Today we will talk about a topic that I have been asked about a lot...
For safe bathroom lighting options.
Interior design enthusiasts will agree that interesting bathroom lights will give the final touch to our decor and determine the style we want to give to our space. Often, the available bathroom lamps are limited in inspiration and do not align design wise to modern projects.
We should not have to choose between whether the lamp will be safe or whether it will have a personality and a unique style. That's why I have a suggestion at the end of this article.
But before that, let's look at what the IP rating protection of a lamp means and how to choose the right lamps for your bathroom.
I absolutely understand that when you buy a lamp, things like IP22, IP44 etc. may confuse you. This is something that can happen to everyone. Most people who buy new lights will often simply ignore this indication. I can tell you that in some cases even sellers, especially in large home chains, may not know the differences.
The IP letters come from the English "Ingress Protection". This means that the two or three numbers following the IP indicate the level of protection and durability of an electrical device against the penetration of liquid or solid objects. Specifically, the first number indicates protection from solid objects or materials. The second number indicates protection against fluids. The third and most rare number of use indicates protection against mechanical impact.
Numerical values can reach 0 to 9. This wide range of numbers exists because even lamps that provide adequate protection for outdoor spaces have their limits.
In other words, when choosing bathroom lamps , you should be careful with the ip rating, as there is a high chance of contact with water and water vapor. I would say that a lamp with an IP44, which is protected by the penetration of solid foreign objects greater than 1 mm and also protection from water, will be suitable for bathroom mounting.
If a lamp has an IP20 protection, then it is a pure indoor lamp and cannot be placed in the bathroom.
The exception to the rule are roof lamps and LED lamps, which even with a degree of IP20, can be placed in the bathroom and WC in the right safety zones.
See the picture below to know the safety zones in each bathroom.
Zone 0 - in the bathtub or in the shower. Any accessories used here must be extremely low voltage (max. 12V) and have a minimum IPX7 rating (IP67 = Absolutely protected from dust and protection from temporary water submersion).
Zone 1 - over the bathtub or shower at a height of 2.25m. IP65 rating is required.
Zone 2 - the area extending to 0.6m outside the bathtub or shower and over the bathtub or shower if it is above 2.25m. IP rating of at least IPX4 (IP44) is required.
Returning to my personal experience: In the past I had difficulty finding lights that have the right IP rating to fit in the bathroom and at the same time match the style of my interior design. Many times I had to suggest outdoor lighting for the bathroom to give the style I wanted for the end result. That's why when I got involved with Hintsdeco.com I made sure to choose products and companies for high design requirements and projects.
Discover our collection of suitable bathroom lamps from Scandinavian companies Nuura and 101 Copenhagen and create unique spaces safely and with a high aesthetic.
Please leave me a comment if you have more questions about the ip ratings.
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