Properly selected and installed bath lamps are not just a source of lighting. This is an important element of a comfortable stay and a pleasant pastime. At the same time, we should not forget that the bathhouse has high humidity and temperature. Therefore, when choosing a lamp for a steam room, wash room, etc., you should also think about safety precautions.
For a bath, you need to choose lamps that can withstand high temperature and humidity
Safety regulations
Lamps for saunas and baths will illuminate a room where the temperature reaches 100-120°C. Therefore, they must have sufficient heat resistance.
High humidity is another source of potential danger when operating lighting fixtures. Therefore, a lamp for a steam room in a bathhouse or washroom must be waterproof. Additional protection will be provided by sealed lampshades that are resistant to moisture and high temperatures.
It is necessary to choose sealed lampshades for the bath
It is better to install lighting sources under the ceiling or in the corners of the room. In this case, it will be possible to avoid accidental contacts and/or mechanical damage to lighting devices due to negligence. When choosing lampshades, the main condition is tightness. To give additional aesthetic properties to a simple lamp, you can use openwork wooden overlays in the form of gratings or carved screens.
It is better to install lighting in the corners of the room under the ceiling
Wooden grilles are often used to refract lighting in a bathhouse and as lampshades.
Rules
Electrical wiring in a bathhouse is naturally different from wiring in a residential building. The room closest to the requirements is the bathroom. It also has high humidity, but the temperatures, of course, are different.
However, even in a bathhouse, not all rooms are equally problematic from an electrician’s point of view. So we would call the steam room and washing room the most “problematic”. The rest room, dressing room, bathroom and veranda do not require increased protection of wiring and devices.
Once we have already made detailed excerpts from the PUE, which mention baths, saunas or washrooms. Therefore, now we will limit ourselves to a rather condensed retelling of the rules for electrical wiring in a bathhouse.
Let's start with the location of the electrical panel. It is advisable to place it indoors and not outdoors. In this case, it is necessary to either use a dry room or ensure complete waterproofing of the shield. No pipelines (water supply, gas pipeline, sewerage) should pass near the switchboard.
According to the rules, the installation of an RCD is considered mandatory for wet rooms.
Wires should be led:
- (preferably, not necessarily) hidden in the steam room and washing room;
- open on the wooden walls of other rooms.
IMPORTANT! However, it should be remembered that in a steam room it is not advisable to run wires along the walls, even inside. That's right - make a through hole with a metal sleeve in the wall, through which wires for the lamp go into the steam room. The wires leading into the steam room must be made heat-resistant - with insulation made of silicone rubber - RKGM, PRKS
The wires leading to the steam room must be made heat-resistant - with insulation made of silicone rubber - RKGM, PRKS.
The ban on metal sleeves and corrugation applies only to steam rooms and washing rooms.
Wires can only be extended by welding, crimping, soldering or a similar method.
Switches and sockets should be located outside the steam room and washing room.
You will find a complete list of rules for wiring in a bathhouse and steam room at the link already given above.
How to choose fixtures and lamps for a bath
Modern industry produces a wide range of lamps for rooms with high humidity - baths, saunas, bathrooms. These devices can use lamps such as:
- incandescent lamps;
- LED;
- fiber optic.
Types of bath lamps
When choosing a specific lamp, you need to pay attention not only to its design, but also to the degree of protection. The required safety class is IP 56. Such lamps are resistant to moisture.
Safety class for bath lighting
The free space between the lampshade and the body is additionally protected by a special seal. Its integrity must be checked at the time of selection.
Nuanas! A properly selected lighting device will allow you to use ordinary incandescent lamps in the steam room and/or wash room. Allowable power - no higher than 60 W.
For a bath you need to choose low-power incandescent lamps, up to 60 W.
Incandescent lamps get very hot when burning. The temperature in the sauna room is usually high. The low power of the lamps will protect against fire. After all, the walls in a bathhouse are most often lined with wooden boards, clapboard, etc.
Decorative grilles
To decorate the lamps in the bathhouse, you can use hand-made wooden grilles. They improve the appearance of the lighting fixture and diffuse the light. When making your own grating, you need to take into account some features:
- The lamp must be freely located under the grille.
- The length of individual slats is selected individually.
- When the lamp is placed on the wall, the grille can be semicircular, square, or rectangular. If the structure is in a corner, you need to make a triangular structure.
- Fasteners must be hidden. It is better to use wooden dowels to connect individual slats.
- If you want to make an unusual lattice, you can sand the slats to make them semicircular.
Conducting communications in a bathhouse is a responsible option. When choosing lighting devices, it is necessary to take into account the technical characteristics of the devices and resistance to aggressive conditions. If the lamps and wires are chosen correctly, lighting is easy to do.
LED lamps for baths
Many owners are interested in whether it is possible to install LED lamps in the bathhouse. To resolve all doubts, you need to familiarize yourself in more detail with the main technical characteristics of such light sources.
The advantage of LED strip is that it is not afraid of moisture
LED bath lamps have such wonderful properties as:
- moisture resistance;
- Fire safety;
- adjusting the direction and/or intensity of the light flux;
- acceptable price.
Using LED strips, you can achieve an interesting lighting design in a bathhouse.
The safety class of individual lamps is up to IP65 and higher. You can achieve very interesting effects by installing LED lamps in the bathhouse. Is it possible to light a steam room or wash room like this? Of course it is possible, and even necessary. LED lamps for baths are one of the most successful options. They are not afraid even of direct contact with water jets. The main disadvantage of LED lamps for baths and steam rooms is their rapid deterioration when exposed to high temperatures.
Protection classes of LED strips
It should be remembered that the remote control with which the LED lighting is controlled must be protected from moisture and dirt. To do this, you need to place it in a special case made of plastic film. Based on all of the above, each owner will be able to determine for himself whether LED lamps can be used in a bathhouse.
LED strip connection diagram
Recommendations from experts
Experienced electricians advise:
- Lay the cable for the bath using a hidden method. Open installation is allowed. The use of metal protective sleeves is prohibited.
- Distribution boards, switches, and sockets must not be installed in the steam room. The wiring in the steam room must be hidden.
- The electric oven is connected to a separate line equipped with automatic control units.
- Condensation should not accumulate in places where cables run.
- All devices must be grounded. The bathhouse is equipped with its own circuit.
- Electrical network components must have an appropriate protection class.
By choosing the right cable, installing the electrical network and installing devices, the owner of the bathhouse protects himself from injury, and his property from damage or destruction.
Fiber optic lamps
A great option is fiber optic bath lamps. With their help, illumination is produced by light waves rather than electricity. Therefore, such systems are absolutely not afraid of water.
Fiber optic lamps for a steam room in a bathhouse can be installed without fear. The material from which they are made can withstand temperatures up to 180-200°C.
Fiber optic lighting device
With the help of fiber optic lamps, you can create an atmosphere of calm, coziness and spiritual comfort in the bathhouse. This promotes self-relaxation of the human body. The beneficial effects of bath procedures increase several times.
An example of fiber optic lighting in a bathhouse
How to correctly position light sources in a steam room
Before installing lamps with one type of lighting lamp or another, you must carefully study the instructions and all the manufacturer’s instructions. It is very important to choose the right location for the light source.
In the steam room, where the temperature and humidity levels are especially high, only heat-resistant lighting fixtures can be installed. In this case, the lamps should be placed away from the stove. This is a must.
It is better to place lighting in the steam room away from the stove
The optimal location of the light source in the steam room is in the corner of the room and/or under the ceiling. In this case, you need to take into account the dimensions of the room and the size of the ceiling. The ceiling lamp should be located above human height. The corner lamp is installed so as to exclude the possibility of accidental contacts.
You can attach an LED strip along the wall under the ceiling. Under it you definitely need a base made of non-flammable heat-resistant material.
The LED strip can be placed under the shelves, but so that they do not interfere with visitors
The base for the LED strip and/or any other lighting device located in a Russian bathhouse must be made from a material such as:
- stainless steel;
- aluminum;
- heat-resistant plastic;
- ceramics (only for dry rooms).
To illuminate the steam room, it is better to use warm shades of lighting
Important! For a lamp in a sauna, where the humidity level is much lower, you can make a base from ceramic materials.
Types of designs
One cannot expect a wide variety of designs in this case. This is due to operating conditions .
Read more about bath lighting, with an analysis of all its components, here. All models that you find (or try to make yourself) will consist of a durable, moisture-resistant, heat-resistant base (the best in this regard is considered to be a ceramic base), inside of which the socket is attached, as well as a cap that is screwed on top, covers the lamp from splashes and scatters light through frosted (most often) glass.
Depending on how exactly the socket is fixed , the light bulb can either lie on one side on the base (this gives elongated oval or round, relatively flat shade shapes, something like a cabochon, if you know this cut shape),
or be perpendicular to it (the lampshade is a protruding, elongated bulb-cylinder),
Heat-resistant sauna lamp Lindner
or attached at an angle, which repeats the previous shape with one difference - the lampshade is tilted.
Linda
There is also an L-shaped design, in which the lamp is installed vertically in a cylindrical cap, some distance away from the wall due to the base.
The manufacturer can supply a standard E27 socket, suitable for incandescent, LED, and halogen lamps. Or he can supply a non-standard one, for example, E14 - this moment must be controlled and, when purchasing, you need to clarify whether the lamps that you were going to supply are suitable for this particular lamp.
