When considering wet area lighting, you need to take a few additional things into account. The bathroom downlights IP65 rating is one of them. In this article, we will help you understand IP65 lighting in terms of bathroom LED downlights, IP65 rated fixtures and other IP65 LED lights.
What Are IP65 LED Downlights?
IP65 downlights are lights that are waterproof and dust tight. This means they do not take on any moisture damage, nor can small particulates like dust get inside of them.
LED IP65 lights are safe for the bathroom LED downlights zone 1 where most of the water is. For bathroom LED downlights, an IP65 rating is not only recommended but is required if you don't want to ruin the lights due to water damage.
What Does IP Rating Mean?
Bathroom and shower IP rated downlights and other waterproof downlights are important when planning lighting for a bathroom. Bathroom downlights zones must be taken into account, and those revolve around IP ratings.
The IP rating of a light indicates its protection against moisture and solid particles. The first digit refers to the solid items, while the second digit refers to moisture protection.
First Digit - Solid Objects
0 – No protection from solid objects
1 – Fixture protected against entry of objects greater than 50 mm in size
2 – Fixture protected against entry of objects greater than 12.5 mm in size
3 – Fixture protected against entry of objects greater than 2.5 mm in size
4 – Fixture protected against entry of objects greater than one millimeter in size
5 – Dust protected in larger particles
6 – Dust tight makes it impossible for dust to get inside
Second Digit - Moisture
0 – No protection against water
1 – Dripping water; there is no damage from vertically dripping water
2 – Dripping water tilted up to 15 degrees; there is no damage from vertically dripping water
3 – Spraying water; there is no damage from any angle up to 60 degrees
4 – Splashing water; there is no damage from splashing water at any angle
5 – Water jets; there is no damage from water jets of normal strength
6 – Powerful water jets; there is no damage from water from powerful strength jets
7 – Protection from immersion up to 1 meter
8 – Protection from immersion
Therefore, IP65 lights are protected from most water and solid particulates found in a bathroom. These are known as bathroom LED downlights IP65 rated fixtures.
Where Can You Use IP65 LED Downlights?
Most commonly, bathroom LED downlights with an IP65 rating are used as zone 1 lights. This means that you can use bathroom spotlights IP65 rated fixtures not just as recessed shower lights waterproof options, but also in the following areas:
- IP65 bathroom ceiling spotlights in a shower or wet room
- IP rated bathroom downlights above a bath
- On soffit areas as IP65 downlights outdoor fixtures
- IP65 waterproof downlight fixtures under canopies
- LED downlight IP65 rated fixtures in laundry rooms
- LED downlights IP65 rated fixtures in utility rooms
- IP65 LED downlights as general bathroom lighting
How To Use LED Downlights in a Bathroom With Other Lighting
IP65 LED downlights have a lot of potential in the bathroom. You will need more than just the best bathroom downlights to create the perfect bathroom. Below are some ideas on how to incorporate other types of lights into bathrooms to make those shower downlights IP65 rated fixtures really stand out. Alongside the bathroom LED downlights IP65 fixtures, there are some other options to choose from:
- USE WALL LIGHTS. Wall lights can help brighten up corners of a room that may otherwise go unnoticed. You can use wall lamps that work with the style of the waterproof LED downlights in your bathroom to create a fluid effect.
- LIGHTING STRIPS. Alongside your IP65 LED light in zone 1, you could also add some zone 3 bathroom lights in the form of strip lighting. Add strip lighting along the perimeter of the bathroom for a chic, modern effect.
- LAYER THE LIGHTS. The IP65 LED downlight you have in the bathroom will serve as the ambient layer of light in the room. This will provide the largest wash of light in the entire area. These could be IP65 recessed downlight fixtures or IP65 spotlights.
To plan the layout of your downlights, you will need to consider the lumen count you will need to properly illuminate the entire area. Lumens indicate the brightness of LED lights the way that watts once did for traditional bulbs. It is recommended that you place a downlight every 1.2 meters or so.
How To Use IP65 Downlighters Outside
Whether you want to use recessed downlights or other kinds of lights outdoors, there are ways you can accomplish this:
- Soffit lighting around the perimeter
- On a porch or other seating area
- Under an entertaining area
- Across the front of a garage
- In a gazebo
Soffit lights are among the most common ways to use LED downlights outdoors. Some of the most popular options include:
- Soffit flood lights that shine a wider beam of light and are beneficial for security
- Spotlights that have a tighter beam angle and illuminate the house's exterior with a narrower band of light
- Recessed soffit lights that cast a soft glow and give the exterior a modern look
You can use bright soffit lights to also increase the safety of your outdoor living space. They will make your house more luminous, which could deter potential invaders. These lights may also enhance the visual appeal of the home from the street.
