Our Moisture Guard: Protecting Exterior Luminaires Beyond the IP Rating
19th Mar 2026
When specifying exterior lighting, IP ratings are a given. But in real-world installations, a luminaire's performance is often defined by factors beyond its rating.
One of the leading causes of water ingress failure in exterior LED fittings is not the luminaire but incorrectly IP-rated on-site connections between the power supply and the product. Even a minor compromise can have significant long-term consequences.
How water ingress really happens
When an IP connection is compromised, pressure changes from a luminaire's natural heating and cooling can create a vacuum. This pressure differential draws moisture up the cable and into the luminaire, a process known as wicking.
Once moisture reaches the internal components, the damage is irreversible. Water ingress can lead to corrosion, electrical failure, reduced product lifetime, and installations that underperform long before they should.
Designed for real-world conditions
With extensive experience designing and manufacturing luminaires for exterior and harsh marine environments, LightGraphix recognised early that relying on IP ratings alone was not enough.
In 2013, we introduced our moistue guard, first on the LD56, and later across a wide range of products. This integrated solution was developed to provide an additional layer of protection against cable-related water ingress when site conditions or installation practices are less than ideal.
Unlike external sealing alone, the moisture guard is contained within the luminaire itself. Even if moisture begins to travel along the cable, the barrier prevents it from reaching the inner LED chamber, protecting the product's most critical components.
Proven performance, engineered to last
Since introducing our moisture guard, we have recorded a 0% return rate for water ingress failure via the cable on fittings incorporating this design.
This long-term performance not only protects the integrity of the installation but also significantly reduces material waste and the environmental impact associated with remanufacturing and replacement.
Today, moisure guard technology is available across a broad range of LightGraphix luminaires and is standard across all LightGraphix exterior products.
Why it matters in your specification
Specifying moisture protection is not about compensating for poor installation. It is about acknowledging real-world conditions and designing resilience into the system from the outset.
By including moisture guard technology in your specification, you help to safeguard product performance, protect the lighting design intent, and ensure installations that are built to last.
See it in action
Watch our short video to understand how anti-wicking barrier technology works and why it matters in exterior lighting applications:
If you would like to discuss your next exterior lighting specification, or understand which products include anti-wicking barrier protection, please get in touch: