Installing Lighting Safely In The Bathroom
By David Smith, Fri Dec 9th

IP Ratings

IP rating stands for 'Ingress Protection'

An IP number is used to classify the environmental protection ofenclosures around electronic equipment.

The first digit relates to foreign bodies such as tools, hands,fingers and dust. The second digit related to liquids.

First Digit - Foreign Bodies

0 - No protection 1 - Protected against solid objects greaterthan 50mm2. (eg hands) 2 - Protected against solid objects up to12mm2. (eg fingers) 3 - Protected against solid objects greaterthan 2.5mm2. (eg tools and wires) 4 - Protected against solidobjects up to 1mm2. (eg small tools and wires) 5 - Protectedagainst dust, limited ingress (eg no harmful deposit). 6 -Totally protected against dust.

Second Digit - Liquids

0 - No protection 1 - Protection against vertically fallingdrops of water (example, condensation. 2 - Protection againstdirect sprays of water up to 15 degrees from vertical. 3 -Protection against direct sprays of water up to 60 degrees fromvertical. 4 - Protection against water sprayed from alldirections - limited ingress permitted. 5 - Protected againstlow pressure jets of water from all directions - limited ingresspermitted. 6 - Protected against low pressure jets of water,limited ingress permitted (eg ship deck). 7 - Protected againstthe effect of immersion between 15cm and 1m. 8 - Protectedagainst long periods of immersion under pressure. (eg. swimmingpools)

Example IP Ratings

An IP rating of IP44 is protected against solid objects greaterthan 1mm and water sprayed from all directions

An IP rating of IP68 is totally protected against dust and canbe immersed under water at high pressure for long periods

The higher the IP Rating the more protection offered for yourhome lighting.

Having the right level of protection is especially important inBathroom Lighting

The bathroom is a functional room, and the lighting priorityshould be given to grooming at the mirror. Lighting at themirror serves for cleaning, make up, shaving and dressing,bathroom lighting should be plentiful and evenly distributedwithout shadows, and free from glare. Lighting in the centre ofthe ceiling, places the face in shadow and while useful forgeneral lighting, will not serve well for tasks based here.Lighting at both sides of the mirror works best providing evenlight across the face and avoids shadow under the chin.Fluorescent lighting is ideal for tasks and provides high levelsof illumination with less heat and lower operating cost thannormal GLS fittings. GLS or halogen, offer greater decorativepossibilities and if well spaced and diffused, can be used veryeffectively.

Fixtures with diffusers (shades or glass covers) are the best toavoid glare, while fixtures with bare bulbs can produce glare inyour eyes from mirrors. Ceiling fixtures above mirrors should bedirectly over the centre of the mirror and be in proportion tothe mirror size for best results. Recessed downlights have thebenefit of being unobtrusive, but will produce shadows under theeyelids, nose and chin unless placed close to the mirror, spacedwell apart and above a light coloured surface they will bouncelight back upward to remove the shadows. General lighting fromrecessed fixtures will serve to illuminate spaces, cupboards andthe bath, where some people like to read and relax. There arealso waterproof lighting fixtures now available suitable forshowers.

Installing dimmer controls for these fixtures is useful as theygive attractive low levels of lighting for the evening and allowyou to adapt the lighting to your mood and requirements. Candlescan be added for that extra relaxing bath to soothe away thedaily strains and add intimacy.

Safety Lighting and Lights for Bathrooms

Firstly it is important to understand the rating by whichbathroom and some outdoor lights are classified. IP ratingstands for 'Ingress Protection' and is always followed by twocharacters. The first character specifies the degree ofprotection against particles or solid objects. Starting with 0for no protection to 8 for a light which may be totallysubmerged in water up to the specified depth. The rating whichinterest us are IPx4 (x is used in this case because there is norequirement

in the regulations for a level of dust protection).Lights sold as IPx4 will have been tested for protection againstwater splashing from any direction.

Zone 0 is inside the bath or shower itself and any fittings usedhere must be low voltage (max 12V) and be rated IPx7 which istotal protection when immersed in water.

Zone 1 is above the bath to a height of 2.25m. A minimum ratingof IPx4 is required here.

Zone 2 is an area stretching to 0.6m outside the bath and abovethe bath if over 2.25m. An IP rating of at least IPx4 isrequired here.

Zone 3 is anywhere outside zones 0, 1, and 2 (subject tospecific limits) and where no water jet is likely to be usedthere is no IP rating required.

The IEE Regulations do not make specific reference to washbasins but in the opinion of The Lighting Association theyshould be treated as Zone 2 (i.e. IPx4).

For further assistance just ask the home lightingspecialists

About the author:Webmaster for www.washington-lc.co.uk. In addition I have asound knowlege on lighting.