Electric equipment in the bathroom

What light should we have in the bathroom?

Light should be selected in such a way that every corner of the room is visible. Good lighting helps us in hygiene activities or cleaning. A light source suspended in a central place of the ceiling (e.g. a plafond with a light-transmitting shade) works well as general lighting in smaller bathrooms. The types of lighting recommended for the kitchen are commonly used, i.e. luminaires for ordinary / halogen / LED bulbs in the suspended ceiling.

The meaning of light color

Actions such as shaving, makeup, etc. require the best lighting, contrast and focus vision. The most commonly used color is cool because it provides better sharpness and contrast. However, the value of the color temperature used depends on the design and color of the bathroom and the individual preferences of the user. While interiors made in traditional warm colors require a more warm, smooth and diffused color with a value of 2700K – 3500K, while interiors dominated by cool colors and white require cooler daylight 5000K – 6000K or cool white 4000K-5000K. The color rendering index should be at least 80%. More information in the guide: How to choose a bulb?

Types of lamps for the bathroom

There is an increased risk of electric shock due to fluctuating room temperature and humidity. For this reason, the bathroom is divided into security zones with the required tightness of the fittings and the permissible voltage value.

• In zone “0” (ZON 0), which includes the floor and walls of the shower cubicle and bathtub, it is allowed to install only luminaires with a degree of protection of at least IP67 and reduced voltage 12V .
• In zone “1” (ZON 1) the surface above the bathtub is intended for luminaires for reduced voltage 12V with IP44 tightness.
• In zone “2” (ZON2) 230V mains luminaires with IP44 degree of protection are allowed.
• In the “3” (ZON3) with a width of 2.4m requires luminaires with IP21 tightness.

Description of the meaning of the numbers in the IP marking in the guide: How to choose a socket and a connector?

Sockets and connectors

At the beginning, an important element is correct planning the number and arrangement of power sockets in the bathroom. Rarely do we use devices such as hair dryers, curlers, etc. at the same time. They can be powered from one socket, however, it is worth bearing in mind that the room can be used by more than one person at the same time, so a larger number, e.g. in near the sink will be most advisable. As above for lamps, it is worth considering and dividing your bathroom into zones: wet and dry. There are safety standards that specify the minimum distance of power sockets from bathtubs or shower cabins, which is 60 cm. Bearing in mind that the floor in the bathroom is also exposed to contact with water on the entire surface, the minimum height is:

• light switches at a height of 1.4 meters above the floor,
• 230V electrical sockets at a height of 1.2 meters above the floor,

Bathroom electrical equipment should be splashproof (have a closing flap) and have a degree of protection not less than IP44 . In addition, sockets should be equipped with grounding pins. For increased safety, it is worth connecting the electrical installation to a separate residual current circuit breaker , which protects the installation against the effects of short circuits and protects the bathroom user against possible electric shock.

Bathroom fans

The fans are used to extract odors and steam from the bathroom. The selection of the appropriate performance (air flow) of the fan depends on the size of the room, and more specifically on its cubature (volume). It is recommended that the capacity is at least three times greater than the volume. Another issue is the diameter of the ventilation duct, which should be adjusted to the capacity of the fan and the room. Higher capacity fans need larger ventilation ducts. Choosing the right fan also depends on the mounting method. Fans located in the ceiling should have ball bearings, and those located above the shower cubicle operated on a safe low voltage of 12V. Ventilation and heating->Ventilation .