How Waterproof Must Your Shower Room Lights Be? A British Guide to Wet Area Ratings
Choosing a bathroom light comes down to one question: which zone will it sit in? BS 7671 sets a minimum water protection rating for each zone, and the further a fitting is from the bath or shower, the lower that minimum becomes. Get the zone right and the IP rating follows from it.
The short answer
Zone 0, inside the bath or shower tray, needs IPX7 and 12 V SELV only. Zones 1 and 2 need at least IPX4, or IPX5 where water jets are used for cleaning. Outside the zones there is no set minimum, but IP44 is a sensible choice in any bathroom. Over a shower, most electricians fit IP65 downlights.
IPX7
minimum rating for equipment in zone 0, inside the bath or tray
BS 7671 Reg 701.512.2
IPX4
minimum rating for equipment in zones 1 and 2
BS 7671 Reg 701.512.2
12 V
maximum SELV voltage for fixed equipment in zone 0
BS 7671 Section 701
2.25 m
height of zones 1 and 2 above the finished floor
BS 7671 Section 701
Regulation numbers refer to BS 7671:2018+A2:2022, the IET Wiring Regulations, Section 701 (locations containing a bath or shower). IP codes are defined in BS EN 60529. For the special location rules that decide when bathroom work is notifiable, see the IET's Part P guidance for England and Wales. Sources are listed in full at the end.
What an IP rating means
IP stands for Ingress Protection, defined in BS EN 60529. The first digit is protection against solid objects and dust, the second against water. In a bathroom, the second digit is the one that matters. An X in place of a digit simply means that property was not tested, so IPX4 and IP44 give the same water protection.
| Rating | Water protection | Typical bathroom use |
|---|---|---|
| IP20 | None | Outside the zones only, well away from splashing. Many standard downlights are IP20. |
| IP44 | Splashing from any direction | Zones 1 and 2 and the rest of the room. Mirror lights and shaver lights are often IP44. |
| IP65 | Low pressure jets from any direction | Over the shower and bath, wet rooms, and anywhere a shower head can reach the fitting. |
| IP67 | Temporary immersion | Zone 0, together with 12 V SELV. In practice, lights inside the bath are rare. |
The zones and the minimum rating for each
Regulation 701.512.2 sets the minimum for each zone. These are minimums, and many electricians go one step higher, especially over a shower.
| Zone | Where it is | Minimum rating | What we would fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 0 | Inside the bath or shower tray | IPX7 | 12 V SELV fittings only, with the transformer outside the zones |
| Zone 1 | Above the bath or tray up to 2.25 m. Without a tray, within 1.2 m of the shower head | IPX4 | IP65 downlights, or a SELV extractor fan |
| Zone 2 | A further 0.6 m out from zone 1, up to 2.25 m high | IPX4 | IP44 or IP65 fittings, IP44 mirror and shaver lights |
| Outside the zones | The rest of the room | None set | IP44 recommended. IP20 only where splashing is unlikely |
Where water jets are used for cleaning, the minimum rises to IPX5. This applies in zones 1 and 2, and mainly affects communal showers, gyms and some commercial bathrooms. In a home it rarely applies, but an IP65 fitting meets it anyway.
Low ceilings change the zones. Zones 1 and 2 run up to 2.25 m above the floor. In a bathroom with a lower ceiling, the zones reach the ceiling, so every light directly above the bath or shower is inside zone 1. If the shower head is fixed higher than 2.25 m, zone 1 goes up to the shower head as well.
IP65 bathroom downlights we stock
All of the downlights below are IP65, which meets the zone 1 and zone 2 minimum with room to spare. The fire rated versions are for ceilings with a room or loft above, where a hole in the ceiling would otherwise weaken its fire resistance.
Knightsbridge
RDSHW IP65 GU10 recessed downlight, white
Knightsbridge
RDSHCBR IP65 GU10 recessed downlight, brushed chrome
Ansell
ATLD Twistlock IP65 downlight, matt white
Aurora
EN-DLM411W EDLM GU10 fixed IP65 downlight, white
Aurora
EN-FD103W EFD GU10 IP65 fire rated downlight, white
Knightsbridge
VFCFIPW IP65 fixed GU10 fire rated downlight, white
Integral
ILDLFR70D015 Evofire IP65 fire rated downlight
JCC
JC010016/WH Fireguard IP65 showerlight, white
Prices shown are correct at the time of writing and exclude VAT where applicable. Check the product page for current pricing, stock and full specification.
Mirror lights, shaver lights and extractor fans
Downlights are not the only fittings that need the right rating. Mirror and shaver lights usually sit in zone 2 or just outside it, so IP44 is the normal specification. An extractor fan mounted above the shower is in zone 1, which is why many installers choose a SELV fan: it runs at 12 V from a transformer placed outside the zones.
