Bathrooms are zoned according to electrical safety measures. The lighting zones define what types of lighting can be in an area, according to how dangerous lighting could be there. Zone 1 is the area above the bath, and it is one of the more dangerous lighting zones.
Zones
Bathroom lighting is divided into four zones: 0, 1, 2 and 3. Each zone specifies a certain part of the bathroom where lighting needs to be present and installed.
Purpose
The zones in a bathroom are for the purpose of installing electrical equipment. The zones are based on the risk of electrical shock according to a product's IP (ingress protection) rating.
IP Rating
An IP rating is a coded number that indicates the risk of hazards when exposed to water. In zone 1 a minimum of IP 44 is required. IP 44 products protect from water sprayed in all directions and splashing.
Zone 1
Zone 1 is the area above the bath up to 7.38 feet above the floor. Lighting in this area must meet the IP 44 standards. In other words, it should be safe to get wet.
Other Zones
Other bathroom zones include zone 0 (the inside of the bath or shower), zone 2 (the area surrounding zone 1 and the shower) and zone 3 (the rest of the bathroom).
Tags: above bath, area above, area above bath, dangerous lighting, lighting zones