What should be the lighting in the bathroom?

Primary requirements

Since the bathroom is an area of ​​high humidity, when electrical wiring and lighting must take care of safety, which is to protect against electric shock.

It should also be borne in mind that here, in addition to the bathing process, girls apply makeup and men shave. Based on this, the light should be suitable, that is, as close to natural as possible.

During electrical work, the following requirements for lighting the bathroom are:

1. The wiring must be hidden.
2. Junction box installation according to GOST, to be made outside the room (the same requirements are imposed on the switches).
3. All electrical appliances must be waterproof, with a degree of protection of at least IP 44 (but better IP 67).
4. Be sure to implement RCD installationwhich protects against current leaks.
5. Take care of the quality grounding of all electrical appliances and wiring elements (sockets, switches, etc.).
6. Use sealed terminal blocks to connect the wires.
7. If you decide to lay the cable in an open way (for example, in the ledge of a suspended ceiling), protect it with a plastic tube or corrugation.
8. Fixtures for the bathroom should be not only ceiling, but also wall (above the mirror). You can learn more about them by clicking on the appropriate link.
9. For lighting use only LED and halogen lamps. They are safer, moreover, they have a long service life and have energy-saving properties.
10. Sockets, switches and electrical appliances must be at least 2.5 meters from water. Moisture-proof products can be installed closer (up to 0.6 meters)
11. An important rule is that there should not be any extension cords (simply, carrying), electrical appliances must be connected directly to a power outlet.

Most effective options

We've figured out the requirements, now let's talk about bathroom lighting options. As we have said, fixtures can be installed on the ceiling and on the walls. In spacious rooms, it is recommended to additionally place outdoor products (flashlights and floor lamps).

Ceiling lights should be placed in several places. "Grandfather's way" - installing a lamp in the middle of the room is not at all reasonable, because the main amount of light may not reach the required area. For example, if the bathtub has curtains or a shower cabin, then the luminous flux will not reach the full bathing place and will make this process less comfortable.It is best to install ceiling lights above the bathroom and above the mirror, if the area allows. Of the products, it is recommended to give preference to spotlights (below in the photo), waterproof shades and directional lamps.

As for wall lamps, they should be in those areas that need high-quality lighting. As a rule, this is the place above the mirror and shelves, if any. In this case, it is best to exercise installation of sconces as well as wall and ceiling shades.

We draw your attention to the fact that it is forbidden to install sconces over the bathtub. In some cases, the bulb breaks due to contact of water with a hot lampshade (if the product is Chinese). Unscrew the bursting bulb will be a bit problematic.

Floor lamps are used exclusively for decorative purposes. They can have a creative design, which is the "highlight" of the interior. Most commonly used are floor-mounted tablets, as well as chrome floor lamps. To illuminate a small bathroom, floor lamps will not be relevant at all, because take up a lot of space.

To your attention a visual video example:

Useful Tips

Very often, during electrical work, electrical novices make many simple mistakes that can cause big problems in the future. To readersour.electricianexp»Were calm for the work done, we bring to your attention the following tips for creating lighting in the bathroom:

1. Watch for the correct connection of the contacts, if you connect the phase to zero, there will be a short circuit and electric shock. To prevent this error, check out color coded wires.
2. If you decide install outlet near the sink (for connecting a hair dryer), purchase a product with a protective cover, as shown in the picture.
3. For lighting in the bathroom, purchase an oversized cable. Most often for a rosette group use VVGng cable 3 * 2.5, and for luminaires VVGng 3 * 1.5. If the cross section is smaller than necessary according to calculations, after a while the wiring will begin to melt and this will lead to its spontaneous combustion (and, accordingly, short circuit).
4. Be sure to mark all groups of wires with tags labeled "sockets", "lights", etc. Very often, during repair work, electricians spend a lot of time searching for a failed line. For marking, it is best to use cambric (colored shrink tubing) and ordinary paper markings.
5. If you will be install spotlights in a suspended or suspended ceiling, for a standard bathroom there should be at least 6.
6. To visually enlarge the room and make the lighting more efficient, install a mirror and aim several bulbs at it, as shown in the example. This option is ideal for a bathroom in Khrushchev with a low ceiling.
7. Another important point - create additional potential equalization system. This system is an auxiliary grounding of electrical appliances. It consists of a wire that is attached to the housings, sinks and risers in the bathroom. The wire is exposed and attached to metal parts that need to be grounded.
8. Install power outlets 100 cm above the floor. Such outlet height the most convenient and safe to use products.
9. Additionally, install a hygrostat that will control the humidity in the room. If this value is high (or rather unsafe for the operation of electrical appliances), the gyrostat will start a fan that will dry the room.
10. Also connect a leakage protection system that will automatically block the flow of water when leaks occur in the pipes.

That's all I wanted to tell about the requirements and tips for installing lighting in the bathroom with your own hands. We hope that the information was available to you and useful. We also recommend that you read the article: installation of lighting in the apartment!