When choosing lamps for a bath, you need to take into account the features in which these devices will be used. The building includes several rooms, each of which has its own characteristics. The electrification of the structure can be entrusted to professionals, but this will significantly increase the construction budget. You can correctly install the lamps in the bath and sauna yourself, saving a considerable amount. To do this, you need to know the rules for choosing and connecting lighting devices, laying cables and performing installation. The main attention should be paid to compliance with safety measures.
Lighting requirements
When choosing lamps for a sauna, you need to take into account that this room is distinguished by high humidity and significant temperature changes. Standard sconces and chandeliers that are used in the apartment cannot be installed here.
Sauna lighting must meet the following criteria:
- Strength. Products must be able to withstand accidental shock, heat, and freezing. Shrapnel can cause serious injuries, and there is a high risk of injury in the dark. Installation of decorative grilles is recommended.
- Waterproof. Water is the main cause of short circuits. In addition, moisture on a hot lamp will rupture it. The required lamp protection level is at least IP54.
- Heat resistance. Luminaires for steam rooms in baths must withstand temperatures up to 300 ° C when installed on the ceiling of the room.
- Presentability. Lamps bear a great aesthetic burden. They should decorate the premises, emitting a soft and eye-pleasing light.
- Environmental Safety. The release of harmful substances into the air when heating devices is not allowed.
- Fire safety. A high-quality heat-resistant luminaire does not ignite when heated or from a short circuit on the line.
- Durability. The materials from which the chandeliers and sconces are made must be resistant to corrosion and mildew. This also applies to their color scheme.
When planning the installation of an electric line, it is recommended to give preference to the wall option. This is due to the fact that humid air accumulates under the ceiling, and in the steam room the ceiling is also the hottest place.
Lamps should be installed in all places where human activities are carried out - above the door, in the dressing room, rest room, above a font or a barrel of water. It is advisable to install several light sources in each room. If one lamp burns out, people will not be left in the dark, which is dangerous to life and health.
The choice of a place for lamps must be approached not only from an aesthetic, but also from a practical point of view. Sometimes beauty has to be sacrificed for safety. Each zone has its own rules dictated by the peculiarities of operation.
The following recommendations should be adhered to when carrying out electrical work in various rooms:
- Washing. If a completely sealed product is used, its location can be chosen where it provides the best illumination. From the point of view of protection against moisture, the ceiling is the best choice.The upper source covers a large area, the probability of accidentally hitting it with a solid object is minimized. With wall mounting, there is a risk of water leakage under the finish, the development of fungus and mold there.
- Restroom. Installation of a chandelier in a bath is the best solution. A ceiling-mounted device creates a good level of illumination throughout the room. In this case, there is no discomfort for the eyes, since the source rays come from above.
For the boiler room, changing room and dressing room, the installation location is not important. People are in these rooms for a short time, a minimum level of illumination is sufficient.
Moisture protection classes depending on the room
The dressing room is a space dividing the street and the rest room. There is no humidity or heat in it. However, temperature differences that cause condensation must be taken into account. If it gets inside the device, it may cause a short circuit. For such a room, lamps of class IP34 and higher are needed.
The washroom is characterized by an abundance of steam and spray that inevitably falls on the lamp. Here you need to connect completely sealed moisture-resistant products with a hinged cap. The presence of silicone seals around the perimeter of the plafond is required. The protection level of the devices must be at least IP55 and IP56. This information is indicated on the body and packaging of the device.
There is no splashing in the break room, but there is high humidity due to the steam coming from the shower and steam room. Based on this, for the organization of lighting in the relaxation room in the bath, it is necessary to choose products that are resistant to corrosion and fungus. The best option would be a 4-5 arm chandelier equipped with a fiber optic light source. One such device is enough to create a comfortable environment even in a large room. The choice in favor of corner sconces is not wrong, but it will be expensive. You will need to stretch the wiring to each corner and install one expensive lamp there.
Especially responsibly you need to approach the arrangement of the steam room. The most extreme conditions are created in this room - heat, steam, spray and flickering brooms. It is necessary to choose for its equipment the most durable waterproof structures with a water protection class of IP54 and higher.
Features of the placement of lamps in the steam room
This room brings together all the "enemies" of lighting devices - fire, moisture and high temperature. Lamps, shades and electrical wiring are exposed to heat. The wooden ceiling becomes so hot that it can melt the cable insulation.
