light Fixtures www.6park.com
 	 
It is very important to understand the difference between an IC rated fixture and a NON-IC rated fixture. For 	 
purposes of this technical topic, definitions and examples will be provided for IC and NON-IC as they pertain to 	 
applications in the lighting industry. 	 
IC rating If a light fixture is intended for direct contact with insulation, it will require an IC rating (IC stands for Insulated 	 
Contact). An IC rated fixture must, by definition, “be approved for zero clearance insulation cover by and OSHA 	 
NRTL laboratory”, such as Underwriters Laboratory (commonly referred to as UL). 	 
IC ratings on light fixtures are very common in residential applications. Many homes have blown cellulose 	 
insulation in the attic space, covering all light fixtures. By offering a light fixture that is IC rated, homeowners 	 
can rest easy that as long as they abide by the information listed on the labels on our fixtures, they will not have 	 
to worry about the performance of their Capri IC rated fixtures. 	 
There is a lower lamp wattage (than is approved for a non-IC application) that is approved for use with an IC 	 
rated fixture because of the fact that the “blanket” of insulation will keep the heat from the lamp from escaping 	 
into the plenum (attic space). For example, if an IC rated housing is UL approved for use with a 90 watt Par38 	 
incandescent lamp source, then a Par38 lamp with 90 watts or fewer must be installed. However, if the 	 
homeowner/ electrician/ contractor installs a Par38 lamp greater than 90 watts into the socket of that housing, 	 
the thermal protector will kick in, terminating power to the fixture until the problem is addressed. 	 
NON-IC rating If the space that a light fixture is to be installed does not contain insulation, a NON-IC rated fixture should be 	 
used (NON-IC stands for NON Insulated Contact). If insulation is present in an application where a NON-IC 	 
rated fixture is used, a minimum 3” clearance should exist on all sides of the fixture, and no insulation may be 	 
present across the top of the installed fixture. By maintaining these clearance requirements, overheating should 	 
not be an issue according to testing conducted on the fixture. 	 
NON-IC rated fixtures are occasionally used in residential applications, but much more often they can be found 	 
in commercial applications. This is because most residential, single-family dwellings will use insulation in the 	 
attic space for energy conservation---but it is less likely that commercial spaces (such as shopping centers and 	 
grocery stores) will use insulation as part of their construction. There will always be exceptions to this, of 	 
course, but this is a general rule when determining what fixture to use in what application. 	 
A higher lamp wattage (than is approved for an IC application) is approved for use with a 	 
NON-IC rated fixture. This is because in a NON-IC application, no insulation comes in direct contact with the 	 
housing; therefore, the heat from the lamp can escape and dissipate into the plenum.