Bathroom Zones (AS/NZS 3000): IP Requirements by Zone

The Zone System: How AS/NZS 3000 Defines Bathroom Electrical Locations

Bathrooms are classified as hazardous electrical environments under Australian electrical standards because water and electricity occupy the same space. To manage this hazard, AS/NZS 3000:2018 defines a zone system that divides every bathroom into distinct areas, each with specific requirements for the electrical equipment permitted within it. The zone a mirror occupies determines its minimum IP (Ingress Protection) rating and, in some cases, constrains the permitted operating voltage and circuit protection requirements.

Understanding the zone system is not optional knowledge for builders, designers, or specifiers — it is a prerequisite for compliant product specification. This page provides a detailed description of each zone, the IP requirements that apply, and the typical zone placement of wall-mounted LED bathroom mirrors. For detailed wiring rules including RCD protection and earthing, see AS/NZS 3000 wiring rules for bathroom mirrors. For all compliance topics, visit the VUELUXE Compliance Hub.

Zone 0 — Inside the Water Receptacle

Definition: Zone 0 is the interior volume of any fixture that holds or conveys water, including the inside of a bath, the inside of a shower tray, and the interior bowl of a basin. The zone boundary is the rim of the fixture — any surface in contact with the water or its immediate containment.

IP requirement: IP67 minimum. Equipment in Zone 0 must also be of a type specifically rated and certified for Zone 0 use, which imposes requirements well beyond IP rating alone.

Voltage restriction: Only SELV (Safety Extra Low Voltage) equipment is permitted in Zone 0. Mains-voltage equipment cannot be installed in Zone 0.

Relevance to LED mirrors: LED bathroom mirrors are never installed in Zone 0. This zone is identified here because it is the reference point from which Zone 1 boundaries are measured, and because specifiers occasionally ask whether basin-integrated lighting or in-mirror lighting that extends over the basin must comply with Zone 0 requirements (it must not project into Zone 0).

Zone 1 — Direct Splash Zone

Definition: Zone 1 is defined in AS/NZS 3000 as the area:

• Directly above the bath or shower tray, from floor level to a height of 2.25 metres (or the ceiling if lower)
• Extending horizontally to the outer rim of the bath or shower tray, or to the shower enclosure walls if present
• For showers without a tray (wet room format): extending 1.2 metres horizontally from the shower head in all directions

IP requirement: IP44 minimum. Equipment installed in Zone 1 must carry at minimum IP44, meaning it is protected against solid objects greater than 1mm and against water splashing from any direction at any angle.

Voltage restriction: Only SELV equipment, or equipment specifically rated for Zone 1 use (which is a certification category distinct from IP rating alone), is permitted in Zone 1.

Circuit protection: AS/NZS 3000 mandates RCD protection with a rated tripping current not exceeding 30mA for all circuits supplying equipment in Zone 1.

Relevance to LED mirrors: Most standard LED bathroom mirrors — operating at 230V mains via an integrated driver — cannot be installed in Zone 1 unless specifically certified for Zone 1 use. The 230V operating voltage places them outside the SELV restriction for Zone 1 equipment, and Zone 1 certification requires a separate test process beyond standard RCM certification. In most bathroom configurations, the mirror should be positioned to avoid Zone 1 entirely. In compact bathrooms or ensuites where avoidance is difficult, the designer must confirm zone placement with the installing electrician before finalising the layout.

Zone 2 — Secondary Splash Zone

Definition: Zone 2 extends from the outer boundary of Zone 1 to a distance of 600mm horizontally, and from floor level to a height of 2.25 metres (or the ceiling). It represents the area where water splashing, dripping, or condensation from the primary water source may reach, but is not the direct splash zone.

IP requirement: IP44 minimum. The same IP requirement as Zone 1, reflecting the ongoing exposure to moisture even at the greater distance.

Voltage restriction: No voltage restriction applies in Zone 2. Mains-voltage equipment with integrated drivers, including standard LED bathroom mirrors, is permitted.

Circuit protection: AS/NZS 3000 does not mandate RCD protection specifically for Zone 2 equipment under the zone definitions alone, but broader RCD requirements under state electrical safety regulations often require RCD protection on all final sub-circuits in domestic premises, effectively covering Zone 2 installations in most residential contexts.