The lampshade can be transparent or matte, made of glass or plastic. Plastic, of course, does not produce such fragments as glass, but its use at high temperatures is undesirable. This is where almost the only point of choice for a Russian bath lies - at its temperatures it is quite cost-effective to install plastic.
IMPORTANT! In all other respects, the lamps for the steam room are designed for moisture protection, which is exactly what is essential for a Russian bath.
Correct lighting for the washing area
In a small wash room, 1 lamp will be enough. The lampshade must be sealed to prevent water splashing on the lamp and/or socket.
Wiring for lighting fixtures in the bathhouse must be insulated especially carefully. This will prevent accidental contact of moisture and electricity.
Lighting in the washing room should also be moisture-proof
A large wash room requires the installation of several lamps. Therefore, when choosing their location, you need to take into account the location of the bathtub, sink, bidet, shower stall. It is better to do preliminary zoning of the premises.
As a rule, the washing room is divided into 3 zones:
- in close proximity to a source of moisture;
- at a distance of 0.6 m;
- in a relatively dry space.
Moisture levels are highest near a water source. Therefore, in this area you can install 12 volt bath lamps and lamps. IP indicator for protection against moisture is at least 45 units.
A zone located approximately 60 cm from a direct source of moisture is considered remote from moisture. Here you can use lamps and lamps with an average level of protection.
LED lighting can even be used in a swimming pool
In a dry area, located away from faucets, shower heads, swimming pools, etc., you can use lighting fixtures and lamps with the lowest level of protection.
Features of installing safe electrical wiring
Since almost all sections of the bathhouse are classified as high-risk premises, lighting wiring must be taken especially seriously. The ideal option for electrical safety, of course, would be a low-voltage power supply, but a short circuit even in a 12-volt network will not protect you, for example, from a fire.
Let us define the basic rules that must be followed when organizing lighting in a bathhouse:
Important! It is absolutely unacceptable to use grounding instead of grounding. The latter option will not provide the necessary protection, and if the equipment malfunctions, you can be exposed to life-threatening voltage.
What to do if you couldn’t get a sealed cable? It’s okay, in the bath you can use a regular one with heat-resistant insulation, threaded into a heat-resistant plastic corrugated sleeve. The sleeve must be intact and without damage.
Wiring placed in a corrugated sleeve
As you can see, there are quite a few rules for laying wiring in a bathhouse, but they must be followed. Health, and also, possibly, lives: yours and your guests’, will depend on this.
Lighting for the rest room and other rooms
There is no constant high humidity in the rest room. Therefore, lighting fixtures with a minimum level of protection can be used here.
Electrical diagram of the bath
The dressing room, billiard room, dressing room and other additional rooms can be illuminated as living rooms. However, it is still better to use sealed lampshades made of durable material.
Energy-saving lamps
Energy-saving lamps can be installed in a bathhouse only in rooms with low heat levels. Such light sources can withstand temperatures no higher than 60°C. Therefore, it is dangerous to use such lamps in a steam room that heats up to 100°C or higher. Energy-saving lamps can be used in other rooms of the bathhouse - wash room, dressing room, rest room, etc.
Energy-saving lamps can only be used in the locker room and vestibule
Manufacturers
As always, when choosing any equipment, the question arises about the manufacturer: whose products are better to buy. Finnish companies Tylo and Harvia have long been leaders in the segment of lamps for baths and saunas. They produce heat-resistant lamps. They are worth buying for the steam room. Although their price tag is decent, they are distinguished by high quality and reliability, and have been tested more than once or twice in numerous baths and saunas.
In other rooms you can get by with more budget products. Linder lamps have more affordable prices, but their quality is lower. They are usually recommended to be installed not in a steam room, but in a dressing room, shower or locker room.
In general, there are many German, Czech and even Russian companies that make such equipment. Look for those that suit you in terms of characteristics, not the manufacturers.
Infrared lamps
Recently, infrared lamps for baths or saunas have become increasingly popular. The average power of such light sources ranges from 250 to 300 W.
The frequency of infrared radiation is about 1400-3000 nm. For technical connections when installing such devices, silicone wire is used.
Infrared radiation
A special remote control allows you to vary the radiation intensity. This allows you to set the required temperature and creates all the conditions for comfortable rest and recovery.
Infrared equipment - heaters, lamps, etc. - can be installed without much difficulty. The main thing is to strictly follow the manufacturer's recommendations. The number of emitters is selected in accordance with the dimensions of the room.
Location of infrared heaters in the steam room
Layout principles
Installation of lamps for a bath in a steam room is subject to certain placement principles.
- It is impossible to install lighting devices near the stove, even taking into account the fact that the lamps are heat-resistant and moisture-proof. Not a single device is designed for the powerful steam of a heater.
