RAB Linear Washdown Lights and LED Vapor Tight Fixtures Compared

Washdown and vapor tight describe the same category of fixture. Buyers in food processing and car washes tend to say washdown; manufacturers and distributors tend to say vapor tight. If you're searching one term and not finding what you expect, that's why.

What actually separates fixtures in this category is how much water they're rated to take, and whether they're certified for food environments. Those are two different questions and the answer isn't the same fixture.

IP65 and IP66 are not interchangeable

The ingress protection rating is the number that matters most here, and it's the one most often skipped.

IP65 is rated against low-pressure water jets from any direction. That covers hosing down, splash, high humidity, and condensation — most wet and damp locations in a plant or parking structure.

IP66 is rated against high-pressure jets. If a sanitation crew is running a pressure washer directly at the fixture on a nightly cycle, IP66 is the spec you need. IP65 in that application will let water past the gasket eventually.

Both are wet location listed. Both will survive a wet room. Only IP66 is built for the pressure washer.

NSF matters where food does

NSF certification is a separate question from water ingress. It covers materials and cleanability for equipment used near food, and it's what an inspector looks for in a processing environment. A fixture can be IP66 and not NSF listed, or NSF listed at IP65. Check both independently rather than assuming one implies the other.

Comparing 8 ft fixtures

Two 8 ft options, both LED, both selectable wattage and CCT, both 120-277V, both DLC Premium, both carrying a 5-year warranty.

The RAB SEAL8 runs 8,220 to 13,700 lumens selectable at 100W, roughly 137 lm/W, with 3500K, 4000K, and 5000K settings and CRI 80. IP66, UL wet location listed, gray finish. The higher ingress rating makes this the choice for high-pressure washdown duty.

The WareLight WL-VTLED delivers 10,500, 12,000, or 15,000 lumens on 70W, 80W, or 100W selectable, at 150 lm/W. Five CCT settings from 3000K to 5000K, CRI above 80, polycarbonate lens with stainless steel latches, 0-10V dimming, white finish. IP65, UL/cUL and NSF listed. Higher output, more efficient, more selectable, and certified for food environments.

More options in both lengths and ratings are in the LED vapor tight light fixtures range.

How to spec it

Start with the wash cycle. If the fixture gets hit directly with a pressure washer, specify IP66. If it's exposure to humidity, splash, or low-pressure rinse, IP65 is appropriate and opens up more options.

Then check the environment. Food processing and food contact proximity means confirming NSF listing on the model you're specifying, not the series.

Then size it. Fixture length and mounting height drive count more than wattage — you're after even coverage with no dark bands. Selectable wattage lets one part number cover multiple bays and gives you room to tune after install.

Browse the range

LED vapor tight and washdown fixtures — 2 ft, 4 ft, and 8 ft, IP65 and IP66, linear, high bay, and jelly jar.