Bathroom zones for lighting: IP codes Bathroom lighting

A guide to Bathroom lighting and Zones

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Things to consider when planning lighting for a bathroom, a quick guide

Designing a lighting installation for the bathroom in your home is not just a straightforward process as in addition to planning the layout solution, there are also strict regulations which need to be adhered to, regarding the voltage and ingress protection of lighting being proposed as well as restriction in the location of individual fittings. It is important to select bathroom lighting which will, in addition to being compliant, provide an installation offering a well illuminated space with good visibility. Bathrooms tend to be limited in size, whilst in some cases also be devoid of natural daylight and the design should create an illusion of a larger space which can be achieved by planning the installation with different forms of lighting. Before starting the design process, consider the possible lighting locations as those positions may fall within different individual zones and could affect the type of lighting equipment required for compliance.

Zone 0

is the area inside the bath or in the shower tray itself. If lighting is required in that location, any fitting which is used must use a Low Voltage supply, which is to a maximum of 12Volts and any fitting must also be rated to at least IPX7, which means it is protected against the effects of temporary immersion in water.

Zone 1

is the area above the bath or shower tray up to a height of 2250mm from the bathroom floor. Any fitting installed in this zone must have a minimum ingress protection rating of IPX4, which means it is protected against splashing water from any direction. If there is a likelihood of water jets being used for cleaning purposes, replace the lighting to an ingress protection rating of IPX5.

Zone 2

is the area extending to 600mm outside the perimeter of the bath and to a height of 2250mm from the bathroom floor. Any fitting installed in this zone must have a minimum ingress protection rating of IPX4, which means it is protected against splashing water from any direction. It can be considered good practice to consider the area around a wash basin, within a radius of 600mm of any tap as Zone 2. If there is a likelihood of water jets being used for cleaning purposes, replace the lighting to an ingress protection rating of IPX5.

Outside the Zones

is anywhere within the bathroom outside of Zone 0, Zone 1 & Zone 2, subject to specific limits and where no water jet is likely to be used. Any fitting installed in this zone need not have any ingress protection, however if there is any likelihood of water jets ever being used for cleaning purposes, replace the lighting to an ingress protection rating of IPX5.

The Design

Start the design process by considering the ambient lighting within the bathroom, that which will provide the general uniform illumination to the space and is generally fulfilled with recessed fittings into the ceiling. Where the bathroom height is greater than 2250mm, there may no requirement to use IP rated fittings, as they may be situated outside of the zones, however it is always recommended to install IPX5 recessed downlights for the application as they will provide adequate ingress protection from water and steam as well as operate in a higher ambient temperatures. The lighting can be installed either in a grid pattern if the space is large enough to do so or, strategically placed within the bathroom for a smaller space.

Adding task lighting can significantly change the appearance from just a bland illuminated space to a that providing focus on specific areas within the bathroom, such as the sink area and the shower. This can be achieved with supplementary downlights over the sink area, by installing an over-mirror light or using LED Strip. For the shower, a single downlight, or possibly two downlights for a walk-in shower can provide the additional focus lighting required.

When considering both the ambient and task lighting within the bathroom, the topic of colour temperature is one which requires some discussion. A lower colour temperature of around 3000K provides a warm appearance and is ideally suited to creating the feeling of a soft calming atmosphere in the bathroom, whilst a higher colour temperature of 4000K and over provides a cool appearance with a higher blue component in the lighting and is ideal for creating a space where the precision completion of tasks is required, such as grooming or in the application of make-up. Having offered both options with equal benefit, the final decision is a subjective one for the homeowner, however offering a little more information on the topic to contemplate is that the en-suite bathroom tends to be used in the early morning and may benefit from a cooler appearance, whereas the main family bathroom tends to be for evening relaxation and would benefit from a warmer appearance, ideal for relaxation. This scenario may provide a ‘best of both worlds’ solution.

Finally consider accent lighting, which offers the opportunity to create the feature lighting and the aesthetic effect within the space. Installing recessing marker lights into the floor, strategically placed can offer a great solution, however in doing so, carefully consider their located positions so that the raised bezel does not cause a potential trip hazard to users. Adding LED Strip where the benefit of illumination can be seen without sight of the equipment offers an additional solution, however whatever lighting equipment is proposed, please be aware that LED Drivers must be suitably located, either outside of the bathroom entirely or alternatively within IPX5 enclosure and outside of all the Zones 0/1/2. Adding colour to the bathroom as a feature can provide some great effects and it is suggested that this lighting is controlled separately to that of the ambient warm or cool appearance lighting to allow the undertaking of precision task or the relaxing ambience designs to be maintained. One way this could be achieved is by selecting an RGB or RGBW LED Strip rather than just a white option, allowing the benefit of either a white or colour solution when required.

