Guide to IP Ratings & Bathroom Zones

IP Ratings

IP Ratings are otherwise known as ‘Ingress Protection Rating’ are used to define levels of sealing effectiveness against foreign bodies such as dirt and moisture.

You will often see IP followed by 2 numbers (IP00), the first number in an IP rating is the level of protection against solids such as dust and the second number indicates the level of protection against water. EG: IP(dust protection level, water protection level). Sometimes there is the third digit is used normally an ‘x’. This is when only one rating is being addressed. Eg: IPx4 is only referencing the moisture rating.

According to the EN 60529 classification system:

Solids Rating:

0 - No protection.

1 - Protected against solid objects over 50mm in size. Eg: Large tools.

2 - Protected against solid objects over 12mm in size. Eg: Fingers.

3 - Protected against solid objects over 2.5mm in size. Eg: Wires and small tools.

4 - Protected against solid objects over 1mm in size. Eg: Wires and bugs.

5 - Limited protection against dust ingress. Harmful amounts can't get in.

6 - Protected against dust ingress. Dust can’t get in!

Moisture Rating:

0 - No protection

1 - Protected against vertically falling drops of water.

2 - Protected against direct sprays of water with light tilted 15 degrees from vertical light rain.

3 - Protected against direct sprays of water with light tilted 60 degrees from vertical strong rain.

4 - Protected against sprays of water from all directions. Gentle spray with a hosepipe.

5 - Protected against strong jets of water from all directions. Strong spray with the hose pipe.

6 - Protected against strong jets of water from all directions. Cleaning with a high-pressure hose.

7 - Protected again temporary immersion in water no deeper than 50cm. Eg: Flood

8 - Protected against continuous immersion in water no deeper than 100cm. Eg: Pool light

For example, an IP Rating of IP65 will be protected against dust ingress and strong jets of water from all directions.

Bathroom Zoning

Now you know what your IP Rating means its time to talk bathroom zones. Your bathroom is divided into 4 zones. Below is a guide to figure out what zone your light can sit within your bathroom based on your IP Rating.

Zone 0 - Inside the bath or shower. Any lighting used in Zone 0 must have a minimum rating of IP67.

Zone 1 - Above the bath or shower to a height of 2.25m. A minimum rating of IP44 is required.

Zone 2 - The area stretching to 0.6m outside the bath or shower and above the bath and above the bath or shower if over 2.25m. A minimum IP Rating of IP44 is required.

Outside the Zones - Anywhere outside zones 0, 1 & 2. Where water jets are not to be used for cleaning purposes.

We always recommend consulting with your electrician if unsure prior to ordering your light and installing your fittings.