Relevance to LED mirrors: Zone 2 is where the vast majority of wall-mounted LED bathroom mirrors are installed. The typical installation position — on the wall directly above a vanity basin — places the mirror within 600mm of the Zone 1 boundary (the rim of the basin), and therefore in Zone 2. The minimum IP44 rating required for Zone 2 is the standard specification for all VUELUXE mirrors. For a full explanation of the IP code system and what IP44 means in terms of tested protection, see IP rating explained.

Zone 2: The Detailed Measurement Method

The zone boundary measurement requires attention to three-dimensional geometry, not just horizontal distance from the basin. The following describes how an electrician should determine whether a specific mirror position is in Zone 2:

Horizontal measurement

From the outer rim of the basin (the Zone 1 boundary), measure 600mm horizontally in all directions. The Zone 2 boundary is the vertical plane 600mm from the basin rim. If the mirror’s nearest edge is within 600mm of the basin rim (horizontally), the mirror is in Zone 2.

Vertical measurement

Zone 2 extends vertically from floor level to 2.25 metres. A mirror installed above 2.25 metres is outside Zone 2 by height (though this is rarely relevant for standard mirror installation heights, which are typically between 1.0 and 1.8 metres above floor level).

Basin geometry considerations

For a standard above-counter basin set into a vanity top, the Zone 1 boundary is the outer rim of the basin bowl — not the vanity cabinet edge. A large vanity with an inset basin may have the basin rim 300–400mm back from the front edge of the vanity. In this case, the Zone 1 boundary is at the basin rim, and Zone 2 extends 600mm from that point. A mirror positioned directly above the basin is almost certainly in Zone 2, regardless of vanity depth.

Wall-mounted basin considerations

For a wall-hung basin, the Zone 1 boundary is the outer rim of the basin. The mirror above it is in Zone 2. For a vessel basin (basin sitting on top of a vanity), the upper rim of the vessel defines the Zone 1 boundary. The measurement is taken from the outer rim in all directions.

Outside Zones — The Area Beyond Zone 2

Definition: The area beyond 600mm horizontally from Zone 1, and above 2.25 metres, is outside all defined zones. This area is not subject to the bathroom-specific IP requirements of AS/NZS 3000, though standard electrical safety requirements still apply.

IP requirement: No bathroom-specific minimum, but general requirements for luminaire IP ratings still apply based on the luminaire type and mounting location.

Relevance to LED mirrors: In large master ensuites, powder rooms, or commercial bathroom configurations where the mirror is well away from the basin or shower, it may be positioned outside Zone 2. This is particularly common in large hotel bathroom layouts where the mirror wall is several metres from the nearest water source. Even in this case, specifying IP44 is best practice — bathrooms accumulate condensation and humidity throughout, and IP44 provides appropriate protection for the expected environment regardless of the technical zone boundary.

Zone Map: Visual Reference for Typical Bathroom Configurations

While a graphical zone map cannot be reproduced as a text element, the following description allows the installer to construct or verify the zone map for a typical bathroom configuration:

Plan view (looking down): Draw the outer rim of the basin as a closed boundary. This is Zone 0 (inside the basin) and the Zone 0/1 boundary at the rim. Extend 600mm in all horizontal directions from the rim to draw the Zone 1/2 boundary (for a below-counter basin, Zone 1 extends 600mm — wait, see below). Extend a further 600mm from the Zone 1/2 boundary to draw the Zone 2/outside boundary.

Correction note: Zone 1 for a bath or shower extends to the rim of the tub/tray. For a basin, Zone 1 begins at the rim of the basin and extends to 600mm beyond (as Zone 2). The space above the basin up to 2.25m is Zone 1 for shower/bath situations but for a basin specifically, the classification applies as: above the basin rim = Zone 1 (for shower/bath overhead) or the area surrounding the basin within 600mm = Zone 2 for basin configurations. The installing electrician must refer to the current edition of AS/NZS 3000 and its figures for precise zone boundary diagrams.

