IP Rating - how to choose lighting for the bathroom, surroundings, house facade and garden?
What is an IP Rating? How to choose appropriate lighting for the bathroom, garden, or house facade? Discover the secrets of IP ratings and learn why they are crucial for the safety and durability of lamps.
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What does the IP symbol mean?
IP symbol comes from "Ingress Protection" is a way of informing about the level of protection of the user against access to dangerous parts and the electronic device against penetration by external factors. Sounds complicated? Let us explain.
In the world of lighting, the IP rating informs us about a lamp’s or bulb’s protection against external factors like dust and water. It is a crucial parameter when choosing lighting, as it determines whether a device can be used in areas such as the kitchen, bathroom, balcony, or garden.
The IP standard was established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and serves as a global system for classifying the degree of protection for electrical equipment. Thanks to this, everyone can easily evaluate a device's protection against external factors.
You can find the IP rating in the device specifications, on the packaging, or in the user manual. If the device has no specified value, the IP rating is probably IP20. You can also ask the manufacturer about the IP rating of a given device.
How to read the IP rating?
The IP code consists of two digits:
● First digit (0-6): Indicates protection against solid objects
● Second digit (0-8): Indicates protection against water
Example: IP54 means:
● First digit 5: Complete protection against dust (dust resistance)
● Second digit 4: Protection against splashing water from any direction
The default IP rating is assumed to be IP20. Means Protection against solid objects larger than 12mm and no protection against water. Depending on the location of the lighting, the IP rating should vary, as different areas expose the device to different levels of water and external factors. We present to you a general table of IP ratings. Remember, if you’re unsure where you can use your chosen luminaires, you can ask the seller or manufacturer. The beautiful pictures or arrangements you see on Instagram are created in just a few seconds, but the lighting should serve you for years to come. IP20-rated luminaires installed over a shower cabin may cause lamp damage, electrical failure, or even lead to electric shock - it's almost like pouring water into a socket outlet... none of us should and none of us do such things.
Bathroom: High Caution Zone
The bathroom is a zone where humidity and water naturally pose a threat to electronic devices. Here it's simple - the minimum IP rating is IP44. The lamp's location is also important. Not every area in the bathroom is suitable for lighting installation.
When choosing lighting for the bathroom, you should pay attention to the zoning based on humidity levels:
● Zone inside the bathtub or shower cabin – requires IP67
● Zone in direct proximity to water – requires IP65
● Zone in the range of splashing water (and steam) – requires IP44
● Zone outside the humid area – requires IP20 (not recommended for the bathroom)
Kanlux designers understand these challenges perfectly. That’s why, in offer, you can find the ASTIM luminaire, which was designed as the perfect solution for installation over a mirror. Its minimalist shape and proper rating guarantee safety, elegance, and the necessary lighting for this zone.
The IMBER mirror light fitting will also work well in the bathroom, thanks to its IP65 rating, it can be installed almost anywhere – from humid areas in the bathroom to the exterior soffit.
House facade: aesthetic and durability
Facade lighting is not only a safety matter but also a way to emphasize the character of the building. Kanlux REKA models have been favorites for years, allowing precise adjustment of the light beam to create unique lighting effects. The REKA bidirectional lighting allows you to illuminate any facade. You can set a narrow beam at the top and a wide beam at the bottom, creating extraordinary visual effects. This is a true masterpiece for design lovers.
Home surroundings: safety and functionality
Entry, garage, and garden paths – each of these areas requires thoughtful lighting around the house. The entry to the house is a showcase of our property. Properly selected lighting for your entry zone provides you and your household with a sense of security, while also distinguishing your house from others. Regardless of the size of your garden, providing well-lit paths ensures comfort and convenience, allowing you to enjoy the garden even in the evening and at night.
The ACETE SE series floodlights are the perfect solution for those who prioritize smart lighting and efficiency. Equipped with a motion sensor, the luminaires turn on exactly when needed – making it a great solution for house or garage entry. Available powers (10W - 100W) work with almost every property size. For paths and alleys, you can use PEVO poles – completely different from standard solutions. Their ultra-modern design makes them not only a necessary light source but also a decorative element in the garden.
