Bathroom Lighting

Bathroom Lighting, Shower rooms Lighting or any other room containg a shower or bath tub Lighting information.

Great care is needed when choosing bathroom lighting or any other room in your home that contain a bath or a shower as the electrical regulations are strict concerning the type of light you can use.

The bathroom mirror deserves some special attention and a diffused glass light either side will give a good general lighting where it is required.
The alternative is a halogen down light from the ceiling or fluorescent strip light over the bathroom mirror.
The latest generation of bathroom lighting mirrors incorporate lights into the bathroom mirrors themselves with sections of the reflective surface
removed and lights fitted behind them. This is very effective way of generating an even light and improving safety.

For general lighting in the rest of the bathroom either use down lights for their refreshing halogen colours or a high output flush ceiling fitting to suit the decor.

Portable lighting is not permitted in a room contain a shower or bath tub, so for mood lighting use ceiling mounted directional spotlights aimed away from the bath and at interesting features. Lights designed specifically for showers are available from GB Lighting and must be carefully fitted according to the instructions.

The following information is a guide to help you understand what fittings can be placed where. This is not an installation guide and reference should be made to the IEE Wiring Regulations or a qualified electrician.

Firstly it is important to understand the rating by which bathroom and some outdoor lights are classified. IP rating stands for 'Ingress Protection' and is always followed by two characters. These two numbers refer to level of protection and it is important that you choose fittings with the correct rating according to where they are to be sited within the bathroom.