A point worth noting is that the bathroom is a space used very frequently, at least a few times a day, so planning the lighting installation well can offer the benefit of having a pleasing environment to be in. A final consideration is that bathrooms are considered as wet areas with both water and potentially steam present and this availability of water does not work well with electricity. As water conducts electricity, encountering electricity whilst wet, means there is a potential danger of an electric shock. The latest Wiring Regulations of BS7671 – 18th Edition provide guidelines on the safety of installing lighting in bathrooms, however in all cases, it is highly recommended that you consult a qualified and approved electrical contractor to assist with any lighting installation in making the space both correctly lit as well as safe to use.

Building Regulations: Part C and Part E Explained For Lighting

Lighting – Building Use Classes

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Bathroom Lighting Zones & Regulations

One of the areas of the house we get asked the most questions about is the bathroom or wet room. Around the vast majority of your home you’re free to add which ever light fittings take your fancy. However in the bathroom things become a little more complex as there are specific regulations that govern what type of lights can and can’t be used.

This guide will take you through the key points you need to be aware of when installing lighting in a bathroom. It is however not an ‘Installation Guide’ and before proceeding you should first refer to the current edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations and/or consult a qualified electrician.

When purchasing lights for a bathroom you need to ensure you select a fitting with the correct IP rating for the bathroom zone in which it is to be placed.

“Bathroom Zones?”

“IP Ratings?”

“What on earth are they?”

We’re glad you asked, read on and we’ll explain all!

Bathroom Lighting Zones Explained

For the purpose of lighting a bathroom is broken down into zones. Each zone is determined by how exposed it is to water and therefore how much protection from water a light fitting placed their requires.

When choosing lighting for a bathroom you first need to understand what zone its intended position will be classified as and then select the appropriate fitting based on its IP rating (which we cover further on).

The diagram below illustrates the bathroom lighting zones;

Zone 0 – This zone covers the areas inside the bath or shower tray. If you do decide to fit lights here they need to be a minimum of IP67 which means that they are safe to be fully immersed. They also need to be low voltage.

Zone 1 – Includes the area directly above the bath or shower tray to a height of 2.25m. Lights being fitted within this area must have an IP rating of IP44 or better which means they are protected against water spray and splashing from any direction.

Zone 2 – Covers the area 0.6m outside the perimeter of the bath. This area also requires a light fitting to be IP44 of better. It’s also considered best practice to incorporate the sink into zone 2 and apply the same perimeter and light fitting requirements as you would the bath.

Zone 3 – Is everywhere else in the bathroom and covers the areas where lighting is highly unlikely to come into contact with water. There are no regulations regarding this area.

Now you are a master of the bathroom zones you now need to understand the IP rating system that governs which lights can be placed in each zone.

IP Explanation and Ratings

The IP ratings are designed to make it easier for people to understand how well protected a light fitting is. Whether they do or not is perhaps a little debateable, however with a bit of explanation they are relatively easy to follow.

An IP code consists of thee parts;

IP – All codes start with IP and this stands for Ingress Protection. This basically means how well protected the light fitting is.

Digit One – Refers to solid particle protection or how well the light fitting is protected against solid particles such as dust and dirt. The higher the number the better protected the light fitting is. See table 1 below for a complete breakdown.

Digit Two – Refers to liquid ingress protection or how well the lighting fitting is protected against water. Again the higher the number the more protection the light fitting provides. See table 2 below for a complete breakdown.

Summing Up

At first glance bathroom lighting zones and regulations can seem more than a little confusing. However if you spend some time understanding the zones and how they apply to your bathroom it’s just a case of choosing light fittings with an appropriate IP rating.

It is always advisable to use a properly trained expert to ensure that any bathroom light fittings are completed to the required standards.

If you need any further help or advice on this, or any other lighting topic, then our team are standing by to answer your questions. Please visit out contact us page for details of how you can get in touch.