Be sure to avoid unsightly soffit lights by being sure to space them properly and choosing beams that are the correct width for their location. You don't want to end up with a spaceship effect with giant triangles beaming down the sides of your home.
You should also consider additional landscape lighting to prevent the house from looking like a floating island.
Can You Install IP65 Downlights Lights Yourself?
Because it deals with electricity, it is generally best to have a qualified electrician install your lights for you. You can expect to pay anywhere between £350-£500 for the installation of the lights including the labour and the supply.
Do IP65 Downlights Need to be Fire Rated?
The only time that a fire rated downlight is needed according to the UK code is when you are using recessed or semi-recessed lights in your home. Fire rated lights protect the ceiling from a fire once a cut-out has been cut into the area to host a new light.
The fire hazard that is generated by the hole cut into the ceiling can be mitigated with fire rated lights by blocking up the hole and helping prevent fires. With surface mounted downlights, you do not have to worry about this.
What Do Bathroom Zones Mean for Bathroom Downlights
Earlier, bathroom lighting zones were mentioned. These lighting zones indicate in what areas you can place certain lights. They are primarily determined by IP ratings. Below, you can learn about the meaning of the different zones in a bathroom:
- ZONE 0. This area is within the shower or bath itself. You will need an IP65 rating for this location.
- ZONE 1. This area is above the bath or shower as high as 2.25 meters from the floor. It also requires an IP65 rating.
- ZONE 2. This area goes .6 meters outside of the bath's perimeter. You will need a minimum of IP44 in this area.
- ZONE 3. In this zone, you will find spaces that are outside of the above areas. There is no required rating, but it is recommended that you use IP65 ratings where you can to be safe.
Can You Use IP65 Downlights in a Shower Area?
As mentioned, IP65 downlights can be used in the shower area. These lights are specifically built to withstand water jets and solid particles, making them well suited for the job.
What Are the Benefits of LED IP65 Waterproof Downlights?
LED lights have benefits all on their own. Pair them with an IP65 rating and you have truly resilient lights that can withstand use in even the wettest of areas. Read on to learn about the benefits of LED IP65 lights:
- WATER RESISTANT. The IP65 rating makes these lights resistant to water damage. Of course, this is exactly what you need in wet areas like bathrooms.
- LONG LIFE LED. LED lights have a naturally long life, especially compared to traditional bulbs. These lights are capable of lasting a minimum of 20,000 hours as opposed to the 1,000 hours that traditional bulbs offer.
Not only is this more energy efficient to save you money on electric bills, but it is also less time consuming. You won't need to change the light bulbs all the time, which means buying fewer and therefore also spending less money.
- NO MAINTENANCE. Without the need to constantly be checking and changing your light bulbs, you can skip out on all of the annoying maintenance and labour that standard light bulbs require.
- HIGH QUALITY LIGHT. LED lights are top-quality illumination sources and are quite versatile and diverse. In this way, you can choose how you want the light to look, from lumens to colour temperature and beyond.
How To Select the Best LED Colour Temperature for IP65 Spotlights
LED colour temperature refers to the way that an LED light looks in terms of warmth and coolness. The light colour is measured in Kelvins. The higher the Kelvin rating, the cooler the light. On the other hand, the lower the Kelvin rating, the warmer the light.
In most rooms of the house, you will want to use warm lights. In bathrooms and kitchens, it is generally better to use cool lights.
Cool lights are better for areas where you perform tasks, such as cooking and cleaning in the kitchen or grooming in the bathroom. The best cool lights for the task are 4000k to 6000k cool white lights.
Commercial Uses for Waterproof Downlight Fittings
There are many commercial lighting applications where you can use waterproof downlights outside of home use. These include:
- Hotel steam rooms
- Hotel bathrooms
- Hotel swimming pool areas
- Hotel entrance areas under canopies
- Office bathrooms
- Office entrance door areas
Can IP65 Downlights Be Tilted for Directional Lighting?
LED lights have the benefit of being directional. This means you can change the beam angle of the light and point it in any direction you see fit. You can tilt the lights while still enjoying the protection that the IP65 rating can bring.
This means that in areas such as a bathroom, you can direct the lights toward a mirror or other areas that need task lighting. You can also illuminate art on a wall or some other architectural feature in the space.
In outdoor applications, this means pointing light onto walls to highlight office signs, artistic architecture or house numbers.