Based on this, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules for the location of lamps in the steam room:
- As far as possible from the heater to avoid the risk of melting or fire.
- Hang in the corner. The temperature is lower there, and the device itself will not interfere with anyone.
- Use products made of materials that do not burn or melt - glass, ceramics, stone, metal.
- Avoid ceiling mounting. The tree may start to smolder, leading to a short circuit in the wiring.
- Hang lamps from the side of the shelf so that bright rays do not blind the eyes of vacationers.
- Use decorative lattices. They will protect the devices from accidental shock.
When choosing lamps, you should stop on models that give a soft neutral glow of sufficient intensity. For the steam room, sources with a power of up to 100 watts are purchased.
What lamps to use for lamps in the bath
When choosing a lamp for a bath, you should think in advance about what type of lamp it will be equipped with. Sources vary in size, power, brightness, durability, water resistance and emission color.
Depending on the operating conditions, the following types of lamps are installed:
- Energy saving. They consume little electricity, but become ineffective at high air temperatures. Designed for showers, dressing rooms and dressing rooms.
- Halogen. Products are low-power, have a pleasant spectrum of radiation for the eye. Can be used in any environment. Looks great in lamps made of Himalayan bath salt.
- Incandescent. They consume a lot of energy, burst when splashed, burn out quickly. The only plus is the low cost.
- LED. The sources are safe in every way. LED sauna lights are a versatile solution as the products are resistant to heat and dampness. Available in flasks and ribbons. With the help of ribbons, on the basis of a well-composed drawing, decorative illumination with flickering and overflows is made. It is necessary to purchase heat-resistant LED lamps for the steam room, as standard products quickly lose color from overheating.
- Fiber optic. These sources are the safest, since there are no wires and contacts in their design. The wave is transmitted through plastic wires that are resistant even to the heat that is present in the steam room. Can be used in high humidity conditions, including under water. The products are expensive, but reliable and durable. Their purchase is a profitable investment.
- Luminescent. They differ in affordable cost, brightness and economy, they are not afraid of moisture. The disadvantage is that the inside of the flask contains mercury. Depressurization of the device can cause poisoning by its vapors.
When drawing up a project, you should adhere to the principle of reasonable sufficiency when choosing lamps. If the installation of LED lamps for the sauna in the steam room is a necessity, inexpensive sources with the required brightness can be installed in the corridor and the rest room. It is necessary to invest large funds where safety is the main factor.
A feature of the Russian bath is the presence of a steam room, which is heated by a wood-burning or electric stove. The room temperature can reach + 200 ° C, the maximum of which is at the ceiling. In such conditions, household appliances will either immediately fail or break during the bath procedures.
In order to prevent unpleasant situations associated with the sudden disappearance of light, it is necessary to choose products that are resistant to extreme heat, mechanical stress, water and steam. Durable and reliable heat-resistant devices will not only provide high-quality and constant lighting, but will not fail even if the stove overheats.
What light sources can not be put
There is a list of lamps that cannot be used in saunas:
- The composition contains plastic, wood untreated with a fire retardant and other combustible substances.
- Products with open contacts. If they get water or condensation, a short circuit is inevitable.
- Devices with fragile shades made of ordinary glass and hard plastic. They can burst from mechanical impact with the formation of sharp fragments, which can injure an arm or leg.
When choosing a lamp, you need to pay attention to its safety, efficiency, power, as well as design. The product should organically fit into the interior without creating the impression of a foreign object. LED lamps in the bath can be used if the products are installed in waterproof caps.
Lattice decoration
When planning the arrangement of a bath, you should pay attention to decorative lattices for lamps. These structures perform the following functions:
- Complementing and adding variety to the interior of the room The products look great in any setting, creating a feeling of comfort and coziness.
- Protection of the lamp from mechanical stress. The sturdy grate can withstand contact with a basin, hand and even human body.
- Light scattering. The design makes the radiation softer and more muted, reducing eye strain.
Decorative grilles must be durable and have a low heat capacity so as not to cause burns if accidentally touched.
For manufacturing, waterproof plywood, vine, solid wood, porous ceramics are used. Products can be in the form of a plate with holes crossing at different angles of the laths. Depending on the style of the room, flat, convex, concave or combined designs are chosen.