Elevation view (looking at the wall): The Zone 1 boundary at the wall begins at the inner plane of the bath or shower enclosure edge and extends to the ceiling up to 2.25m. Zone 2 begins at the Zone 1 boundary and extends 600mm outward. A mirror on the wall above the basin is in Zone 2 if within 600mm horizontally of the basin rim, and in the space outside zones if more than 600mm from the basin rim.

What IP44 Actually Protects Against in a Bathroom

IP44 is the minimum rating for Zone 1 and Zone 2 equipment. The IP code is defined by IEC 60529 (adopted as AS/NZS 60529 in Australia) and consists of two digits:

• First digit (4): Protection against solid objects greater than 1mm in diameter. In a bathroom, this primarily means dust and fine particles that accumulate on surfaces over time.
• Second digit (4): Protection against water splashing from any direction. The test involves water projected at the product from any angle at a specified flow rate for a specified duration, after which there must be no ingress that compromises electrical safety.

IP44 does not protect against:

• Sustained jets of water (IP55 is required for jet protection)
• Temporary submersion (IP67) or continuous submersion (IP68)
• Steam cleaning or high-pressure cleaning (these require IP69K)

For bathroom mirrors, IP44 is appropriate for Zone 2 placement. Mirrors installed in hotel bathrooms with walk-in wet rooms, or in any configuration where the mirror may be exposed to direct water spray (rather than splash), should be specified at IP54 or higher. Our IP rating explained guide provides the full IP code breakdown and specification guidance by application.

Zone Compliance in Practice: Common Specification Mistakes

The following zone-related specification mistakes appear consistently in LED mirror project documentation:

Specifying IP20 mirrors for bathroom installation

IP20 luminaires are designed for dry interior use. They are not appropriate for any bathroom zone and should never be specified for bathroom mirror applications. Products listed as “bathroom mirrors” that carry only IP20 ratings are non-compliant for any Zone 1 or Zone 2 installation.

Assuming the mirror is outside Zone 2 without measuring

In tight bathroom layouts, specifiers sometimes assume a mirror is outside Zone 2 because it appears visually distant from the basin. Formal measurement is always required to confirm zone placement. A basin that is set back within the vanity, with a mirror directly above, may have the mirror in Zone 2 even when the vanity appears large.

Relying on claimed IP ratings without test documentation

The IP44 rating claim on an LED mirror is only valid if it is supported by a test report from an accredited laboratory. A mirror listed as “IP44” by a seller who cannot produce test documentation has an unverified claim. In a compliance audit or insurance investigation, an unverified IP rating claim carries no weight. See the SAA/RCM certification page for how to verify the legitimacy of IP rating claims as part of the overall compliance documentation review.

Ignoring zone requirements for mirrors in wet rooms

Wet room configurations (no shower tray, floor-to-ceiling tile, open shower area) extend Zone 1 to 1.2 metres from the shower head horizontally. In a compact wet room where the mirror wall is less than 1.2 metres from the shower head, the mirror is in Zone 1 — requiring either a SELV system or a mirror specifically certified for Zone 1 installation. This is a common oversight in high-end bathroom design that specifies dramatic open shower layouts without considering the zone implications for fixed electrical equipment.

Summary: Zone Requirements for Bathroom Mirror Specification

The zone system under AS/NZS 3000 establishes clear, measurable boundaries for electrical equipment placement in bathrooms. For LED mirror specification, the practical summary is:

• Zone 0: No LED mirrors. Not applicable.
• Zone 1: Standard mains-voltage LED mirrors not permitted. SELV or Zone 1-certified alternatives required. Confirm with electrician before specifying.
• Zone 2: IP44 minimum required. Standard mains-voltage LED mirrors with IP44 certification are permitted. RCD protection required on circuit in most state jurisdictions. This is the typical installation zone for most bathroom mirrors.
• Outside zones: No bathroom-specific IP minimum, but IP44 still recommended. Mains-voltage equipment is permitted.

All VUELUXE mirrors are rated to IP44 minimum and carry RCM certification. Zone placement must be confirmed by the installing electrician for each specific project. For AS/NZS 3000 wiring requirements, see AS/NZS 3000 wiring rules. For electrician licensing and certification requirements by state, see the electrician requirements page.