Bathroom lighting, photos of projects, lamps in the interior

Bathroom lighting, photos of unusual and interesting projects of which we have selected, plays an important role in the interior. We will tell you what to be guided by when choosing a lamp and what to look for, as well as consider placement options in the overall design of the room.

Contents:

Bathroom lighting features
Bathroom luminaire types
General bathroom lighting
Local lighting in the bathroom
DIY lighting in the bathroom

Bathroom Lighting Ideas

Should bathroom lighting be bright or subdued, aggressive or soft, directional or diffused? The answer to these and other questions can be obtained by reading the information in this article.

Bathroom lighting features

The lack of natural light and the peculiarities of using the bathroom impose special requirements on the lighting of this room:

It should have a natural spectrum close to daylight.
It is desirable that each functional area of the bathroom has its own local lighting.
Given the high humidity and frequent changes in room temperature, light sources must be as safe as possible for operation in such conditions.

General bathroom lighting photo

To make the lighting in the bathroom not very bright, but rational enough, several lamps are used, installed in different places. As required, they can be used both separately and in any combination of inclusion.

Types of bathroom fixtures

Traditional sconces, floor lamps, chandeliers and similar fixtures used in dry living areas are not well suited for installation in a bathroom. Most of them use an incandescent lamp as a light source, which is far from ideal in a humid atmosphere with sudden temperature changes.

In addition, such a lamp is short-lived, and it has to be changed quite often. If the room has high ceilings, frequent replacement of lamps becomes a serious test for homeowners.

Disadvantages of incandescent lamps:

high operating voltage;
high heating temperature;
fragile glass bulb.

Modern bathroom lighting is based on low-voltage gas discharge (neon, housekeeper) or LED light sources. In both cases, not yellow is provided, but a more familiar to the eye, natural spectrum of lighting.

small bathroom lighting idea

Discharge and LED lamps heat up much less than incandescent lamps during operation. Yes, they have a much longer lifespan. Considering also the reduced supply voltage, it becomes clear which type of lighting for the bathroom is the most preferable.

Modern bathroom LED lighting

Modern housing projects provide for LED lighting in the bathroom powered by a step-down transformer. It provides galvanic isolation from mains voltage and guarantees absolute protection against electric shock under all conditions.

General bathroom lighting

Ceiling lights provide a general lighting background sufficient for everyday activities: washing hands, taking a bath, using a washing machine, and the like. Such lamps are selected for the interior, as, in fact, they are one of its elements.

Stylish bathroom lighting idea

Any type of luminaire, even a chandelier, is suitable for high ceilings.
And for low ones, a flatter design should be chosen so that it does not reduce visual space.

Lighting in the bathroom, photo with chandelier

If the room’s extractor can’t remove the steam or the bathroom has a sauna, look for closed or hermetically sealed fixtures to protect against moisture.

Lighting in the bathroom, photo of a flat lamp

A very good option may be to illuminate the room from built-in spotlights. The “glowing” ceiling eliminates all the shadows in the room, so it is easier to carry out cosmetic procedures. The room seems wider and more voluminous.

Lighting spotlights in the bathroom

True, only high ceilings are suitable for mounting a suspended structure. For low, this option is implemented in the form of modern flat LED lighting panels of various capacities.

Local lighting in the bathroom

To ensure complete comfort in the room – each functional area must be provided with its own local lighting. These zones can be:

washbasin and mirror above it;
bathroom;
shower cabin.

In a more spacious room, there may be other local areas that require their own lighting: a wardrobe or cabinet, a large full-length mirror.

Local lighting in the bathroom photo

Special wall-mounted directional or diffused light sources are used as local light sources.

bathroom mirror lighting idea

In the frame of the mirror or along its contour, LED lighting can be equipped, allowing you to see yourself in great detail.

DIY bathroom lighting

Manufacturers of light sources offer a wide range of different products, so finding a luminaire that meets your needs will not be difficult. Since the light in the bathroom is a component of its interior design, all lamps should organically fit into the environment and be made in the same style.

Do-it-yourself bathroom lighting in an aristocratic style

It is better to choose the color, shape, size and type of the lamp at the stage of creating the interior. With a strong desire, you can create lighting yourself – modern technology allows you to do this without professional training.

DIY bathroom light

The bathroom will benefit greatly if its lighting is created with intelligence and love. You should not limit your home world to standard consumer goods solutions. The modern lighting market offers a whole range of solutions, from ready-made luminaires to individual modules of lighting systems of any complexity.

