Bulbs going all the time

Phil_L_2

Have a look at this site for an explanation of the zones

http://www.greenwood.co.uk/usefulinfo.asp

In terms of lighting a bathroom selecting the correct lamp and fitting will provide the right type of lighting. My bathroom uses a 28 Watt 2D and is bright enough for anybody. I think Robby-01 has confirmed that spotlights are a bad idea.

Also, if water gets onto a hot glass envelope (lamp) it will crack the lamp and it will fail, in the case of halogen lamps it can be quite spectacular. In short you need a fitting that will keep the water out and the closer to the bath/shower it is the better protection you will need. Low energy lamp run much colder and may be more forgiving.

illuminate

robby-01 wrote:

Energy savings lamps in a bathroom.I cant see that catching on,might as well use a candle.
the best way to light a bathroom is with well planned and spaced spotlights and a light over the mirror to help eliminate shadows.
Mr proctalgia your advice is spot on and the op would do well to follow it.
IP 65 for a bathroom ! Who in there right mind hoses down there ceiling lights?

First of all energy saving does not equal candle. A low energy lamp of the correct rating can have a comparable output to any halogen that you might use in a bathroom.

As for IP65 being over the top.... er.... no. Hence I suggested IP54, and IP65 if the bath also had a shower within it..... as thats pretty similar to a hose... i.e. it sprays water.... mostly down, but also sometimes up. You will also find that due to manufacturing costs most luminaires offer either no protection from water ingress at all or they are IP54/65.

Just going back to the issues around using low energy in bathrooms.... The problem with them is that they are a fluorescent source and as such they render skin tones particulalry poorly. They are fine used as the primary source in the bathroom but I would always use halogen in/around the mirror.

However, my preference is always to use halogen throughout a bathroom. Around the mirror for the reasons above, and then generally because its far more practical to dim and thus enable the creation of a more relaxed lit enviroment for those that like a long soak. (Dimming will also enable savings in energy and vastly increase lamp life)