If you have shopped for garage lights in Australia you have probably seen the code AS/NZS 60598 in a product listing or on a box and wondered what it actually means for you. This guide translates the standard into plain English, then gets practical fast so you can choose garage and workshop lighting that is genuinely safe, compliant and fit for the job.
What is AS/NZS 60598 in plain English
AS/NZS 60598 is the Australian and New Zealand safety standard for luminaires, which is the technical word for a complete light fitting. In simple terms, it sets the rules a finished light must meet so that it will not electrocute you, catch fire, overheat, or fall apart in normal use. It applies to fittings that run from supply voltages up to 1000 volts, which covers effectively every light you would put in a home or commercial garage.
The standard exists because a light fitting is more than an LED chip. It is a wired electrical product with a driver, a housing, mounting hardware and a heat path. AS/NZS 60598 checks that the whole assembly is built to a consistent safety benchmark rather than leaving it to guesswork.
How the standard is structured: Part 1 and Part 2
AS/NZS 60598 is split into two layers, and understanding this split is the fastest way to read a spec sheet.
- AS/NZS 60598.1 (general requirements) is the core. Every luminaire has to meet Part 1 for electrical safety, earthing, insulation, thermal behaviour, mechanical strength and protection against dust and moisture.
- AS/NZS 60598.2 (particular requirements) is a family of sub-parts that add extra rules for specific fitting types. For garage-relevant products this includes the sub-standards for fixed general purpose luminaires and for recessed luminaires, depending on whether the fitting is surface mounted or set into the ceiling.
A compliant garage light is tested against Part 1 as the baseline, plus whichever Part 2 sub-standard matches its construction. You do not need to memorise the sub-part numbers, but it helps to know that a surface mounted panel and a recessed downlight are judged against slightly different particular requirements.
What the standard actually covers
AS/NZS 60598 checks a light across several areas that matter directly in a garage:
- Electrical safety and earthing so live parts are protected and any metal body is safely earthed where required.
- Thermal management so the driver and LEDs run within safe temperatures instead of cooking themselves in a hot roof space.
- Ingress protection, shown as an IP rating, which measures resistance to dust and moisture.
- Mechanical construction so the housing, lens and mounting can handle handling, mounting loads and everyday knocks.
- Insulation and creepage so there is enough separation between live components and anything you can touch.
Why AS/NZS 60598 matters specifically in a garage
Garages are one of the harder rooms in an Australian home for a light fitting. Dust from timber, brake pads and concrete settles on everything. Temperatures swing from cold winter mornings to a baking summer roof cavity. A roller door thumping shut sends vibration through the ceiling. Add the occasional damp floor, wash down or vehicle fumes and you have conditions a bedroom downlight was never designed for. This is exactly why buying to the standard matters more here than in a living room. A fitting that passes AS/NZS 60598 has been built and tested to cope with heat, dust and mechanical stress rather than failing early.
IP rating guidance for garages, workshops and wash bays
The IP rating is the number most garage buyers should focus on. The first digit covers solids and dust, the second covers moisture. Here is plain English guidance for typical Australian setups.
- Standard enclosed dry garage: an IP20 fitting can be acceptable if the space is genuinely dry and dust is light, but a dust and moisture resistant fitting rated around IP44 or higher gives real peace of mind in a working garage.
- Home workshop or detailing space: aim for at least IP44, and higher if you generate fine dust or run near open doors, because airborne particles are the main enemy of long fitting life.
- Wash bay or any area exposed to direct water spray: choose IP65 or higher so the fitting is protected against jets of water.
IP rating is only meaningful when the fitting has been tested to the standard, which is another reason the AS/NZS 60598 mark and IP claim should appear together on a genuine product.
How AS/NZS 60598 relates to the RCM mark, SAA approval and the EESS
Meeting the standard is the engineering side. Proving it in the Australian market is done through a few connected systems.
- The RCM mark (Regulatory Compliance Mark) is the tick and triangle symbol you see on compliant electrical products. It signals that the supplier declares the product meets the relevant safety standards, including AS/NZS 60598, and applicable electromagnetic requirements.
- SAA approval is a recognised certification pathway where a product is assessed against the relevant Australian standard and issued an approval, which supports the right to apply the RCM mark.
- The Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS) is the national scheme that ties it together. Responsible suppliers register on the national database, and certain products are recorded there, so compliance can be traced back to a real Australian entity.
How to check a light is genuinely compliant before you buy
You do not need an electrician to do a first-pass check. Before you buy garage lighting, look for the following.
- A visible RCM mark on the product or packaging.
- A clear statement that the fitting is built to AS/NZS 60598, along with a stated IP rating.
