What Is an IP Rating?

An Ingress Protection (IP) rating is a two-digit code defined by the IEC 60529 standard. The first digit indicates protection against solid particles; the second against liquids. For bathroom mirrors, the liquid protection digit is the critical one.

IP44 — Splash Protection

Second digit: 4 — Protected against water splashing from any direction.

IP44 is the minimum required for mirrors installed in Zone 2 of a bathroom — that is, areas more than 60cm from the edge of a bath or shower but still within the same room. It's suitable for most standard en-suite and bathroom applications where the mirror is positioned above a vanity unit, away from direct water flow.

Typical use: Standard hotel en-suite bathrooms, residential bathrooms, vanity mirrors.

IP65 — Jet Protection

Second digit: 5 — Protected against low-pressure water jets from any direction.

IP65 offers a significantly higher level of water resistance. Mirrors carrying this rating can be installed within Zone 1 — directly adjacent to a shower or bath — and are suitable for wet room environments where water may travel across wall surfaces.

Typical use: Open-plan wet rooms, spa environments, shower areas.

IP67 — Immersion Protection

Second digit: 7 — Protected against temporary immersion in water up to 1 metre for 30 minutes.

IP67 is rarely required for wall-mounted mirrors but is specified for certain integrated shower niches or in exceptionally high-moisture environments such as steam rooms and hydrotherapy suites.

Typical use: Steam rooms, hydrotherapy suites, fully integrated shower niches.

Which Rating Should You Specify?

| Zone | Location | Minimum IP Rating | |------|----------|-------------------| | Zone 0 | Inside bath or shower | IP67 | | Zone 1 | Within 0.6m of bath/shower edge | IP65 | | Zone 2 | 0.6m–2.4m from bath/shower | IP44 | | Outside zones | Standard room areas | No requirement, but IP44 recommended |

Lumos Mirrors and IP Ratings

All Lumos illuminated mirrors are rated to at least IP44 as standard, with IP65 options available across the full bespoke range. When submitting a specification brief, always indicate the zone location — this determines both the rated product required and the appropriate wiring method.

If in doubt, specifying IP65 provides a comfortable margin of safety and future-proofs the installation should the room layout change during fit-out.

IP44 vs IP65 vs IP67: Which Mirror Rating Do You Need for Your Bathroom?