Would you love to have an illuminated bathroom mirror installed in your home? If so, you’re hardly alone; these sleek, lit-up panels are widely admired for their sophisticated aesthetics and everyday practicality.

However, even if you do decide to invest in an LED bathroom mirror as a UK homeowner, you can’t “just” drill into the wall, hang it up, and then go about your day. That’s because there are specific rules setting out where these bathroom mirrors with lights can be fitted.

So, for today’s blog post here at Light Mirrors, we’ll be setting out the essentials of these rules, which may impact on where you decide to have your own lit-up bathroom mirror installed.

The Principles of Where You Can Fit an Illuminated Bathroom Mirror

The rules on where bathroom mirrors with lights can be installed in the UK are outlined in the Building Regulations 2010 (Part P – Electrical safety), as well as in BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations):

  • Part P of the Building Regulations 2010 serves the purpose of protecting people from electric shocks and fires caused by faulty electrical installations. It covers all fixed electrical installation work in and around a home.
  • BS 7671, often referred to as “the Wiring Regs”, establish the national standard for the safety of electrical installations. They are not mere guidelines or suggestions; they are a legal requirement applicable across commercial, industrial, and domestic buildings.

An illuminated mirror can be installed in certain areas of a bathroom, known as “electrical zones”, subject to it having the appropriate Ingress Protection (IP) rating. The general principle is that the closer the mirror is to a water source, the higher the IP rating it will need to have.

It is important to note as well that in the case of hardwired mirrors, the installation will need to be carried out by a qualified electrician who is registered with a government-approved Part P competent person scheme.

Introducing The Four Bathroom Electrical Zones in the UK

Bathrooms are divided into “electrical zones”, based on water risk. The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) defines four zones in a bathroom, each with its own safety rules for electrical installations such as bathroom mirrors with lights:

  • Zone 0: Inside The Bath or Shower Basin

This area is the internal section of the bath or shower tray, below the rim. It is not permitted for an illuminated mirror to be fitted in this space.

  • Zone 1: Directly Above the Bath or Shower

This refers to an area up to 2.25 metres from the floor, or the 1.2-metre radius around a shower head.

Any fixtures here must be water-resistant, with a minimum rating of IPX4, or IPX5 if water jets are present. Illuminated mirrors with a rating of at least IPX4 are therefore sometimes permitted to be installed here.

  • Zone 2: Horizontal From the Bath Edge or Shower

This is the area extending 0.6 metres horizontally from Zone 1 or the edge of a sink, bath, or shower, up to 2.25 metres high.

While this is the most common zone for the installation of an illuminated bathroom mirror, a minimum rating of IPX4 is required.

  • Outside Zones: Anywhere Else in the Room

This is any part of the bathroom more than 0.6 metres away from the bath, shower, or sink.

There isn’t any official requirement for bathroom mirrors with lights installed in this zone to have a particular IP rating. However, an IPX4 rating is recommended to protect against steam and accidental splashes. 

For Advice with Any Aspect of LED Bathroom Mirror Fitting, Just Contact Us!

Whether you’re browsing our range and you’re unsure which of our illuminated bathroom mirror options could be the optimal choice for your space, or you would appreciate help with installation, you’re welcome to contact our UK-based support team.

When you do, we’ll support your efforts to achieve the best possible outcome with your bathroom mirror – whichever one you ultimately opt for!