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Bathroom Lighting Buying Guide

By design bathrooms have a lot of moisture present, so when it comes to adding electricals, safety should always come first. Depending on the size of your bathroom and the location of your lighting relative to taps, showerheads and so on, your light fittings need to be designed to work safely within that area. Areas in bathrooms are classified into safety zones, with each zone defined by the risk of water contacting the light fitting. Each zone requires a fitting which guarantees a specific rating of Ingress Protection (IP).

What is an IP rating?

IP ratings give an indication of how resistant a light fitting is to moisture, and how well they protect the inner workings from foreign objects and particles. The higher the rating, the more moisture the light fitting can be exposed to.

When looking at IP ratings, you’ll see a pair of digits follow the initials. The first digit indicates how the product will resist particles, and the second indicates how well it will resist water. The ratings range from 0 to 9, and the higher the rating, the better protection.

The zones are as follows, with their required IP ratings:

Zone 0 - Inside the bath or shower tray itself. Any light here must be low voltage and rated IPx7. Lights rated IPx7 will provide total protection when immersed in water.

Zone 1 – Above the bath or shower to a height of 2.25 meters above floor level. A light fitting with a minimum of IPx5 is needed.

Zone 2 - an area stretching 0.6 meters outside the perimeter of the bath or shower cubicle and to a height of 2.25 meters from the floor. Zone 2 also includes the area above the sink in a radius of 0.6 meters from the taps. A light fitting of at least IPx4 is needed.

Outside Zones - Anywhere outside zones 0, 1 and 2 (subject to specific limits) and where no water jet is likely to be used. There is no specific IP number for this area and any light fitting can be used unless specifically marked as not for use in bathrooms.

If you have any doubts about the suitability of lighting in your Bathroom, consult a qualified electrician.

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