In the old days, there were no light sources inside the bath rooms. The splinters and candles were quickly extinguished due to the humid and dense air. Modern steam rooms are hard to imagine without good lighting. Before you install lighting devices yourself, you must familiarize yourself with the basic requirements and rules in advance in order to avoid problems with the electrics or an insufficient number of bulbs.
Steam room lighting requirements
Safety and uninterrupted lighting of the bath are the most important points when using steam rooms. Excessive humidity makes it necessary to install the wiring in a different way, to use certain lighting fixtures. Consider the following:
- for lighting in a sauna and a bath, they buy devices (lamps, switches) with a protection marking above IP44;
- the method of laying the wiring is strictly linear (straight), 90 ° angles are built for turns;
- the cable should be located at a distance from the ceiling, floor, other communications - at least 15 cm;
For the steam room, you can use stranded heat-resistant wires - for sockets - 50 cm from floor level, bottom liner;
- for switches - 1.5 meters from the bottom of the steam room;
- the connection of cables is first twisted, then strengthened by welding (soldering);
- if you need to use terminals, it is important to constantly check the strength of the contact, tighten the devices;
- you can install wiring if the walls are built of non-combustible materials, or have undergone special processing.
The main thing when installing lighting in a steam room with your own hands is to ensure the protection of wires and devices from excessive moisture. It is necessary to take up an electrician immediately after installing the box (bar) of the bath, then it will turn out to hide the cable under the casing and take into account the fire treatment.
The choice of housing and lamp power
Not all appliances and light bulbs are suitable for saunas and steam rooms. Excessive brightness is not needed - soft, diffused light adjusts to rest, relaxation. A suitable color is yellow - it is familiar to the eyes, does not cause unnecessary stress.
Glass and other materials must have a high level of heat resistance, tightness - 100%. The following options are considered optimal:
- classic bulbs with an incandescent element;
- fiber optic lamps;
- LEDs.
Only fiber optic lighting fixtures are used in corners and ceilings. Other options are prohibited due to excessive accumulation of wet steam and heat in these areas.
It is better to choose ceramics as the base material - heating occurs more slowly, there is less chance of burns upon contact and cracking. The maximum power of devices for lighting in the bath is 60 watts. Stronger lamps warm up faster, which leads to quick breakdowns, short circuits. The most popular are 12 volt light bulbs for lighting in a bath - several pieces allow you to create the desired level and experiment with design.
Location principles
There are no particularly strict rules for the location of devices.You must be guided by general principles and your own preferences. The light in the bath and dressing room is located so that it does not interfere with use and is at a sufficient distance from the floor, ceiling, stove.
Sockets and switches are installed in the dressing room, dressing room - the external elements of these devices cannot be protected from moisture, so it is better not to use them for lighting in the steam bath. Most often they use one chandelier on the ceiling or several scattered lamps on the walls - if all the rules are followed, the final version depends on the preferences of the owners.
Colored lighting is often used, but you should not choose it as the main light in a sauna or steam room. The best option would be several sources with the possibility of separate control and power regulation.
Varieties of lighting devices
Each type of device has its own characteristics - pros and cons. To make the final choice, you need to take into account the dimensions of the room, the amount of required lighting in the steam bath and other rooms. Before buying, you should familiarize yourself with the advantages of each type, calculate the required power of devices (it is better to always take with a margin) and their number.
Traditional
The classic "Ilyich light bulbs", despite their considerable age, remain the most popular option. They are easy to find in stores, replace or change fundamentally different ones. The cost is the lowest among all the options available. However, it must be remembered that due to the specifics of the room (high humidity and temperature), they will have to be changed often. It is better to purchase spare immediately.
LED
Such luminaires attract with their efficiency and functionality. Small sizes - in particular "point" - allow you to create interesting compositions and unique designs. The main thing is to choose heat-resistant materials for the case (the marking is indicated on the outside).
Fiber optic
The safest for lighting in a bath, steam room. Their internal elements tolerate aggressive humid environment, long heating. Even after a few years, the base and body will not deform or crack. A little more expensive than the others, but they pay off their price. Reviews of professional builders confirm their high quality and appropriateness of use.
Salt lamps are an interesting option. Besides the soft glow, they create special pairs. They are used in combination with other lamps because of too dim lighting.
Sources of light
The choice of lamps for lighting in the bath is the main point. The number of devices, their power and the planned location depends on how the cable will pass, the size of the pipes for laying wires, and much more. Calculate and purchase the required materials in advance, at most - after installing the main box of the building, before the cladding stage.
Incandescent lamps
Standard and economical option. A regular light bulb produces a soft yellowish light that is familiar to the eyes. The main advantages are price and availability. There are more disadvantages - they get very hot, there is a great risk of burns. The production of light takes only 5% of the energy consumed, the rest is converted into heat. For a steam room, it is better to use a different type.
Luminescent
They are considered harmless and positioned as durable and economical devices. However, it is dangerous to use them in the bath and steam room. Inside the flask is filled with mercury vapor, the glass is not heat-resistant. Such light sources easily break, crack, which is extremely harmful to the health of vacationers.
Some fluorescent lamps emit mercury vapor during use in steam rooms - high humidity and temperature heat up the elements, and dangerous gas is released.
LED
Lighting in the bath and steam room with LEDs is recognized as the safest and most economical. The cost is slightly higher than usual, but it pays off with a long service life and absolute harmlessness of the elements. Compared to other options, they are brighter at the same power.
How to choose
There are several main points to consider when organizing lighting in a bath. General recommendations:
- the material of the shades is chosen matte in order to obtain a soft diffused light;
- portable devices cannot be used, especially if their power is connected directly to electricity;
- lamps with daylight or those containing mercury are excluded from the list of possible ones immediately;
- LED strips (separate switch) are suitable as emergency lighting for the steam room in the bath;
- purchase devices only in trusted stores;
- discounts and promotions are the first sign of a poor-quality product.
Lighting devices in the bath are a source of increased danger. When buying cheap and ill-considered options, the risk of breakdowns and fires increases.
Installation of luminaires
It is possible to make lighting in the sauna with your own hands if you follow the general principles and rules. First, a plan is created with a detailed indication of the location of the lamps, their power, the required number of sockets and switches. For wiring, you need a cable of the appropriate size. You should consult with a competent electrician, the continuity and safety of the entire system depends on it.
A load calculation and a detailed grounding plan must be done prior to purchasing the devices. In the process, weaknesses are often identified. It will also save you from purchasing unnecessary devices.
Popular manufacturers
The modern market offers a lot of different options - domestic and foreign. The most popular are Finnish companies - Harvia, Tylo. These manufacturers produce a series of special lighting fixtures for saunas and steam rooms. The price is high, but justified by its good characteristics and long service life.
The products of the Linder and Steinel companies are popular, but they have low moisture resistance. Good reviews distinguish TDM Electric products.
To organize correct and safe lighting in the steam room is not an easy task, but it can be done. You cannot be guided by the "cheap and fast" principle. The period of their use and the safety of vacationers depend on how accurately all the elements of the system are selected.