- Excessively yellow and cold shade of the light flux is unacceptable. You cannot equip a space with a large number of devices - this is harmful to the eyes and will create pressure on the retina.
- The arrangement of the devices must be such that no movement can touch it with your head, hands, or broom.
- To prevent the device from hitting your eyes, it should be positioned so that it is behind your back or in the corner of the steam room.
- The ideal placement is to install the lamp on the wall at a distance equal to half the height of the wall. This way the load on the device will be less.
Salt lamps
A wonderful option offered by modern industry is salt lamps for baths. These are not just lighting fixtures. With their help, you can thoroughly improve your health and get much more pleasure from hygiene procedures and sauna relaxation.
A variety of salt lamps can be used in the bath
Modern salt lamps for baths help achieve such wonderful effects as:
- elimination of harmful microorganisms;
- destruction of allergens;
- effective ionization of indoor air;
- saturating the body with healing vapors.
Salt panels on the walls in the bathhouse heal the body.
Salt lighting fixtures are manufactured industrially from Himalayan salt, mined by hand. The main elements of a salt lamp are:
- stand;
- power cord;
- electric lamp;
- cartridge;
- lampshade.
Special mention should be made about lampshades for salt lighting fixtures. They are made from Himalayan salt crystals. Such lampshades have different sizes, shapes and colors. Therefore, they are easy to choose for any original interior.
Salt lighting in the lampshade can be placed in the corner
High-quality salt lamps are durable, practical, and silent. The main care for such a device is keeping it clean and periodically changing the light bulb.
Note! The beneficial properties of the Himalayan salt from which the lampshades are made are preserved for many years. The intensity of salt radiation remains at the original level.
Salt lamps create a favorable internal atmosphere in various rooms of the bathhouse. This helps get rid of stress and fatigue, calm the nervous system and saturate the body with vital elements.
Decorating with lattice
Most bathhouses located on personal plots, as well as saunas inside country houses, are decorated with wood - most often with lining made from various types of wood. In this case, you want to complement the interior with natural elements in order to maintain the integrity of the picture. Therefore, decorating lamps with wooden grilles has not only practical, but also aesthetic significance.
From a practical point of view, the grille protects the space from splinters if the lamp is damaged. The appearance complements the peaceful and cozy atmosphere. Light breaking through individual cells loses its annoying brightness and diffuses softly and widely, creating interesting shadows and reflections.
The material for the decorative element can be a wide variety of wood. If you like a mono interior, then the base can be made of the same type of wood as the lining of the remaining surfaces of the bathhouse. Most often, linden is chosen for these purposes. Linden wood has a pleasant light shade, is very durable, emits a pleasant smell and has healing properties.
But if you are a fan of aromatherapy, you should pay attention to products made from conifers (larch or cedar). They are not suitable for walls and ceilings, since when heated they release resins, and a small grill will release a specific aroma, which has a beneficial effect on the nervous system
The product will serve you for many years.
When planning the design, you should pay attention to some features:
- It is necessary to take into account the shape and type of the lighting fixture itself. It should be generously placed under the grille and securely fastened.
- The installation location significantly influences the design of the protection. If the lamp is located on the wall, then the shape of the grille can be any: rectangular, semicircular, figured. If you install lighting in the corners, then the protection can be triangular or have another convenient number of edges.
- The lengths of the slats are selected according to the parameters of the lamps.
- If the product has sharp corners, roughness and unevenness, they must be sanded and smoothed. These manipulations not only have a decorative component, but also increase operational safety - they reduce the risk of injury or getting a splinter.
- Fasteners must be hidden. In this case, you can also use metal products to fasten the elements. If the heads of the hardware are on the outer surface of the grill, there is a risk that vacationers could get burned on them during the washing process.
- The shape of the slats depends mainly on your preferences. Rectangular elements are used for simple and strict products. They can be arranged in parallel rows. Products with various curves are suitable for shaped, intricate grilles. But it will be more difficult for a novice master to work with them. Although as a result you will get a unique design element.
In order to realize the most daring decorative ideas, you can build a diffusing screen. It performs the same functions as the grille, but there are many more design possibilities.
Not only wood can serve as a material for making a product. Bark, natural fabrics, ceramic products, plastic, and types of glass cope excellently with protective functions. The most short-lived type of coating will be cardboard or paper.
In any case, the base for the screen must fulfill a number of requirements:
- be strong enough to withstand mechanical stress;
- do not heat above tolerable temperatures;
- be fireproof and not emit toxic substances during combustion.
The selected material of a certain shape or with holes and patterns printed on it is attached to the base. It all depends on your imagination: the starry sky, masks, animal figures, a month or the sun - all this will delight you for a long time.
Original and fashionable lighting is done in such a way that shelves can act as a screen. Hidden behind them are LED strips that emit vertically directed light. An unusual shine will make the interior unique.