Enlite
SV1 8W LED IP44 shaver light, white
Knightsbridge
BA03S1MW IP44 GU10 single spotlight, matt white
Envirovent
SIL100P12V Silent 100 low voltage, pull cord
Envirovent
CLAS100S12V Classic 100 standard, low voltage
Check the product page for the IP rating of each fitting and for the zones the manufacturer approves it for.
How to choose, step by step
- Mark the zones. Measure 0.6 m out from the edge of the bath or shower tray, and note the ceiling height. If the ceiling is lower than 2.25 m, the zones reach it.
- Place each fitting on the plan. Downlights over the shower are in zone 1. Lights over the basin are often in zone 2 or outside the zones, depending on the layout.
- Set the minimum rating. IPX4 in zones 1 and 2, IPX7 and 12 V SELV in zone 0. Outside the zones, IP44 is the safe default.
- Check whether it needs to be fire rated. If there is a room or loft above, a fire rated downlight keeps the ceiling's fire resistance where it has been cut.
- Check the manufacturer's zone approval. Some fittings are IP65 at the front but only when the correct seal or bezel is fitted. Follow the instructions, or the rating does not apply.
- Confirm RCD protection. All circuits serving the bathroom need 30 mA RCD protection under Regulation 701.411.3.3, including the lighting circuit.
Common mistakes
- Fitting IP20 downlights over the shower. They are fine in a hallway, but over the shower they are in zone 1 and below the IPX4 minimum.
- Forgetting the ceiling height. In a bathroom with a low ceiling, the whole ceiling above the bath can be in zone 1.
- Treating IP rating as fire rating. An IP65 downlight is not automatically fire rated. Under a room or loft, you may need both.
- Leaving out the seal. Many IP65 downlights only meet their rating with the gasket or bezel fitted correctly.
- A mains fan directly above the shower. Check the fan is approved for zone 1. If not, choose a SELV model with the transformer outside the zones.
- Putting the SELV transformer in the zone. The safety source for SELV equipment must sit outside zones 0, 1 and 2, usually in the loft or ceiling void outside the zones.
Planning bathroom lighting? Browse our IP65 bathroom downlights, IP65 fire rated downlights, mirror and shaver lights and low voltage extractor fans. For switching, see our guide to light switches in bathrooms. We supply trade, councils, end users and government bodies.
Frequently asked questions
What IP rating do I need for bathroom lights in the UK?
It depends on the zone. Zone 0, inside the bath or shower tray, needs IPX7 and 12 V SELV. Zones 1 and 2 need at least IPX4, rising to IPX5 where water jets are used for cleaning. Outside the zones there is no set minimum, but IP44 is a sensible choice anywhere in a bathroom. Over a shower, IP65 is the usual specification.
Is IP44 enough for bathroom downlights?
IP44 meets the IPX4 minimum for zones 1 and 2, so it is enough by the regulations. Over a shower, where the light can be hit directly by water from the shower head, most electricians fit IP65 to give more margin.
Do I need IP65 lights over a shower?
The regulations require at least IPX4 in zone 1, which is the space above the shower tray up to 2.25 m. IP65 is not strictly required in a home, but it is the most common choice over a shower because it protects against water jets from any direction.
What is the difference between IP44 and IP65?
IP44 protects against objects over 1 mm and against splashing water from any direction. IP65 is dust tight and protects against low pressure water jets from any direction. In a bathroom, the practical difference is that IP65 copes with direct spray from a shower head, while IP44 is designed for splashes.
Can I put any light in a bathroom outside the zones?
BS 7671 does not set a minimum IP rating outside the zones, so an IP20 fitting can be used where it will not be splashed. Steam and condensation still reach most of the room, so IP44 is the safer default, and it costs little more.
Do bathroom downlights need to be fire rated?
If there is a room or a loft above the bathroom ceiling, cutting holes for downlights can weaken the ceiling's fire resistance. A fire rated downlight restores it. Where the ceiling has no fire separation role, a non fire rated IP65 downlight can be used.
Can an extractor fan go above the shower?
Yes, if it is suitable for zone 1. That means at least IPX4 and approved by the manufacturer for that zone. Many installers choose a SELV fan running at 12 V, with the transformer installed outside zones 0, 1 and 2.
Sources & references
- BS 7671:2018+A2:2022, Requirements for Electrical Installations, IET Wiring Regulations, Section 701. Zone definitions, Regulation 701.512.2 on the minimum IP rating in each zone, Regulation 701.411.3.3 on 30 mA RCD protection, and the requirements for SELV equipment in zone 0.
- BS EN 60529, Degrees of protection provided by enclosures, the IP code. Definitions of the first and second characteristic numerals.
- IET, Part P of the Building Regulations for England and Wales, frequently asked questions, electrical.theiet.org. Definition of a special location in a room containing a bath or shower.
- Approved Document B, Building Regulations for England. Fire resistance of ceilings, relevant to the use of fire rated downlights.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information and is not a substitute for design or installation advice. Requirements depend on the specific installation, its measured characteristics and the applicable regulations in your part of the UK. Always consult a competent person and refer to the current edition of BS 7671.
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