Bathroom Lighting, Indoor Lighting
Correct installation is vital, particularly in rooms prone to excessive moisture, but the positioning is just as important to get right.
Before choosing your electrical products, you should consider the zones in your bathroom and the IP ratings relating to them. UK wiring regulations outline bathroom zones based on their perceived level of risk. These zones indicate safe areas for installation, their clearance, and what level of waterproofing the fittings require.
Measuring your bathroom zones is important not only for safety but also for ensuring your electricals last as long as they should. Check your bathroom zones before installing lights, extractor fans, heaters, electrical shower units, or any other electrical equipment.
But remember that any kind of wiring work, especially in bathrooms, should always be carried out by a qualified electrician.
Take a look at our handy bathroom zone visualisation for more info:
IP Ratings
Electrical appliances and fittings are given an IP rating to indicate their resistance to dirt and moisture.
IP is short for Ingress Protection and is followed by a rating made up of two numbers. The first indicates the level of protection against intrusion by dust particles and solid objects, and the second against ingress of moisture. For water ingress, a 0 rating means the product is unprotected, whereas an 8 means the product is protected against long periods of immersion under pressure.
If you’re giving your bathroom a revamp or moving into a new-build, installing new electricals might be a daunting task.
Bathroom Voltage
The voltage for electricals in the bathroom should be relatively low. Look out for Protective Extra-Low Voltage (PELV) and Separated Extra-Low Voltage (SELV) fittings, which isolate output from input for additional safety.
Bathroom Zone 0
Zone 0 is the area in which water gathers, such as the bath or shower tray. Nothing electrical should really be placed in a zone 0 area. So if you do insist on having those fancy bath spotlights, they need to be a minimum of IPX7.
Bathroom Zone 1
This is the area above Zone 0, measuring 2.25 metres from the floor up. The minimum IP rating for use in this area is IPX4, and devices must be SELV with any transformer located beyond zone 2.
Bathroom Zone 2
Zone 2 extends 60cm either side of zone 1 and 75cm above it. This area also requires SELV devices and a minimum IP rating of IPX4.
Bathroom Zone 3
Zone 3 is everywhere beyond the first three zones. This is where any IP rating should be safe to use. Of course the higher the number, the better your peace of mind. However, if fitting lights directly above a bath or shower, it is recommended to look for products with a minimum IP65 rating.
Other Bathroom Fittings
Pull cords or switches on the outside wall are safer than interior bathroom switches, to avoid wet hands coming into contact with them. For further information on bathroom zones or on our range of bathroom lighting, get in touch on 0333 456 7895 or fill in our contact form and one of our experts will be happy to help.