Features of lighting in the bath

Choosing lighting fixtures for the bath, you can not be guided only by their aesthetic appearance. Designs installed in a room with high humidity and temperature, must necessarily meet legal norms.

Installation of lighting in the bath or sauna is carried out in accordance with the norms SNiP, GOST and PUE. However, the requirements for lighting in the steam room and washing room may differ. In the steam room there is always a high level of humidity and high temperatures, so luminaires for the room should have a class of protection against dust and moisture at least IP 65. No less important is the heat resistance, that is, the ability to withstand temperatures up to 180 degrees.

Cables used for wiring must be able to withstand high temperatures. Although they can be laid either exposed or concealed, the use of metal hoses and pipes is strictly prohibited. It is important that the wire does not have a sheath made of metal, and that it is laid only in special electrical tubes.

The cross-section of the cable should be calculated with a correction factor that takes into account the increased temperature of the room. Each wire should have a double insulation layer. It is optimal to use varieties embedded in special insulation made of rubber or PVC sheathing.

In a steam room, washing room and dressing-room, the illumination of the room should be at least 75 lux, and in a swimming pool - more than 100 lux.. Emergency lighting is provided in cases where there is little or no natural light in the sauna: for example, if the steam room is equipped in the basement of a brick house. In the shower room, the degree of protection must be at least IP65.

To illuminate the steam room and bathing room of a log sauna, you can use special fog lights, which will illuminate the room even in the presence of thick steam. It is better to place them either above the entrance or in the corners. In any case, the light should not strike the eyes. The presence of protective glass is very important.

The choice of lamps for the bath is quite extensive.

According to the approved standards, the following are suitable for lighting the steam room Standard incandescent lamps or halogen lamps of different voltage classes. The use of LED strip in the steam room itself is not welcome, as this device exhibits high sensitivity to temperature jumps. Despite the fact that during operation the heating is not too strong, the bulbs still burn out.

In addition to the above, other options are possible that meet a number of requirements. The bulbs must be able to withstand temperature rises of up to 120 degrees, take high humidity well, as well as work in temperature jumps.

This means that in addition to halogen and classic bulbs, fiber optic bulbs can also be connected. It is possible to use Himalayan salt light fixtures, but not as the main source of light, but as an additional multi-functional decor.

Incandescent bulbs can withstand high temperatures, and a protective plafond will protect them from high humidity, But they do not have a very long lifespan. Halogen lamps are not afraid of high temperatures, up to 400 degrees, are safe and visually appealing. Diode, as mentioned above, it is better to place in the rest room or pre-bathroom.

Fiber optic lighting in the bath is high-quality and safe, but quite expensive. Under no circumstances should you place energy-saving fluorescent light bulbs, which can only be used at temperatures below 60 degrees. It is not recommended to install them even in the anteroom.

In principle, there are no special requirements regarding the size of the lamps. Focus here should be guided by both the style, size and ambience of the room, as well as common sense. The size of lighting fixtures used should not contribute to the fact that certain parts of them are placed near the heating elements. Very bad if the large lamps will be trivial interfere steaming people on the top shelf.

It is best to give preference to angular models of medium sizeand also horizontal solutions, "standing up" at the junction of the ceiling and walls.

The maximum allowable wattage of light bulbs for the steam room is 60 watts. With a higher wattage, there is a high probability of igniting the walls made of wood or those decorated with clapboard. For other rooms of the bath or sauna, there are no special requirements for the power of lighting devices.

Creating a lighting system in the washing room, swimming pool and pre-bath is on a similar scheme. The absence of high temperatures gives more opportunities in the application of LEDs, LED strips and fluorescent bulbs. All light fittings should have appropriate protection against moisture and dust (IP65 in the shower room and IP44 in all other areas) as well as be fitted with dome lamps with moisture protection.

The light switch in the shower or swimming pool should be placed in the anteroom for safety reasons. Wall lights should be mounted so that there is no chance of accidental mechanical damage.

In a washroom or swimming pool, it makes sense to use multiple fixtures located on the walls or ceiling and as far away from the water as possible. On the walls of the pool can be placed and LED strip, additionally protected from liquid penetration. For pre-bath, by the way, should choose the brightest light fixture.

In the rest room, you can wiring so that the entire room is illuminated by a single chandelier. Or there is another option: give preference to floor floor lamps and wall lamps. Backlighting pictures would be appropriate, but only if it corresponds to the general stylistics. In general, the creation of a lighting system in this area depends only on the owners' preferences.

Some people install recessed lights on a stretch ceiling, others order a starry sky system, and still others form a multi-contour lighting system. Whatever the choice, the important thing is to make sure that the lighting creates a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere in the rest room. For the lighting of the utility room is enough a simple lamp with one incandescent bulb.

About the lighting of the steam room has already been discussed a lot above, but it is worth adding that for a more interesting atmosphere can be organized by lighting the shelves with LED strips. In this room, the lighting should not be too intense, but sufficient. It is important to remember that dim lighting causes drowsiness in a person, which, in turn, can lead to disastrous consequences. It is recommended to place the lights Behind the people who take a steam bathso the lights do not irritate their eyes during the procedure. You can place the structures in the corners, as well as on the back wall. Ceiling lighting is also possible. For a medium-sized steam room, a couple or three light fixtures will be sufficient.

To determine the required number of lighting fixtures for a particular room, you should first find out the level of the norm, and then multiply the number of square meters by this number. For example, The recommended illumination of a pre-bathroom is 150 lumens per square meter. By multiplying 150 by the area of the space you can find out the necessary amount of lumens for all luminaires.

Recommendations of experts include the use of a pair of halogen or LED lights in the anteroom. Parallel inclusion of light sources will make the lighting brighter, as well as allow you to easily survive the problem of a burned out bulb. Small LED lights can be installed around the perimeter of the lounge ceiling or in the anteroom. A 12 volt battery together with a couple of LED strips can be installed as emergency lighting in the sauna area.

Self-installation of lighting fixtures in the bath is always carried out according to a certain scheme. The first thing with a pencil or marker marked the places where there will be light fixtures, as well as pinpoints wires. In the case where the steam room or rest room will be located several lamps, it is important to calculate the correct distance between the bulbs. The next step is to conduct the power supply in a special heat-resistant conduit. Be sure to immediately check and wiring.

When cladding the walls, if necessary, holes are cut in them according to the shape of the fixtures. In the case of cut-in fixtures, the wires are cut first, and then the connection to the socket is made. Overhead fixtures require a mounting plate to be fixed. When installing 12-watt bulbs, a transformer will need to be connected to reduce the electrical supply to the required level. For protection, this device is placed in the frame. Bulbs are screwed in only after the installation of lighting fixtures will be completed.

About the peculiarities of selecting a light fixture for the bath in the video.