Garden: the magic of lighting
Garden lighting is a way to extend our time outdoors after dusk. Modern solutions allow you to create a unique atmosphere, transforming your garden into a magical, relaxing space for you, your family, and friends. The key to success lies in choosing the right lamps, which illuminate selected areas and create a unique atmosphere.
Kanlux STONO N fixtures are an undisputed garden hit. These are balls that imitate stones, which fit perfectly in rocky or bushy areas. Each of them is equipped with spikes that allow the luminaire to be embedded in the ground and a long power cable (3 meters). Kanlux STONO N luminaires are designed for replaceable light sources.
Choosing the right lighting is not only a matter of aesthetics but, above all, of safety. Pay attention to the IP rating and adjust it to the specific location and environmental conditions.
An investment in high-quality lighting with the right IP rating is a guarantee of:
● long-lasting use;
● electrical safety;
● protection against weather conditions;
● aesthetics and functionality.
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Does shorter and shorter days make you realise you need better lighting of the entrance to your house?...
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Autumn is the perfect time to experiment with lighting, either artificial or natural. In the afternoon,...
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A garage is a specific place with multiple purposes, so the lighting in it must meet a variety of requirements....
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Bedroom lighting should meet a few basic conditions. The most important include the warm colour of the...
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The staircase, whether in a residential or office building, is an area that absolutely should be properly...
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Lighting in the hall is often neglected. You spend little time there and rarely care to equip it with...
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When choosing outdoor lighting for a building, you should take several factors into account - the choice...
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In the last part of our series Your Home – Your Style, we want to show you ways to decorate interiors...
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LED strips are the most "spectacular form of lighting". It allows you to create fancy installations....
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A lamp that doesn't draw power from the mains? Perfect! That is exactly what fixtures with sources powered...
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LED lighting, which was initially treated with distrust, has won the market over thanks to its customizability...
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Raw concrete, steel girders and industrial windows - these are the first associations with industrial...
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How much time do you spend choosing the right bulb? Paradoxically, this is very important. Light, its...
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Warm spring, summer and early autumn is the time for meetings with friends under the open sky and such...
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Forced by the pandemic to stay indoors, we have learned to enjoy every moment spent surrounded by nature....
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They say that the kitchen is the heart of the house. That is hardly surprising, given that you spend...
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how does light affect the way we feel, and why should we plan lighting in our homes? Read about it on...
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The bathroom usually does not have access to natural light. Therefore, its lighting is extremely important....
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Can electrical installation equipment decorate your apartment? It can now! See how we combined safety...
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Are your renovating your house or apartment? Or, perhaps, you are looking to change something or freshen...
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LED strips are an increasingly popular type of lighting. We often wonder whether it is complicated. We...
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After recent travels round the world, deriving inspirations from nature in arrangement of flats (have...
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The current situation has forced many companies to send their employees to work from homes. So what is...
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Have you ever wondered what interior design style is followed by your home? Are you faithful to one style...
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A desk lamp seems to be a simple thing, but we should pay attention to several things besides its colour,...
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We would all like our homes to be an atmospheric place where we go back with joy after a hard day of...
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This year's pleasant and snowless winter will certainly make the start of the garden season faster....
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We often face the dilemma: "What to wear?", Although the wardrobe is bursting at the seams. Sometimes...
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140 years ago, the incandescent light bulb was invented, and with it, the first safe source of light...
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In-ground fixtures are used to light pavements, alleys, driveways and elements of the so-called landscape...
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When decorating a house, let's try to approach it comprehensively from the very beginning, starting with...
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In the first part we shared with you our ideas for interior lighting using lamps such as Kanlux LAURIN...
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In fact, lighting a home is not an easy art at all, we only find this out when we begin to think about...
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Just as there is no life without light, there is no home without light. The most common luminaires in...
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Stairs are present in almost every house. They usually lead to a basement or bedroom located on the first...
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The bathroom is our private world. Research shows that on average we spend 3 years of our lives in it....
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LED strips - well known and used for years. How many of you have never decided to do it because of difficulties...