Electrics in the Bathroom

January 02 2026, by Jennifer Howe, 2 min reading time

IP ratings show how well a light or fitting is protected from dust and water. The rating has two numbers: The first number shows protection from solid objects (like dust or fingers). The second number shows protection from water.Higher numbers mean better protection. For bathrooms, different areas have different rules: Zone 1 (above the shower up to 2.25m): minimum IP44 required. If the fitting is 240V, it must also be protected by a 30mA RCD. Zone 2 (0.6m around Zone 1 and near basins): minimum IPX4 required. Outside zones: no special IP rating is needed unless water jets are used for cleaning. If you want, I can shorten this even further or rewrite it in a more beginner-friendly tone.

IP Ratings

IP Rating or Ingress Protection followed by a 2 digit number for example IP65 relates to the protection a fitting has against the ingress of particles and water, you may sometimes see IPx5 or IPx6 this generally means its only been tested for ingress against water. the higher the first number the better the protection against foreign particles, the second number relates to the protection against water ingress. see table further down for explanation of each number.

First number – Intrusion against solids

0   No Ingress Protection
1   Protected against solid objects up to 50 mm e.g accidental touch by hands.
2   Protected against solid objects up to 12 mm e.g fingers.
3   Protected against solid objects over 2.5 mm such as tools and small wires.
4   Protected against solid objects over 1 mm such as tools and small wires
5   Protected against dust – limited ingress permitted (no harmful deposit)
6   Totally protected against dust.

Second Number – Intrusion against liquids

0   No Ingress protection.
1   Protected against vertically falling drops of water.
2   Protected against direct sprays of water up to 15° from the vertical.
3   Protected against sprays up to 60° from vertical.
4   Protected against water sprays from all directions-limited ingress permitted.
5   Protected against low pressure water jets from all directions-limited ingress permitted.
6   Protected against strong jets of water e.g for use on ship decks-limited ingress permitted.
7   Protected against the affects of immersion between 15cm and 1m.
8   Protected against long periods of immersion under pressure.

Bathroom Zones

Zone 1

Zone 1 refers to the area above the shower up to a height of 2.25 metres and requires a minimum rating of IP44 or higher and if the fitting is 240V a 30ma RCD must be used to protect the circuit.

Zone 2
 

Zone 2 covers an area 0.6 metres wide immediately next to, and all round zone 1. Wash basins should also be treated as zone 2. The minimum rating here is IPX4.

Zone 3 / Outside Zone

Outside Zone has no special requirements, unless water jets are likely to be used for cleaning purposes.

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