What Is An IP44-Rated Illuminated Bathroom Mirror, And Why Does It Matter? Hopefully, you won’t need our team at Illuminated Mirrors to tell you that the use of electrical equipment in a wet space, such as a bathroom, could bring certain perils in the absence of suitable protection – not least a higher risk of electric shock. Sara Arched Backlit Shaver Mirror
It is also true, of course, that many electrical items exist that are designed to be used in a bathroom and similar wet environments. Examples of these include ceiling and wall lighting and extractor fans. Naturally, these bathroom products incorporate various safety measures. This ensures the items do not pose a risk to someone who uses them in the ways they are meant to be used. It’s much the same situation when you are on the lookout for an illuminated bathroom mirror for your home, or if you wish to have one crafted to a particular specification. So, what does it mean when a bathroom mirror is IP44 rated? To answer this question directly: IP stands for “Ingress Protection”, and an IP rating of 44 means the given item is:
Protected against solid objects over 1mm (such as wires), and Protected from water sprays at any angle (such as splashes of water).
Here at Illuminated Mirrors, we are pleased to make available light-up bathroom mirrors that carry an IP44 rating, for the user’s safety and peace of mind. But what else should potential purchasers of an illuminated bathroom mirror know about IP ratings, and what implications may the rating have for their buying choice? Below, we explain all. An introduction to the IP rating system IP, or “Ingress Protection”, ratings are an industry-recognised system. They determine the different degrees of protection of the enclosures of electronic and electrical items against external elements. The IP ratings system was created by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The ratings are defined by the international standard EN 60529 (British Standard BS EN 60529:1992).
You might have noticed from the example given above, that there are typically two digits in an IP rating:
The first digit refers to solids – specifically, the level of protection the enclosure provides against the ingress of solid foreign objects The second digit refers to liquids – specifically, the protection of the equipment inside the enclosure from moisture, which may take such forms as submersion, sprays, or drips
IP ratings range from around the mid-20s all the way up to the 60s. The higher a given digit, the higher the level of protection you can depend on the item providing. If you see a particular IP rating showing an X rather than a digit, this indicates the product hasn’t been tested against dust and solid objects (the first digit) or water (the second digit). So, where can you place an IP44-rated illuminated bathroom mirror? To answer this question fully, we need to introduce the concept of bathroom “zones”, as set out in the Wiring Regulations of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). Each “zone” in a bathroom will require items that have a certain minimum IP rating:
Any area of your bathroom that can hold water – such as the inside of the bath, shower, or sink – can be considered zone 0. A minimum IP67 rating will be needed in such parts. Zone 1 is the area above the bath, shower, and sink up to 2250mm from the floor, and is within 600mm from the water source. A rating of at least IP44 is needed here. Zone 2 is usually either side of zone 1; it is 600mm outside the edge of the bath or shower enclosure, to three metres from the floor. Again, an IP44 rating is the minimum requirement here.
To discuss any of the features and specifications of your next illuminated bathroom mirror, including its standard of ingress protection, please don’t hesitate to contact our team at Illuminated Mirrors today. We can work with you to design and craft the bathroom mirror that you have always aspired to have in your home.
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