Today, quite a lot of people visit baths with great pleasure. This is a great place to have a great time with friends or family. Building a bath or sauna with your own hands is a very difficult task that requires certain experience and knowledge. This is especially true of lighting, since it will work in conditions of high temperature and humidity. To achieve good comfort in the steam room, and at the same time the level of safety was sufficiently high, many factors will have to be considered. To save you from unnecessary problems and simplify the task, in this article we will talk in detail about how to make lighting in the bath. The technology of installation and laying of electrical cable for each of the rooms will also be described in detail.
Basic norms and safety requirements
This is worth a closer look. Before we talk about how to equip the lighting in the bath, in the rest room and in the washing room, let's first understand the basic norms and criteria,which it must comply with in terms of fire safety. As each of us knows, a bath and sauna consists of several rooms, each of which is designed for specific purposes. At the same time, different requirements for the installation of lighting fixtures are put forward for all rooms.
The basic rules read:
- In the steam room, the minimum light level should be 75 lux.
- The dressing room should have a comfortable atmosphere, so it is worth choosing lamps with a light value of at least 150 lux. However, they should be installed at a height of 80 centimeters.
- If you want a pool in the bathhouse, then the room in which it will be located needs lighting with a nominal power of 100 lux.
It is worth noting that these are only general rules that must be taken into account. If you will independently conduct lighting for the bath, it is first recommended that you familiarize yourself with paragraph 2.30 59-88 of departmental building codes. It details what types of lighting fixtures should be used, how they should be installed correctly and in what location, and details the level of protection.
Lighting network design
What is worth knowing about this? Before you mount the lighting in the steam room of the bath with your own hands, you must first think through everything and carefully calculate. Particular attention should be paid to the type of lamps used, their location and method of attachment, taking into account the basic building codes that were discussed.previously. Next, we will talk in detail about what should be considered when designing a lighting network for each of the rooms.
Steam room lighting
So, how to make it right? This room is the heart of the bath, because it is here that people wash themselves. It is very hot and damp in it, so for arranging the lighting network, you should choose lamps that are not afraid of high temperatures and water. You can buy them in specialized stores.
When designing lighting in a sauna in a steam room, the following aspects should be considered:
- Location of fixtures. They should provide a sufficient level of light, but at the same time not blind the eyes. The best option would be to install lamps in the corners of the room.
- Lighting devices must have protective glass so as not to break them inadvertently. In addition, it will prevent moisture from entering the lamp and eliminate the possibility of a short circuit.
Since the lamps become hot during operation, the protective glass can become very hot. Therefore, to avoid burns, it is also recommended to use a wooden lampshade. It will not only protect you from accidental injury, but will also be a great decorative element.
It is also worth noting that, when conducting lighting in the bath with your own hands, you must also carefully consider the wiring. It can be either open or closed. As a rule, the second method is used, and the cables are covered with wooden sheathing. But at the same time, a prerequisite is the heat and waterproofing of the walls.using a flame-retardant material, and the cable is hidden in a plastic corrugation with a diameter of 1 centimeter. Open mounting assumes that the electrical wiring will be carried out on the outside of the wall.
Shower room lighting
How should it be? Do-it-yourself lighting in a bath for a washing room has certain differences than for a steam room. In particular, this concerns the number of restrictions, which are much larger. This is due to the fact that the level of humidity in this room is quite high, so the risk of short circuit and electric shock is much higher. It is very important to consider special electrical safety zones.
They are divided into the following:
- The first is a conditional plane located above the shower head. It is strictly forbidden to place any electrical appliances here, including lamps, with the exception of those that have the appropriate protection class.
- Second - located between the pallet and ends at a height of 60 centimeters above the floor. This is where you need to mount the lighting fixtures.
As in the case of a steam room, equipping lighting for a bath in a shower room, cable laying can be done both openly and hidden. The second method is more preferable because it is much more reliable and safer.
As for lighting fixtures, the following types of lamps can be used for the washroom:
- LED;
- fluorescent;
- colorful.
At the same time, an important nuance is that the lamps have an IP 44 degree of protection, which implies the use of electrical appliances in conditions of very high humidity.
Pool and lounge lighting
How to make it right? Lighting in the sauna and bath for these rooms does not have such severe restrictions as washing and steam rooms, so there will be no special problems with its equipment. Absolutely any lamps that are mounted in the third zone can be used here.
In order not to make a mistake with the choice, just consider the following nuances:
- most often for the pool they use stationary 12-watt lamps, which are powered from the mains;
- decorative lighting is perfect for a break room, for example, some sconces with a unique design;
- to save on utility bills, it is better to use chandeliers or spotlights as they provide the best lighting and minimal shadows.
As for the wiring, it can be hidden in a standard steel corrugated pipe, since the rest area has normal temperature and humidity. If the walls in the room are sheathed with fireproof finishing materials, then the wiring is carried out in the same way as in residential premises.
Lighting in the dressing room
The entrance hall of the bath and sauna is designed so that a person can undress and change shoes. There is no high temperature herehumidity, so you can use any kind of lamps that your heart desires to illuminate this room. According to professional builders, it is in the dressing room that it is best to place switches from all other rooms. As for specific types of lamps, there is no fundamental difference here, but they must be of high power in order to provide a sufficient level of illumination.
