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LED lighting in the bathroom!
The Find A Light range of LED bathroom lighting includes:
- LED ceiling lights
- LED wall lights
- LED recessed lights
- LED spotlights
- LED over mirror lights
Included in our range is the functional, ever-popular and very affordable LED Skyler range from Leuchten Direkt. Whatever your budget or taste, we have some beautiful bathroom LED fittings to choose from.
Can you explain bathroom regulations and zoning to me?
In Ireland there are regulations and zoning for Bathrooms. Below we have listed the IP rating and zones.
IP rating – The IP Code (or International Protection Rating, sometimes also interpreted as Ingress Protection Rating*) consists of the letters IP followed by two digits and an optional letter.
For example, IP44 simply means that the light fitting is “splash-proof”, and therefore will withstand the typical level of moisture found in a domestic bathroom. We have a large range of IP44 rated products so you’ll find plenty to choose from. A higher level of protection is IP68.
IP67 “Jet-proof” this is the rating we consider to be safe for lights fitted inside a shower cubicle.
The first digit – protection from foreign bodies | Digit | The second digit – protection from liquids |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – no protection from foreign bodies. | 0 | 0 – no protection from liquids. |
| 1 – protected against solid objects greater than 50mm (e.g. accidental touch by hands). | 1 | 1 – protection against vertically falling drops of water (e.g. condensation). |
| 2 – protected against solid objects up to 12mm (e.g. fingers). | 2 | 2 – protection against direct sprays of water up to 15 degrees from vertical. |
| 3 – protected against solid objects greater than 2.5mm (e.g. tools and wires). | 3 | 3 – protection against direct sprays of water up to 60 degrees from vertical. |
| 4 – protected against solid objects greater than 1mm (e.g. small tools and wires). | 4 | 4 – protection against water sprayed from all directions – limited ingress permitted. |
| 5 – protected against dust, limited ingress (e.g. no harmful deposit). | 5 | 5 – protected against low-pressure jets of water from all directions – limited ingress permitted. |
| 6 – totally protected against dust. | 6 | 6 – protected against high-pressure jets of water (use on ship deck) – limited ingress permitted. |
7 | 7 – protected against the effects of immersion between 15cm and 1m. | |
8 | 8 – protected against long periods of immersion under pressure. |
There are numerous combinations of IP ratings, the most common ones are, IP44, IP65, and IP67.
When choosing your lighting, always remember to establish the specific area of your bathroom where it will be fitted and its exposure to water. The bathroom area has been broken down into clear zones by the electrical safety regulations to assist you to choose the right fitting that corresponds to the specified IP rating for the amount of protection needed.
Zone 0 inside the bath or shower itself. Any fitting used in this zone must be low voltage, (max 12v) and be rated at least IP67 which is total immersion proof.
Zone 1 is the area above the bath/shower tray to a height of 2.25m from the floor. It is generally considered safer to use an IP65 rated fitting in this area. It is worth noting most shower lights are IP65. If the light is mains voltage an RCD must be used to protect the circuit in this zone.
Zone 2 is an area stretching 0.6m outside the zone1 and to a height of 2.25m from the floor. In this zone an IP rating of at least IP44 is required. In addition, it is good practice to consider the area around a washbasin, within a 60cm radius of any tap to be considered as zone 2.
Zone 3 is anywhere outside zones 0, 1 and 2 (subject to specific limits) and where no water jet used for cleaning is likely to be used. In Ireland zone 3 require at least IP20 products.
If a water jet is being used to clean light fittings must have a minimum rating of IP65.
ALL ZONES - Any electrical circuits in the bathroom must be protected by a 30mA Residual Current Device (RCD). We strongly recommend you use a qualified electrician for the installation of your bathroom light fitting.
