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IP rating for my bathroom lights

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2024 9:27 am
by Dxc712
Hello

I'm looking to get a 3-way ceiling spotlight for my bathroom. This will go in the same place as the current light fixture which is just under two feet to the right of the new shower enclosure and just over two feet from the bathroom entrance.

I've attached a scale plan of the bathroom. The green square indicates the position of the light.

What IP rating will I need for the 3-way spotlight?

Thanks

IP rating for my bathroom lights

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2024 9:55 am
by ericmark
There is zone 0, 1, 2, and the 3 meters for a socket in a bathroom, so the question is what zone is that lamp in? Zone 2 stops at 2.25 meters high, and 0.6 meters from zone 1. I would guess the lamp is outside the zones, so IPX4 for zone 2 does not apply, but I would tend to fit IPX4 anyway, if a wet room, then IPX5 required.

But likely a standard pendent lamp would comply looking at the diagram, and to be frank if all lights RCD protected then should water get in, it will simply trip. My bathroom still has pendent lamps.

IP rating for my bathroom lights

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2024 10:59 am
by Dxc712
ericmark wrote: Tue Aug 13, 2024 9:55 am There is zone 0, 1, 2, and the 3 meters for a socket in a bathroom, so the question is what zone is that lamp in? Zone 2 stops at 2.25 meters high, and 0.6 meters from zone 1. I would guess the lamp is outside the zones, so IPX4 for zone 2 does not apply, but I would tend to fit IPX4 anyway, if a wet room, then IPX5 required.

But likely a standard pendent lamp would comply looking at the diagram, and to be frank if all lights RCD protected then should water get in, it will simply trip. My bathroom still has pendent lamps.
The ceiling is about 2.4 metres high if that helps.

Sorry, there was a typo and a mistake in my original message. The light fixture is about 45cm from the shower enclosure and about 160cm from the bathroom entrance.

IP rating for my bathroom lights

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2024 11:19 am
by Neelix
IP44 is what you should look for

IP rating for my bathroom lights

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2024 11:26 am
by Dxc712
ericmark wrote: Tue Aug 13, 2024 9:55 am There is zone 0, 1, 2, and the 3 meters for a socket in a bathroom, so the question is what zone is that lamp in?
I found this online:

Zone 0 is 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 or shower to a height of 2.25m from the floor. In this zone a minimum rating of IP45 is required but it is generally accepted that IP65 is to be used. It's also worth noting that most shower lights are rated at IP65 in any case.

Zone 2 is an area stretching 0.6m outside the perimeter of the bath 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 wash basin, within a 60cm radius of any tap to be considered as zone 2.

Outside Zones are anywhere outside zones 0,1 and 2 (subject to specific limits) and where no water jet is likely to be used. There are no special IP requirements in this zone, however we suggest that you consider a light with an IP rating of at least IP20+.


If this is correct then my bathroom fixture is outside all three zones, it's within the Zone 2 0.6m range from where the shower enclosure will be but above the 2.25m height from the floor.

IP rating for my bathroom lights

Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2024 11:27 am
by Dxc712
Neelix wrote: Tue Aug 13, 2024 11:19 am IP44 is what you should look for
Thanks.

On a separate point, why are some ratings written in the form IP65, IP44 etc and IPx4 and IPx5 in other cases?

I'm assuming that IPx4 and IPx5 represent a range of IP ratings and IP65 and IP44 are specific ratings.

If so, which category does IP65 and IP44 fall into?

Update: I've looked this up online and IP44 falls into the IPx4 category, IP55 and IP65 fall into the IPx5 category etc.

The number immediately after the P represents its level of protection against solid objects.

The number on the end represents its level of protection against liquid.

Please let me know if I've got that wrong!

IP rating for my bathroom lights

Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2024 3:29 pm
by Someone-Else
.................you did not ask for anyone to let you know if it is right either. :-)

But yes, it is right.