Multimodule bathroom lighting system

Total

Well-designed and well-implemented lighting in a room can turn an ordinary bathroom into a center of aesthetic pleasure and emotional relaxation. And this is far from fiction, but reality, repeatedly confirmed by successful examples!

Do-it-yourself calculation of lighting in the bathroom

Choosing lighting for the bathroom

At the moment, bathroom lighting options are quite widely represented on the Internet. But unfortunately, not all of them meet not only lighting standards, but also elementary safety requirements.

Therefore, if your goal is to create not only beautiful and functional, but also economical and safe bathroom lighting, then our article is for you.

Table of Contents

Bathroom Electrical Requirements
- Bathroom Lighting Code
- Bathroom Electrical Code
- Bathroom Electrical Code
90 021
Essential aspects of bathroom lighting planning
Conclusion

Bathroom electrical requirements

First of all, let’s look at the requirements for the bathroom electrical network. This room has high humidity, which is not entirely consistent with electrical energy. Therefore, the standards for the bathroom are quite strict.

Standards of illumination in the bathroom

First of all, let’s dwell on the norms of illumination in the bathroom. Indeed, for a comfortable stay in this room, the minimum required level of illumination should be provided. What are these rules, we will try to figure it out.

According to paragraph 2.39 of VSN 59 – 88, at least one lamp must be installed in the bathroom above the entrance to the room, as well as a lamp above the washbasin. According to the developers of construction documentation, this will be quite enough to ensure a minimum level of illumination in the room.

And what are the minimum lighting standards for the bathroom:

Usually, the calculation of bathroom lighting is based on SanPiN 2.2.1 / 2.1.1.1278-03. Which states that the level of general lighting in the bathroom should be at least 50lx . Moreover, the normalized surface is the floor of the room.

Local washbasin lighting in the bathroom

At the same time, VSN 59-88 stipulates that the norm of 50 lx corresponds to lighting when using fluorescent lamps or the so-called housekeepers . If incandescent lamps are used, then the norm is 20 lux.
In addition, in VSN 59 – 88, the norm of illumination of the washbasin is also separately stipulated. According to this document, it should be at least 100lx when using fluorescent lamps, and 50lx when using incandescent lamps.

Standards for the location of electrical equipment in the bathroom

A separate issue is the location of lamps, sockets (see Installed in the bathroom socket: how to make it safe) and other electrical equipment in the bathroom. Here, GOST 50571.11-96 comes into force, which divides the bathroom into separate zones. According to GOSTR 50571.11-96, the entire bathroom is divided into 4 electrical safety zones.

Each of these zones imposes its own standards for the security of the installed equipment:

Zone number 0 refers to the interior of a bathtub, shower tray or washbasin. Zone number 1 is the vertical plane bounded by the edges of the bathtub or shower tray.
Zone number 2 is a conditional plane at a distance of up to 60 cm from zone 1. And zone number 3 is a plane more than 60 cm away from zone number 1. Depending on the geometry of the bathroom and the type of shower, these zones may change. You can get acquainted with the electrical safety zones in the bathroom in more detail in the photo.

Electrical safety zones in the bathroom

For us, these zones are important for choosing the type of electrical equipment installed in the bathroom. The fact is that clause 7.1.47 of the PUE (Electrical Installation Rules) clearly regulates what type of protection each electrical installation device or lamp installed in them should have.

So for zone number 0, you can use electrical equipment with a protection class of at least IP × 7. For zone 1, this protection class must be at least IP×5. In zone two, electrical equipment with a protection level of at least IP × 4 should be used. And only in zone three, the protection level can not exceed IP × 1.

Please note! All electrical equipment has a so-called dust and moisture protection class. It is indicated in the passport of any electrical equipment and is denoted by the abbreviation “IP”. The next number indicates the level of protection against dust and the higher it is, the higher the degree of protection. But since in this case it is not important for us, we have given the symbol “×”. The second digit indicates the level of protection against moisture. And here, too, the higher the number, the higher the price and the level of protection against moisture.

And another point affecting the location of electrical equipment in the bathroom is clause 7. 1.48PUE. It prohibits the installation of sockets and switches closer than 60 cm from the shower door.

Norms for the arrangement of the electrical network of the bathroom

In addition to the above norms, there are also public and unspoken rules for the arrangement of the electrical network in the bathroom.

