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Bathroom
lights, bathroom lighting, contemporary lights, modern lights, Bathroom
Lights, Designer Bathroom Lights, Modern Bathroom Lights, Contemporary
Bathroom Lights, low voltage lights, led lights, plinth lights, mirror
lights, shaver lights, spotlights, electrical lights, light fittings,
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BATHROOM
ZONING
Electrical equipment in bathrooms must be protected
against ingress of water. The I.E.E. Wiring regulations (BS 7671:
2001 Section 601) has mandatory requirements for areas containing
a bath or shower. These safety standards are measured in zones,
with the requirements for each zone being based on the perceived
degree of risk of electric shock. There are four precisely dimensioned
zones: 0, 1, 2 and 3.
It
is important to understand the rating by which bathroom lighting
is classified. IP rating stands for ‘Ingress Protection’ and is
followed by two characters. The first specifies the degree of protection
against particles or solid objects. The second specifies the degree
of protection against liquids. (See table below) |
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Zone
0
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Inside
the bath or shower. Any fittings used here must be SELV
(max. 12V) and be rated IPX7 (protected against immersion
in water) |
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Zone
1
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Above
the bath or shower to a height of 2.25m. A minimum rating
of IPX4 is required (See note 1) |
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Zone
2
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The
area stretching to 0.6m outside the bath or shower and
above the bath or shower if over 2.25m. An IP rating
of at least IPX4 is required (See note 1) |
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Zone
3
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Anywhere
outside zones 0, 1 & 2. Where water jets are not to
be used for cleaning purposes, the general rules of
BS7671 apply (See note 1) |
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IP RATINGS EXPLAINED |
FIRST
NUMBER |
SECOND
NUMBER |
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0 |
No
protection |
0 |
No
protection |
1 |
Protected
against solid objects greater than 50mm (e.g. accidental
touch by hands) |
1 |
Protection
against vertically falling drops of water (e.g. condensation) |
2 |
Protected
against solid objects up to 12mm (e.g. fingers) |
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 |
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 |
Protection
against water sprayed from all directions - limited
ingress permitted |
5 |
Protected
against dust, limited ingress (e.g. no harmful deposit) |
5 |
Protected
against low pressure jets of water from all directions
- limited ingress permitted |
6 |
Totally
protected against dust |
6 |
Protected
against high pressure jets of water (use on ship deck)
- limited ingress permitted |
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7 |
Protected
against the effects of immersion between 15cm and 1m |
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8 |
Protected
against long periods of immersion under pressure |
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Notes:
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1
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In
zones 1, 2 & 3, if there’s a likelihood of water jets
being used for cleaning purposes, a min. of IPX5 is
required. |
2
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In
zones 1 and 2, SELV or 240V luminaires may be used (subject
to IP rating) 240V luminaires must be protected by a
30MA RCD if installed in Zone 1. |
3
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There
is no requirement for luminaires to be protected against
particles or solid objects, e.g. IPX4. |
4
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The
above information is intended as a guide only. For detailed
information, refer to the I.E.E. Wiring regulations
(BS 7671: 2001 Section 601). |
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