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In a small bathroom it's less of a consideration. On larger commercial jobs the cost adds up, some IP65 fittings are expensive.
The rating depends on the zone. If it's in a bathroom but outside the 'wet' zones then IP44 can be used. The 5 in IP45 stands for 'protection from water jets'. Perhaps you meant inside the zones.
I think that illustrates the problem with bathroom lighting and the over specification of IP ratings.
I understand your statement "people usually go for IP65" but that's not my experience. Some people definitely do but it tends to be a boot strap approach to the problem which avoids having to actually understand the regulations. Not that I don't make mistakes myself, it's a complicated regulatory environment which is easy to get caught out on, that's why the general rule that work in special areas needs signing off.
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The rating depends on the zone. If it's in a bathroom but outside the 'wet' zones then IP44 can be used. The 5 in IP45 stands for 'protection from water jets'. Perhaps you meant inside the zones.
Yes, I meant that the minimum requirement inside zone 1 is IP45, but IP65 is often used. I agree, it's better to actually understand the regulations.
Airhead
Thanks for the feedback @Airhead
Can I ask why that would be a problem? IP65 downlights are fairly cheap, so why not just spec them? In any case, the ceiling in my bathroom is only 220cm, so the lights there are zone 1. My understanding is that IP45 required but people usually go for IP65. My current fittings are something like this in MR16. The bulb is held in clips on the back of the bezel which has a glass faceplate and a rubber seal to the permanent fitting. Replacing the bulb therefore requires pulling the bezel off.
There's no dimmer on the circuit. I'm thinking that I'd go for integrated LED downlights; something like this, although I'll need to check the hole diameter first. It looks like they have a junction box (some with push-fit connections), so it looks like would just be a case of running a T&E tail from the existing junction box on the ring main to the new downlight. Right?