When you’re building or renovating a bathroom, it’s incredibly tempting to purchase decorative lighting as the ultimate finishing touch, but be wary of the traps.
Bathroom lighting must comply with a strict set of rules, and you’ll find your electrician refusing to complete an installation if a light doesn’t comply.
All wet areas, including bathrooms, kitchens and laundries, must comply with regulation AS/NZS3000.
The regulations break a bathroom into zones, which are designated based on the proximity to water.
These zones will determine whether you’re able to install a standard 240-volt light fitting or require one with a specific Ingress Protection rating.
In a protected area such as Zone 2, which is reserved for showers and hand-basins, you must have light fittings that are rated at minimum IPX4, are double insulated or accept low-voltage (12 volts) power.
To be on the safe side, it’s best to ask your electrician for the ratings that your light fittings will require before you make any purchase.
Do not rely on advice from a lighting shop, even a good one, because your electrician’s decision will be final.