wrote in message
...
One of the first jobs to tackle in refitting the bathroom at our flat
will be the lighting. We're going to put up a pine T&G ceiling which
will be supported on battens screwed to the 'real' ceiling, thus there
will be space for the lights, wiring, etc. in the space behind the
T&G. (The 'real' ceiling is solid concrete as far as I can detect,
there's no access beyond it).

What sort of lights must I, can I or should I have? Are they required
by the regulations to be of a specific IP rating or anything, or
designated as bathroom lights, or what? Is there any more specific
requirement for any lights which are actually above the bath?
Six downlighters is probably what we'll go for, the ones at my
mother-in-laws house are very satisfactory in the bathroom.

The ceiling is quite high (thus the false T&G ceiling presents no
problem), it's distinctly more than the normal modern house ceiling
height.

As a minor additional question what sorts of lights and switches can
one have above a washbasin, are only pull switches allowed for such
lights? (It'll be pretty close to the bath, it's not a big bathroom).

--
Chris Green )

Firstly Chris, any switch gear should either be a normal plate switch
outside the bathroom or a pull cord switch if it is to be used within the
room itself. Normal plate switches can arc over to damp hands, which is not
a very nice feeling.

The lights should marked as being able to use in a bathroom and are normally
sealed dichroic low voltage systems. I think B&Q are doing them very cheap
at the moment, or so I am told, with a gang of three arrangement.

You say that six lights should be enough, so taking two of these sized
systems from the existing supply should not cause any problems.

The space above the lights will need to allow good ventilation though, as
these little lights can give off a good bit of heat if they're on for long
periods, and I normally tell folks to leave a good 75mm above them to a
solid ceiling for this very reason.

The transformers used on these units are slim enough to slip into the space
left for the light fittings, so that should also not cause you any problems.
But the only other advice I give, is for you to leave a small gap all around
them to let them dissipate their heat properly too. So lifting them on to
small blocks of wood at each end of the unit should be enough. Anything to
let air get all around them as much as possible.


---
www.basecuritysystems.no-ip.com

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