What IP rating does a bathroom downlight need?

What an IP rating tells you

The National Environment Agency (NEA) explains in its Motor Driven Systems reference manual that IP rating codes (IP XX) are classifications used to measure levels of protection, such as preventing the intrusion of solid objects and liquids into an enclosure. The solid objects it lists include body parts such as hands and fingers, as well as dust and debris.

On a light fitting, the code tells you the level of protection that fitting has. Look for it on the box or the spec sheet, and read both characters after the letters IP, not just the first.

If a fitting is sold as a waterproof bathroom light, find its IP code anyway: the label shows a level of protection, and that level is what matters for your spot.

Once you have a shortlist, you can compare companies that list light installation in the directory.

Bathroom downlight IP rating in Singapore: it depends on the spot

Water does not reach every part of a bathroom in the same way. A downlight near the shower faces splashes, while one by the door mostly faces steam.

The Energy Market Authority (EMA) states in its circular RD/E01/2019 that CP5 was revised and renamed SS 638 Code of Practice for Electrical Installations, and that all new installations, replacements, upgrading or extensions shall comply with SS 638. So for bathroom lighting, SS 638 applies whether you are adding a new downlight or replacing an old one.

The IP rating a light needs depends on where it sits in the bathroom. Ask your LEW which rating SS 638 calls for at that spot. Give them the exact position, such as above the shower or near the door.

When you compare fittings for a bathroom light, IP44 is one example of a code you may see on the box, and other fittings carry other codes. The code alone does not settle whether a fitting suits your spot: that answer comes from your LEW and SS 638.

If you have more than one downlight, ask about each position rather than buying one code for the whole ceiling.

Who should fit a bathroom light

EMA says electrical work in an HDB flat needs a Licensed Electrician, the class of LEW approved for loads of up to 45kVA. You can read EMA's own page on engaging licensed electrical workers. HDB's renovation guidelines for electrical works also state: "All wiring installation work must be carried out by an EMA licensed electrical worker".

Replacing a bathroom downlight is electrical work too, so it is a job for your LEW, not a DIY task. Our guide to electrical work and LEWs explains which jobs need one.

If the new light needs new wiring, note that HDB does not allow wiring to be embedded in the reinforced concrete (RC) slab, beam, column, wall or plaster, as its electrical works guidelines state. New wiring runs in surface trunking, above a false ceiling or behind carpentry. The guide to electrical renovation rules for HDB flats covers this in more detail.

Lights and the exhaust fan

Steam is the main thing a light by the door has to cope with, and an exhaust fan helps with that. HDB's electrical works guidelines say installation of an exhaust fan is only allowed in bathrooms, so the bathroom is the one room in an HDB flat where you can add one.

Running the fan during and after a shower clears steam around the light fittings. Leave it on for a while after you finish.

Plan the light and fan positions together with your LEW. That way each has its own place in the ceiling, and the wiring route is worked out once.

Our guide to choosing and fitting a bathroom exhaust fan covers the fan side in more detail.

What to ask before you buy

Take these questions to the shop and to your LEW before you pay for a fitting:

• IP rating. Which IP rating does your LEW say that exact spot needs, and does the fitting carry it?
• Cut-out size. Does the cut-out size match the existing hole in your ceiling, or will the hole need to change?
• Sealed face. Is the fitting sealed at the face?
• Light colour. Which light colour do you want, warm or cool, and does this fitting come in it?
• Dimming. Can the light be dimmed, and does that need a different switch?
• Warranty. What does the warranty cover, for how long, and who do you contact if the fitting fails?

If you are replacing a fitting that has already stopped working, find out why before you buy a new one. The guide to a bathroom light not working covers the next steps and when to call your LEW.

Questions