We will consider them separately:

First of all, it should be remembered that, according to clause 7.1.52 of the Electric Code, it is forbidden to install control panels and install other control equipment in bathrooms. Based on this, the network should be thought out so that the junction boxes are located outside the bathroom.

Please note! If you have a separate bathroom and toilet, then it is also forbidden to equip junction boxes in the latter. Therefore, the issue of their placement should be considered in advance.

Now let’s touch on the rules for installing sockets in the bathroom. The fact is that clause 7.1.48 of the PUE allows them to be installed only if there is an isolation transformer or an RCD in the network. Moreover, the tripping current of the RCD is clearly regulated and is 30mA.

Sockets with built-in RCD

The option of installing an isolating transformer is quite expensive and difficult to implement. Therefore, our instruction advises to immediately dismiss it. The option with installing an RCD machine is much simpler. It can be installed in the switchboard, immediately after the bathroom lighting group switch.

Please note! Now the market is quite widely represented sockets with a built-in RCD. They can be applied just as well. They are especially often used when the socket in the bathroom is installed in an already installed network. But under the condition of installation from scratch, it is better to place the RCD in the switchboard.

As for the installation of a general lighting switch in the bathroom, then clause 8. 15 of VSN 59 – 88 comes to our aid. It regulates the installation of a general lighting switch outside the bathroom.
According to paragraph 7.1.51 of the PUE, it must be installed at the entrance to the room from the side of the door handle. At the same time, the height of its location should not be higher than 1 meter from the floor. In some cases, the installation of switches with rope control is allowed.
Now let’s focus on the issue of wiring. The choice of bathroom lighting should involve the use of hidden wiring. After all, according to clause 7.1.40 of the PUE, when using open wiring, only the cable should be used. Separately, we note that in any case, to protect the wire from mechanical damage, it is forbidden to use a metal pipe, corrugations and boxes (see How to assemble a metal wire box).

The photo shows bathroom lighting

Some modern bathrooms, jacuzzis and showers have decorative lighting. Usually it is made from a 12V voltage network. In this case, you will need to install a 220/12V transformer. It should be mounted outside the bathroom.

Basic aspects of planning bathroom lighting

But for our bathroom lighting, which we are trying to calculate, to bring aesthetic satisfaction, something more than just following the rules and regulations is necessary. It is necessary to install and select the right luminaires, optimize their control system and, of course, the correct layout of the luminaires.

All these questions can only be answered based on the area of the room, the arrangement of furniture and accessories, and many other aspects. But it is quite possible to give the basic rules for choosing lighting in the bathroom.

General lighting in the bathroom

So:

First of all, let’s focus on general lighting. The best option is vertical lighting, when the light streams from the ceiling. To do this, you can use chandeliers installed on the ceiling, spotlights or glossy ceiling lights, the reflection of light from which gives a magnificent diffused light in the room.
Sconces can also be used for basic lighting. Only in this case, several points of their installation should be provided at once. After all, the peculiarity of side lighting is that it creates too many shadows. As a result, from one or two lamps, the lighting will seem insufficient.
Lighting areas in the bathroom must have local lighting. Usually it is mounted above the washbasin. There must also be a mirror. If the bathroom space is sufficient for arranging several places of personal care, then local lighting is equipped on each of them.
Quality is very important for local lighting. Therefore, it is highly desirable to completely get rid of the shadows. This can be achieved through combined lighting. That is, the illumination that falls on a person from above, below and from the sides. Ideally, the lighting should fall from the mirror.
But this is ideal. Typically, combined lighting is achieved by installing a general lighting fixture above the washbasin and installing two spot lighting fixtures on the sides of the mirror.
Area lighting in the bathroom can be made in large rooms. Ordinary bathrooms usually do not have the proper area. A Jacuzzi, a bathroom or a washbasin area is usually used as a backlight zone.
For zonal illumination, directional lighting fixtures, floor-mounted fixtures, as well as a variety of decorative fixtures are used.

Area lighting in the bathroom

If you want to create decorative lighting in the bathroom with your own hands, then diode strips, backlights and decorative lamps will help you. They should highlight the original design of the stream or walls. Sometimes they are performed to highlight decorative elements.
But decorative lighting should be used very carefully. The fact is that in small rooms with its help it is unlikely that it will be possible to achieve attractive results. After all, additional illumination will be lost against the background of general lighting.
If you apply the effect of darkening certain areas to highlight decorative lighting, then the difference in illumination in the room will create a negative effect.