Installation work
What are they? After you have completely designed the lighting for the bath for each of the rooms, you can proceed directly to the installation.
However, in the process of performing work, the following norms and requirements must be observed:
- Each electrical network must have a group shield, placed without fail outside the bath or sauna.
- Each lighting system must be equipped with an automatic switching device that will cut off the power supply in the event of a current leakage above 30 mA.
- If the bath is located separately from the main building, then the cables to it should be carried out via a cable or overhead line.
- When arranging wiring, it is forbidden to place electrical boxes in the steam room and shower room. They can be equipped in a recreation area or dressing room. The same applies to switches.
- Lighting fixtures in all rooms must be of the same class.
Given all of the above aspects, you can create good and safe lighting in the bath, the photo of which will look very attractive. Providing maximum comfort during couples treatments.
A few words about mains voltage
This issue should be given special attention. When designing lighting for a bath, it is very important to correctly calculate the optimal voltage for the mains. Its power can be 12, 36 and 220 volts. As a rule, most people stop at a standard household network, since it allows you to use various electronic devices in the bath. For example, many people install a music center or TV in the rest room for a pleasant pastime with family or friends.
In this case, it is very important to consider the following requirements:
- The electrical network must necessarily be equipped with a mechanical switching device or differential automata.
- The power supply system of the bath must be grounded.
- In the electrical network, a potential equalization system should be provided.
If for some reason the requirements listed above cannot be met, then in this case the variant of a household network with a voltage of 220 volts is eliminated, so a twelve-volt power supply system should be considered. It is the most economical and safe for human life, since it does not pose any threat of high-power electric discharge at all. As a rule, such power systems are developed for rooms with a high level of danger, which include baths and saunas. Temperatures can reach up to 100degrees Celsius and very high humidity. And, as everyone knows, these factors negatively affect the operation of lighting equipment operating under high voltage. As practice shows, quite often the lamps even explode and cause serious injuries and injuries to people.
Thus, using 12-volt lighting in the sauna in the steam room, you greatly increase your safety. The worst thing that can happen is a short circuit, and the likelihood of fire and electric shock is completely excluded. However, you must understand that such a network requires a transformer, is very difficult to implement and has a relatively low reliability. To eliminate the last drawback, you can equip the lighting in the bath in the steam room with LEDs. This will be a great solution.
Fiber optic lighting for a bath with your own hands
You can choose absolutely any lamps for your bath, however, experts advise that devices made of optical fiber will be the best option. This is a modern synthetic material with an affordable cost and many advantages.
Fiber-optic lighting for a bath may not even have a wooden lampshade, since it does not emit much heat during operation. At the same time, they are not too bright, so they do not blind the eyes, and they are able to withstand very high temperatures, due to which they are considered one of the most reliable.
To make such a lamp you will neednext:
- Wood.
- Glass at least 4 mm thick.
- Plywood.
- Heat resistant film.
- Aluminum tape.
- Glue.
If you have everything you need at hand, then you can start assembling the lamp. How to make lighting in the bath in the steam room from fiber?
The whole process is carried out in the following sequence:
- Templates for all parts are made from plywood, and wooden planks with rounded edges are cut from wood. After that, all elements are planted on glue and, to give strength, are additionally tightened with self-tapping screws.
- Glass is cut out and wrapped with heat-resistant film.
- The planks are cut and glued, on two of which holes are drilled to fix the glass.
- A hole measuring 5 millimeters is cut out in a sheet of getinax.
- The reverse side is pasted over with aluminum tape, which acts as a reflector, after which the lighting elements are put on superglue.
- Outside the steam room, a power supply unit is installed, from which an electric cable is connected to the lamp.
- The luminaire is mounted on the wall using self-tapping screws, taking into account basic safety requirements.
According to this principle, LED lighting in the bath is manufactured and installed. It has low power consumption, as well as excellent reliability and safety. In addition, among their main advantages, one can single out the fact that in the manufacture of the main frame for the lamp, you can make itabsolutely any shape, as well as to implement various interesting design solutions.
Wooden lamps
These lamps are very popular because they look more natural and fit perfectly into any interior. To protect against burns and prevent breaking lamps, they are equipped with a wooden grate. In addition, the lighting is very soft and diffused, so it does not blind your eyes.
It is very easy to make a wooden lamp, and anyone who does not even have any carpentry experience can handle it. An elementary lighting device made of wood consists of two bases connected by transverse rails. The shape of the frame is determined based on where the lamp will be installed. For example, if the installation is carried out on the wall, then the shape can be rectangular, square and round. Triangular lighting fixtures are best suited for corner placement. To reduce the risk of burns, the straps are attached from the inside.
Conclusion
So, here we have considered how to equip lighting in a steam bath. As you can see, this process is very complex, so it should be approached with all seriousness. Very often, due to the lack of certain knowledge and experience, many people have to turn to qualified electricians for help. This avoids many mistakes and achieves the maximum level of security.
If you have never done aelectrical network, and your profession is not related to it, then you should not try to save money and handle everything yourself. It would be best to immediately hire a professional who will do everything quickly and efficiently. Saving in this case is not the best option, because it can cost you and your loved ones life. In addition, you should not forget that working with electricity is fraught with high danger. But if you are still confident in your own abilities and do not want to use anyone's help, then clearly follow all the tips and recommendations given in this article, and you will certainly succeed.
