Knowing the specifics of the organization of lighting in each room of the bath, you can independently choose a lighting device and safely lay the wires. Read the material for the main features of this process and the recommendations of specialists. Content:
- Bath wiring
- Wiring requirements
- Lighting system elements
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Bath lighting
- In the steam room
- In the washroom
- In the dressing room
- In the rest room
- In the attic
With the right lighting in the bath, you can create the most comfortable environment. In order for the electrical system to be connected safely and efficiently, it is necessary not only to take a responsible attitude to the selection of materials, but also to take into account the basic requirements for lighting in bath rooms.
Features of the arrangement of wiring in the bath
Traditionally, the steam room is set up on a site near a residential building. The wiring to the bath is organized from a separate machine on the switchboard.
This process can be done in two ways:
- Underground … The cable is laid in a special box under the ground and passes through the previously provided holes in the foundation at a level of 50 cm. The width of the pipes in the entrance to the bath should be twice the cable cross-section. This is more reliable, but more expensive.
- Air … The wires run at a height of 2.75 meters and are introduced into the structure through the wall or roof. For the organization of power supply, a bare or self-supporting cable is used. The latter is considered more suitable because of its reliability and durability. The cost of SIP-wire is significantly higher than bare wire.
Note that a separate inlet pipe must be provided for each wire. It should be placed in the wall at a slope to protect it from slanting rain. It is also advisable to install porcelain insulating plugs into the pipe: from the inside - a sleeve, from the outside - a funnel.
Requirements for the internal wiring in the bath
For the effective and uninterrupted functioning of the electrical wiring in the bath, it is necessary to correctly select the working elements of the circuit and install them according to all the rules:
- Lamps and switches are suitable for the bath only with protection class IP 44 and higher.
- Each accessory is selected taking into account the forthcoming load and with the appropriate margin.
- The wiring is laid strictly straight. Turns, if necessary, are made at an angle of 90 degrees.
- In rooms with walls made of combustible materials, outdoor installation is carried out. If the walls are fire resistant, then wiring can be installed inside.
- Wire joints are twisted and fixed by soldering or welding. When using the clamping terminals, remember to retighten them regularly and check for firm contact.
- The cable should be laid at a distance of 10-15 cm from the floor, ceiling and piping.
- Sockets must be installed at a height of 0.5-0.6 meters from the floor, and switches - at 1.5 meters.
- The wire is inserted into the switch or socket mechanism from below to prevent the ingress of condensation drops.
The washing department and the steam room are rooms with the most aggressive environment, therefore there are special requirements for the elements of the electrical network used.
Elements of the lighting system for the bath
To install high-quality lighting in the bath, you first need to select the appropriate system elements:
- Cable … The optimum wire cross-section is calculated according to the amperage matching table. It can be found by dividing the total power of all electrical appliances by the rated mains voltage.
- Machine … It is necessary to prevent accidents when closing. The main technical indicator of the device is allowed up to 16A.
- RCD … Monitors the indicators of the current strength of the phase and neutral wires. When a difference is detected, it immediately cuts off the power supply. It is best to choose a 16mA residual current device to prevent false signals.
- Switch … The product must have increased moisture and heat resistance.
- Earthing … Installing a third wire is mandatory for complete safety.
As for lamps for lighting equipment in a bath, here two options are considered the most suitable:
- Incandescent lamp … It is better to install them in a bath with several pieces of lower power in order to provide a subdued, diffused light. The permissible power of such devices in the steam room is 60 watts.
- Optical fiber … The main advantages of such a system are resistance to aggressive environments and durability. They are usually installed along the perimeter of the ceiling or in different corners. It has recently become fashionable to mount optical fibers under the shelf, carrying out a kind of backlighting of the seats.
Please note that the use of mercury-based fluorescent lamps is strictly prohibited in the steam room. If damaged, they are very dangerous to human health.
Features of the organization of lighting in the bath
Each room of the bath has its own requirements and rules for arranging the lighting system. Let's get to know them better.
Lighting in the steam room bath
Before laying the lighting wires, consider their location so that the cable does not pass near the heater. It is better to place the switch in the dressing room or rest room.
Work on the organization of lighting in the steam room is carried out as follows:
- We place pieces of wires that will be in the steam room in a metal hose or corrugated pipe. There must be at least two of them to connect two lamps. If one burns out, you will not be left in the dark.
