Bathroom Lighting and IP Rating - What does it mean?
Plan your bathroom lighting with care. It's not just about creating a practical and relaxing space. Take into account bathroom zoning and IP Rating, which is unique to bathrooms. We have a helpful guide for you.
IP Ratings. (Ingress Protection Ratings)
In order to ensure safety, bathroom lights are made to specific ratings. Ratings can vary in requirement depending on the location they are sited within the bathroom.
The IP rating of a bulb or light fixture declares the level of protection it has against dirt and water.
Any fixture that is used in a bathroom, garden or wet environment should have an IP rating that is sufficient to stop the ingress of dust and water.
An IP rating consists of two digits. The first digit represents protection against the ingress of solid objects i.e., dust. The second digit represents protection against the ingress of liquids i.e., water. The higher the value of either digit, the greater the protection.
So, what lights are suitable for bathrooms?
This depends on what zone in the bathroom the light will be fitted. Let’s look at bathroom zones.
Zone 0: IP67
This zone relates to the physical space within the tub or in simple terms, the area in which you would sit in if taking a bath. For showers, Zone 0 alludes to the foot basin space. Any lighting within this area must be low voltage, to a maximum of 12v and any transformer or LED driver must be located outside of the bathroom. Lights must be a minimum of IP67 which means they are protected against the effects of immersion.
Zone 1: IP44 - IP65
This is the area above the bath or shower to a height of 2.25m from the floor. Light fittings within this area must reach a minimum of IP44, however, shower lights are generally designed to IP65. There is no requirement for lights to be low voltage within this zone.
Zone 2: IP44
Zone 2 is the area immediately adjacent to the bathtub or shower foot basin and also from the taps of any hand basin with an additional 0.6m added for safety purposes. Again, any equipment should be subjected to a minimum IP44 rating. There is no Zone 2 in a wet room.
Outside of zones:
The rest of your bathroom falls into this area and doesn’t require an IP rating for any of the lights used. It’s often recommended however that any downlights, wall lights or ceiling lights you might choose have a rating of at least IP44. This helps ensure that the lights are well protected from unintentional splashing or steam, as steam will make its way out of the shower area. Having IP44 rated lights will ensure that they are protected from corrosion and prolong their life.