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Bathrooms are the one room in the house where the wrong light fitting is a genuine safety hazard. This guide walks through New Zealand's bathroom lighting zones under AS/NZS 3000, what each IP rating actually protects against, and which Lighting Direct fittings are built for the job.
IP stands for Ingress Protection. The two digits after it are not a single score — they're two separate ratings for two separate risks, and a bathroom fitting has to clear both.
Scored 0–6. Higher blocks smaller particles.
0 - No protection against solid objects
2 - Blocks fingers and objects over 12.5mm
4 - Blocks tools, wires and objects over 1mm
5 - Dust protected — limited ingress only
6 - Dust-tight — completely sealed
The first 4 in IP44 is why the fitting can sit safely near a mirror splashback without dust or debris reaching the electrics.
Scored 0–9. Withstands higher water pressure.
1 - Vertically falling drops only
4 - Splashing water from any direction
5 - Low-pressure water jets from any angle
7 - Temporary immersion up to 1m for 30 min
9 - High-pressure, high-temp jets and steam
The second 4 in IP44 means the fitting handles splashing from any direction — exactly what a vanity light beside a basin needs.
A downlight directly overhead casts shadows on the face
Avoid shining light directlly into the face , rather reflect light off the mirror
The best-performing bathrooms don't rely on a single ceiling light. They layer three types of light, each doing a different job.
IP44 ceiling downlights spread even general light across the room. This is your base layer — everything else builds on top of it.
Crisp and accurate enough for grooming tasks without tipping into the cold, clinical look of higher colour temperatures.
Vanity lights either side of the mirror, spaced 75–90cm apart and centred on face height, give the most even, shadow-free result.
Bathrooms are divided into IP zones based on how close an electrical fitting is to water. The closer the fitting is to a shower, bath or other water source, the greater the protection it needs against moisture and water.
Zone 1 — Shower & Bath Area
This is the area directly above a bath or within the shower area, extending up to 2.25 m from the finished floor level. Lighting installed here needs a suitable level of water protection. For a simple buyer guide, we recommend choosing IP54 or higher, with IP65 a strong choice for shower lighting where greater water protection is desirable.
Zone 2 — Around the Wet Area
Zone 2 generally extends 600 mm beyond the boundary of Zone 1, including areas immediately surrounding a bath or shower. IP44 or higher is the usual minimum requirement, protecting the fitting against splashing water.
Outside the Zones — General Bathroom Area
Once you're outside the defined bathroom zones, the specific zoned IP requirement generally no longer applies. However, bathrooms are still humid environments, so IP44 or higher is a practical choice for many bathroom lights, particularly around vanities and other areas where splashing or condensation may occur.
An IP rating only tells you whether a fitting is safe for its zone. It says nothing about whether the room will feel properly lit. As a general starting point, here's how much light output to plan for in each area.
Aim for ~3,500–4,000 lumens total, using 2 to 4 IP44 downlights across a standard 4m² to 10m² bathroom.
Allow ~400–800 lumens per fitting, ideally with an IP44 vanity light positioned on each side of the mirror at eye height.
Allow ~600–800 lumens from a single IP65-rated fitting, positioned outside Zone 0 and away from direct water contact.
One central downlight lights the floor, not the face. It leaves the mirror area shadowed and makes grooming tasks harder than they need to be.
A fitting tested to IP44 in a lab still needs good seals and correct thermal design on site. Poor cable sealing or condensation pathways can undermine the rating over time.
A single fitting mounted high above the mirror casts shadows under the eyes, chin, and neck. Lights either side of the mirror, at eye height, give a far more even result.
2700K feels cosy but makes it hard to judge skin tone and colour accurately at the mirror. 4000K is the more reliable choice for a vanity area.
Every hardwired bathroom fitting in New Zealand must be installed by a registered electrician.
Only if it sits outside Zone 1 and carries an appropriate IP rating for its position. Most standard pendants are not rated for the zone directly above a bath. Confirm the exact zone boundaries and fitting rating with a registered electrician before purchasing.
Natalia was patient with our process of design and choice of lighting. Her support went way beyond our expectations. We would highly recommend her to any prospective customer needing assistance with lighting design.
The team helped us plan lighting for our whole new build. Clear advice, no pressure, and the 3D render made the decisions so much easier.
We couldn't be happier with how our living spaces turned out. Every fitting feels considered and the layout is exactly right for how we live.
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