Common sense dictates: electricity and water combined requires caution, because before you know it, your house catches fire.
It is precisely for that reason that conventions have been set up, both European and global; to impose rules on consumers to increase and ensure safety in homes.
So if you want to illuminate your bathroom, you have to play by the rules! One of the conventions indicates water-resistance of lighting fixtures: the IP code.
Your bathroom and the required IP codes
IP stands for International Protection Rating, and consists of two digits.
For water-resistance, you have to look at the second digit:
|
IP |
Class |
Significance |
|
IP-x0 |
None |
No protection |
|
IP-x1 |
Drip proof Type I |
No harmful effect from dripping water |
|
IP-x2 |
Drip proof Type II |
No harmful effect from dripping water tilted at an angle of 15 |
|
IP-x3 |
Spray proof |
No harmful effect when sprayed (10 l/min) at an angle of -60° till 60° |
|
IP-x4 |
Splash proof |
No harmful effect when splashed (10 l/min) at any angle |
|
IP-x5 |
Jet proof |
No harmful effect from jets (12,5 l/min) |
|
IP-x6 |
Powerful jet proof |
No harmful effect from jets (100 l/min) |
|
IP-x7 |
Immersion proof < 1m |
No harmful effect when immersed (30 min on 1m) |
|
IP-x8 |
Immersion proof > 1m |
No harmful effect when immersed |
|
IP-x9 |
Water proof |
No harmful effect at humidity levels over 90% or high pressure spray downs |
Zones in the bathroom
The application of IP codes depends on the zone you want to illuminate.
We distinguish different zones in a bathroom on the basis of the amount of water or water vapour you can expect in the area, and how many Volts run through the lighting fixture.
- Zone 0
In Zone 0, all lighting fixtures powered by 12V or less have to be at least IPX7. Appliances powered by 6V or less don’t require special protocols.. - Zone 1
Here, too, lighting fixtures powered by 6V or less don’t need special requirements. Appliances powered by 12V or more, IPX5 is the minimum. - Zone 2
Low voltage appliances need an IP minimum of X4. All other lighting fixtures have to be installed on a height of at least 1,6m. - Zone 3
The rest of the space in your bathroom. Because there’s always going to be some water (vapour) in a bathroom, you’re obliged to go for appliances with at least IP21 in zone 3!
Now you're all set to illuminate your bathroom!
Do you like it bright and blazing? Or do you prefer relaxed and atmospheric? Take a look at our bathroom lighting here, and get inspired.
