Understanding Bathroom IP Zoning: Ensuring Safety and Compliance

The Importance of IP Zoning in Bathrooms

When selecting bathroom lights, it's crucial to consider more than just style. Regulations dictate what lights can be used in different parts of the bathroom, known as zones, and these lights must have appropriate IP ratings. Water and electricity are a dangerous combination, making it essential to choose the right lighting for each zone.

What is IP Zoning for Bathrooms?

To illustrate IP zoning regulations, bathrooms are divided into areas classified by numbers: 0, 1, and 2.

Zone 0: Inside the bath or shower. Fittings here must be SELV (Separated Extra Low Voltage – max. 12 Volts) and have a minimum rating of IP67, ensuring protection against total immersion in water.

Zone 1: Above the bath or shower up to a height of 2.25m. Recommended IP rating is IP65. If the fitting is 240 volts, a 30mA residual current device (RCD) must also be used to protect the circuit.

Zone 2: The area extending 0.6m outside the bath or shower and above the bath or shower if over 2.25m. An IP rating of at least IP44 is required.

Outside the Zones

Areas outside zones 0, 1, and 2 do not require lighting solutions to be protected against particles or solid objects – no IP rating is needed. However, any socket outlets for shavers, ply sockets, or rechargeable toothbrushes must be in this zone and provided with 30mA RCD protection.

Understanding IP Ratings

IP ratings consist of two digits:

First Digit: Protection against ingress of foreign bodies (solids).

0: No protection

1: Protected against solid objects greater than 50mm (e.g., accidental touch by hands)

2: Protected against solid objects up to 12mm (e.g., fingers)

3: Protected against solid objects greater than 2.5mm (e.g., tools and wires)

4: Protected against solid objects greater than 1mm (e.g., small tools and wires)

5: Protected against dust, limited ingress (e.g., no harmful deposit)

6: Totally protected against dust

Second Digit: Protection against ingress of liquids.

0: No protection

1: Protection against vertically falling drops of water (e.g., condensation)

2: Protection against direct sprays of water up to 15 degrees from vertical

3: Protection against direct sprays of water up to 60 degrees from vertical

4: Protection against water sprayed from all directions – limited ingress permitted

5: Protected against low pressure jets of water from all directions – limited ingress permitted

6: Protected against high pressure jets of water (use on ship deck) – limited ingress permitted

7: Protected against the effects of immersion between 15cm and 1m

8: Protected against long periods of immersion under pressure

Common IP Ratings

The most common IP ratings are IP67, IP65, IP44, and IP20. Depending on the risk of water entry in each zone, you will need bathroom fixtures with the appropriate protection. To avoid electrocution, ensure your bathroom lights have an IP rating indicating the zones where they can be used.

Conclusion

Understanding bathroom IP zoning is essential for ensuring safety and compliance with regulations. By selecting the right IP-rated fixtures for each zone, you can create a safe and stylish bathroom environment.