- An identifiable Australian responsible supplier, not just an overseas seller with no local entity.
- Consistent, specific documentation. Vague listings that avoid naming a standard or a supplier are a warning sign.
You can read more about how we approach this in our technical lighting articles, and browse fittings built for the conditions in our garage lighting collection.
Who is legally responsible for compliance
Responsibility in Australia is shared across the chain.
- The manufacturer is responsible for designing and building the fitting to the standard.
- The importer or responsible supplier is legally responsible for making sure the product sold into Australia is compliant and correctly marked, and for registering as required under the EESS.
- A licensed electrician is responsible for compliant installation of any hardwired fitting.
- The homeowner or business owner is responsible for using compliant products and for having fixed wiring work done by a licensed person.
Recommended lux and colour temperature for garages and workshops
Compliance keeps you safe, but you still want the space to work. As a practical guide, a general use garage suits roughly 150 to 300 lux, while a workshop, detailing bay or any area with close mechanical or finishing work is better around 300 to 750 lux or more at the task. For colour temperature, most Australian garages and workshops suit a neutral to cool white in the 4000K to 5000K range, which renders colours cleanly without the harsh feel of very cold light. Pairing bright, even output with a compliant fitting gives you both safety and genuinely useful light. Our hexagon LED lighting range is built to deliver that clean, high output look while meeting the relevant standards.
Comparison table: scenario, standard and suggested IP rating
| Scenario | Relevant standard layer | Suggested minimum IP | Mounting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard enclosed dry garage | AS/NZS 60598.1 plus fixed or recessed Part 2 | IP20, IP44 preferred | Surface mount or recess to a clean, dry ceiling with airflow around the driver |
| Home workshop or detailing space | AS/NZS 60598.1 plus fixed general purpose Part 2 | IP44 or higher | Even coverage over benches and task zones, keep fittings clear of dust build up |
| Wash bay or wet area | AS/NZS 60598.1 plus fixed general purpose Part 2 | IP65 or higher | Protected against water spray, mount away from direct hose lines where possible |
Do garage lights need to be installed by an electrician
It depends on how the fitting connects. In Australia, fixed or hardwired electrical work must be carried out by a licensed electrician. If your garage lighting is hardwired into the ceiling circuit, that installation is electrical work and needs a licensed person. Fittings that are plug and play and connect to a standard power point can generally be set up without hardwiring, which many people prefer for a workshop or a rental. Whichever route you choose, the fitting itself still needs to be a compliant, standard tested product. Plug and play changes who installs it, not whether the light has to meet AS/NZS 60598.
Common compliance red flags with cheap imported garage lights
Non-compliant fittings usually fail the standard in predictable ways. Watch for undersized or unshielded drivers that overheat, thin housings with poor heat dissipation, missing or incorrect earthing, an IP rating that is claimed but never tested, and listings with no RCM mark, no named standard and no Australian responsible supplier. These are the exact points AS/NZS 60598 is designed to catch. A light that skips them may look identical online yet behave very differently after a hot summer in the roof. For a serious workshop fit out, choosing tested fittings from our workshop lighting collection removes the guesswork.
Frequently asked questions
Is AS/NZS 60598 compliance mandatory in Australia?
Yes. Luminaires sold in Australia are required to meet the relevant safety standards, and AS/NZS 60598 is the core standard for luminaire safety. A supplier declares compliance by applying the RCM mark, so a garage light offered for sale should be built and marked to this standard.
Does a garage light have to be certified?
The fitting must meet the relevant standard and be able to demonstrate compliance, which is supported through pathways such as SAA approval and registration under the Electrical Equipment Safety System. As a buyer, the practical proof to look for is the RCM mark, a stated AS/NZS 60598 build and an identifiable Australian responsible supplier.
Do I need an electrician to install garage lights?
If the light is hardwired into your ceiling circuit, yes, that is electrical work and must be done by a licensed electrician. If the light is plug and play and connects to a standard power point, it can generally be set up without hardwiring, though the fitting itself still has to be a compliant product.
What IP rating do I need for a garage?
A dry enclosed garage can suit IP20, but IP44 or higher is a safer choice in a working garage with dust. Aim for at least IP44 in a dusty workshop and IP65 or higher in a wash bay or any area exposed to direct water spray.
How do I check the RCM mark is genuine?
Look for the RCM tick and triangle symbol on the product or packaging, confirm the listing names AS/NZS 60598 and a real IP rating, and check that an Australian responsible supplier is identifiable rather than an anonymous overseas seller. If any of these are missing, treat the compliance claim with caution.
