Bathroom & other wet areas

Areas within bathrooms, showers & other wet areas require particular Ingress Protection (IP) ratings for light fittings, depending on precisely where they are located.

Zone 0

This is the area inside the bath or shower – fittings used here should be rated IPX7.

Zone 1

This refers to the area above the bath or shower up to a height of 2.25 metres – fittings here should have a minimum rating of IPX4. Where water jets are likely to be used for cleaning purposes in Zones 1 and 2, the rating is minimum IPX5.

Zone 2

This covers an area 0.6 metres wide, immediately next to, and all around zone 1, plus the area above 2.25 metres over the bath or shower. Wash basins should be treated as Zone 2. The minimum rating here is IPX4. Where water jets are likely to be used for cleaning purposes in Zones 1 and 2, the rating is minimum IPX5.

Zone 3

This area has no special requirements, unless water jets are likely to be used for cleaning purposes. Equipment installed outside zones 0, 1, 2 and 3 must be suitable for the conditions most likely to prevail at that particular point.