What IP rating does a bathroom lamp need?
In any other room you choose a lamp on size, colour and brightness. In the bathroom there is one extra requirement: it has to withstand moisture. That is shown on the packaging as an IP rating, and it is the one specification you cannot get around.
What the two digits mean
IP stands for Ingress Protection. The first digit is about dust and solid particles, the second about water. IP44 therefore means: protected against objects larger than one millimetre, and against splashing water from all directions.
Three ratings are relevant for the bathroom. IP44 is splash-proof and is enough for most of the room. IP65 is dust-tight and resistant to water jets. IP67 can even handle temporary immersion, but is rarely needed in a bathroom.
The zones in your bathroom
A bathroom is divided into zones, and each zone has its own requirement.
Zone 0 is the inside of the bath or shower tray itself. Only low voltage with IP67 is allowed there.
Zone 1 is the area directly above the bath or shower, up to 2.25 metres high. At least IP45 is required here; in practice you choose IP65.
Zone 2 extends sixty centimetres beyond the bath and shower, and around the washbasin. IP44 is enough here.
Outside these no special requirements apply, although IP44 remains sensible: a bathroom simply gets warm and humid.
The exact rules can differ slightly per country. Check with your electrician what applies where you live.
Where it goes wrong in practice
Most mistakes happen at the mirror. People choose a beautiful wall light without an IP rating there, because it does not hang above the shower. But water does splash at a washbasin, and steam condenses on everything that is cold. So always choose at least IP44 at the mirror.
A second pitfall is the finish. Chrome and stainless steel hold up well in a humid room. Untreated brass or steel can show marks over time, even if the IP rating is right. The rating says something about electrical safety, not about how the material ages.
Light at the mirror: from the side, not from above
A lamp directly above the mirror casts shadows on your face, right under the eyes and chin. Two wall lights either side of the mirror, at eye level, give even light in which you see yourself clearly.
Choose 3000 kelvin there. Warmer is too yellow to judge colours well, cooler makes the room clinical. Read more in which light colour for which room.
How much light do you need?
Allow 200 to 300 lumens per square metre for general lighting, plus extra at the mirror. A six square metre bathroom therefore needs just over 1,500 lumens in total. See how many lumens you need per room.
Unsure?
The IP rating is listed for every bathroom lamp in our collection. Not sure which zone your lamp will hang in? Send us a photo or floor plan and we will look at it with you before you order.
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