- We lay cables to the locations of the lamps. Please note that the wiring in the steam room should only be of a closed type. Therefore, the organization of lighting must be done at the stage of construction or overhaul in order to place the cable under the sheathing.
- We fix ceramic holders on the wire endings and carefully insulate.
- We draw a cable from the junction box to the switch in the dressing room.
- We screw in incandescent lamps and place them in sealed heat-resistant lamps made of a porcelain body and a tempered frosted glass shade. Such products must withstand temperatures up to 150 degrees (ceiling up to 200 degrees).
- We install a wooden decorative lattice on the lamp. It will protect against burns in case of accidental contact.
It is highly undesirable to place lighting fixtures on the ceiling due to the high temperature. The best option is on the wall above the shelf. In this case, the light will not dazzle.
Lighting in the wash bath
The washing department is distinguished by high levels of humidity, so the organization of lighting in it should also be taken seriously, observing the basic rules:
- We choose a cable with moisture-resistant high-quality insulation.
- In the washing room we do hidden wiring in a corrugated pipe.
- We only use luminaires with protection class IP 44 and higher. We install them in places where they will not be directly sprayed with water.
- To illuminate the pool, we use moisture-resistant plafonds with a protection level of IP 68.
- We install the switches outside the sink.
The lighting in the wash compartment should be bright. For its organization, you can use LED lamps. Before making lighting in the bath, it is recommended to install a step-down transformer from 12 to 36 volts. Only luminaires operating at such a safe voltage can be installed in high humidity.
Lighting in the dressing room
As for the dressing room, here you can choose the location and power of the lighting device according to your own preferences. Based on the fact that the conditions in the dressing room are not as humid and hot as in the washing and steam room, it is permissible to install any lighting devices, switches, sockets.
It is better to equip the dressing room with bright lamps, since this is a functional room. It is inconvenient to regulate the temperature on the boiler or throw up firewood in semi-darkness. Also, experts recommend taking out sockets, switches to this room to the maximum and concentrating the location of electrical appliances.
As a rule, a chandelier is installed in the dressing room in the center of the ceiling. You can additionally equip wall lights. Less commonly used is LED lighting under benches, near the ceiling.
Lounge lighting
When organizing lighting in the bath in the rest room, you can show your imagination. There are no special requirements for this room. However, it is recommended to install multiple light sources. It is worth noting that the lighting in the recreation room can be of different types: artificial, natural, mixed.
As for the artificial lighting of the rest room, the use of powerful lighting devices is not recommended. This is a relaxation area where the light should promote relaxation - be soft and diffused. The multi-level light looks great: in the center there is a chandelier, on the walls there is a sconce. On occasion, you can turn on the illumination of only a certain area, leaving the rest of the room in the twilight. Spotlights can be used for a small break room. Place them so that their light falls on specific places - mirror, sofa, table.
Natural light will be provided by windows in the recreation room. For a small room, one medium-sized window is sufficient. So there will be no unnecessary drafts in the room and it will be possible to ventilate the room. To regulate the amount of natural light, you can install wooden or metal blinds on the window, as well as roller blinds.
To prevent mixed lighting from causing dissonance, care should be taken to ensure that the light of the bulbs is close to the natural - yellowish hue.
Lighting of the attic in the bath
If the bath has an attic, then, as a rule, a recreation room or additional room, for example, a billiard room, will be equipped there. The best option for lighting the attic is natural. For this, one or more dormer windows are provided in a gable roof. Also, windows are installed in the walls. The advantage of a roof window is that it lets in 40% more light than usual.
Natural light is, of course, not enough if you plan to use the attic at night. Therefore, you should take care of artificial lighting even before starting finishing work. The electrical wiring is pulled to the second floor in front of the interior cladding. The electrical cable should be placed in a protective corrugated hose. The sockets are brought out to the level of the plinth.
The rules for installing lighting fixtures in the attic are no different from the rules that apply to the relaxation room in the bathhouse.
And finally, we present to your attention a video about the organization of LED lighting in a steam bath:
Lighting in a bath with your own hands is not easy to do. It is imperative to take into account the peculiarities of the technological process at each stage: from the wiring to the structure and ending with the installation of shades. Observing the instructions and recommendations will help you organize the lighting in the steam room safely and quickly, in accordance with all the rules.
