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Bathroom Lighting > Useful Information

Regulations

Bathroom lighting is subject to certain wiring regulations (BS7671: Section 601) and must be selected and erected so as to be suitable for the external influences likely to occur at the particular point of installation. Such influences are likely to include steam (leading to condensation) falling drops of water and sprays and jets from showerheads.
All bathroom lighting can be assigned an IP (Ingress Protection) rating. This relates to the protection afforded by the light fitting against penetration by solid objects and moisture.
The IP rating consists of two numbers.
The first number relates to the degree of protection against solid particles, the second to the degree of protection against moisture.
For bathroom lighting use, the second number is the most significant.
For example; normal household luminaires have a minimum IP rating of 20 (i.e. no protection against moisture).
The required IP rating for bathroom lighting depends on the actual location in the bathroom. The regulations divide the bathroom into zones (see illustrations) which; determine the IP rating.

Zone 0

Interior of bathtub or shower tray: Any fitting used in this Zone must be low voltage, (max 12v) and be rated at least IP67, which is total immersion proof.

Zone 1

Perimeter of bathtub, or shower tray, up to a height of 2.25m above the floor: In this Zone a minimum rating of IP44 is required. If there is a likelihood of water jets being used for cleaning purposes a fitting rated of minimum IP65 must be used.

Zone 2

Perimeter 0.6m wide around Zone 1 and 0.75m above Zone 1: In this Zone an IP rating of at least IP44 is required. If there is the likelihood of water jets being used for cleaning purposes a fitting rated of minimum IP65 must be used.

Zone 3

Perimeter 2.4m wide around Zone 2 and 0.75m above Zone 2: In this Zone if there is the likelihood of water jets being used for cleaning purposes a fitting rated of minimum IP65 must be used. Otherwise no specified IP rating is required, although lights should be suitable for their location and provide adequate protection against electric shock.

Outside of Zones

There are no stated IP requirements. Luminaires should be suitable for their location and provide adequate protection against electric shock.

The IEE Regulations do not make specific reference to wash basins, but in the opinion of the Lighting Association they should be treaded as Zone 2 (i.e. IP44).

Design Ideas

Bathroom

Bathroom lighting needs to be functional and well planned with safety in mind.
Use a surface mounted halogen light fitting, or for maximum impact and spread of light, use recessed low voltage halogen lighting in the ceiling.
Bathroom Mirror lighting, this can be from a light source behind the mirror, or from an independent light source above, or either side of the mirror. The lighting has to be directed on you and not on the mirror. Halogen is an excellent light source for this application.
Use LED lighting recessed into the floor to provide feature and guide lighting.
Consider LED lighting recessed into the walls to create mood lighting whilst you are reposing in the bath.
Rather than have a Pull switch in the bathroom, why not have a three-gang wall mounted switch outside the bathroom entrance to control your ceiling, mirror and floor lighting.

Wetroom

Safety is paramount: The type of lighting you can legally install in a Wetroom is identical to the type of lighting that you can legally install in a Bathroom and as such; is regulated by the same IP ratings as set out for Bathroom Lighting.
Wetroom lighting needs to be functional and well planned with safety in mind.
Use a surface mounted halogen light fitting, or for maximum impact and spread of light, use recessed low voltage halogen lighting in the ceiling.
Mirror lighting, this can be from a light source behind the mirror, or from an independent light source above, or either side of the mirror. The lighting has to be directed on you and not on the mirror. Halogen is an excellent light source for this application.
Use LED lighting Recessed into the wall, to mark a vertical dividing line of the shower area from the rest of the wetroom.
Use LED lighting recessed into the floor to provide feature and guide lighting
Rather than have a Pull switch in the wetroom, why not have a three-gang wall mounted switch outside the wetroom entrance to control your ceiling, mirror and floor lighting.

We recommend that all Bathroom Lighting and Wetroom Lighting be protected with a residual current device (R.C.D.).

All of the above information is intended as a guide only and you should consider all of the elements of your particular choice of product and it’s installation, before you commit an electrician to carry out any work.