Saunas and baths have long been loved by people. Nowadays, it is no longer only a functional, but also a ritual place. Despite the fact that modern people have the opportunity to wash themselves in their home, bath procedures are in great demand. After all, it is in a bathhouse or sauna that a person completely relaxes, both physically and psychologically. In order for relaxation to be as effective as possible, it is necessary to think about creating comfortable lighting in the sauna using LED strip, already at the design stage.
Should I use LED strip in a sauna or bathhouse?
The lighting arrangement for saunas and baths is extremely important. The design of these buildings does not involve windows at all, or a minimal number of them. In this regard, electrical lighting devices will be the main source of light. LED strip for baths and saunas is the optimal solution. The combination of economic indicators and technical characteristics brings LED to first place in the choice of lighting devices. The main reason why LED strip is preferred is its ability to work in any humidity, even operating under water. To do this, of course, you need to choose a special sealed tape with a degree of protection against penetration IP66-IP68. This parameter guarantees you that high humidity will not in any way affect the performance and service life of the lighting device.
Waterproof tape is the best option for use in saunas and baths. Its protection against moisture allows it to serve for many years in conditions of high humidity.
Types of lighting in the bath
When choosing the type of backlight, you need to take into account the heat resistance, tightness and moisture resistance of the devices. Lighting fixtures with a protection class of IP-54 and higher are suitable for the steam room.
The most common lighting options in the bathhouse are:
- LEDs
. Due to the brightness and harshness of the light, they are usually installed behind wooden bars or under shelves around the perimeter of the room. LEDs can be strip or in the form of spotlights. This type of lighting is very economical. With its help you can create an original light pattern. In addition, LEDs are used as emergency lighting during power outages. - Optical fiber
. It is characterized by maximum safety, efficiency, soft lighting, compactness and durability. Such lighting devices can withstand high temperature and humidity conditions (up to +200 degrees) and its changes. It is possible to install fiber optic systems even on the ceiling in a steam room or in a swimming pool. They are absolutely moisture resistant. In this case, the installation can be done independently. With this backlight, you can create unique light combinations using multi-colored attachments with different lighting inclinations. The disadvantages include high cost.
It is important to choose the appropriate light pattern that you want to achieve with the help of lighting so that it is in harmony with the design of the room.
Lighting for baths and saunas can be hidden or open; you can also use white and colored light elements. Lighting devices from world famous manufacturers - Tylo, Linder, Harvia, Steinel - are distinguished by their quality, ease of use and durability. In addition to traditional lighting fixtures, luminous stones can serve as lighting for the steam room. They are sold in construction supermarkets, where you can choose any shape, size and color. As a rule, special heat-resistant stones based on LEDs are offered for baths. By placing them in the steam room, you will fill the room with a mysterious flicker.
You should not use traditional incandescent lamps as lighting fixtures. With their help it is difficult to create an interesting light pattern, and in a steam room they can quickly fail.
Once you have decided on the type of lighting systems, consider the location of the elements. As a rule, in the steam room the main light sources are placed in the corners, in the washing room lighting fixtures are installed on the ceiling, in the dressing room and relaxation room - as desired.
Pros and cons of installing LED strip in a sauna
Among the clear advantages of using LED strips in a sauna, one can highlight, first of all, cost-effectiveness, common to all LED products. Electricity is consumed up to 10 times less than when using incandescent lamps and two times less than when using fluorescent lamps. The second definite plus is the property that we have already described, to work in conditions of high humidity. You can also highlight the aesthetic side of the issue. LED strips, due to their flexibility and color diversity, which can be observed in dynamics, will help to implement stunning design solutions in the interior of a sauna and auxiliary rooms. And they, in turn, add individuality and comfort to the atmosphere.
As for the shortcomings, there is one important nuance, but it can also be overcome. We are talking about working in conditions of elevated temperature. The temperature range for normal LED operation ranges from -30+60°C. Naturally, the heat in the bathhouse and sauna is much greater. In order to use the device safely and for a long time, you must choose a heat-resistant LED strip. Its main design difference is that the elements soldered onto the board are coated with heat-resistant two-component silicone on top. This allows the use of LED strip in all rooms of the bath complex.
Advantage of LED strips
The great difficulty in building a bathhouse is that it requires the use of special devices that can withstand harsh operating conditions. If the equipment is incorrectly selected, the lighting will have to be changed frequently, as the lamps will quickly fail. But don't forget about safety. In the best case, the lamp will simply go out; in the worst case, it may burst, and this can lead to injury from small glass fragments, as well as an electric shock to a person. This is a very important point that must be taken into account when arranging rooms where high humidity is planned. Poor quality or incorrectly selected equipment can cause personal injury or even death.
With an LED strip in the bathhouse, you don’t have to worry about people who are relaxing peacefully getting an electric shock. Such lighting fixtures can withstand any level of humidity. Even if they start pouring water on the tape, nothing will happen to it. Considering the high level of moisture resistance of the strip with LED elements, such a device is even recommended for creating pool lighting. But in order to use the lighting device underwater, you need to purchase a device with special markings indicating a high level of water resistance.
LED lighting can be placed in the shelves of the bath
LED strip can be placed behind shelves
The big advantage of LED strip is that it is not only moisture-resistant, but also heat-resistant, so the lighting will withstand very high temperatures. Moreover, heat-resistant tapes last a very long time with minimal energy consumption.
Thanks to such equipment, you can create a unique interior in any bathhouse. This will make your vacation more comfortable, and the time spent in the bathhouse will be remembered for a long time.
Using an LED strip, you can diversify the interior of the steam room and create interesting effects, for example, by placing it behind wooden wall panels
It should be noted! With low power consumption, diode strips in the bathhouse produce quite a lot of light.
But it’s still better to use the recommendations of professionals for installing heat-resistant equipment so that there is sufficient lighting in each room.
Choosing the correct location of the tape in the sauna
In order to carry out proper installation of the LED strip, you need to pay attention to important details. Compliance with the rules will protect visitors from receiving any injuries and minimize the risk of fire in your bathhouse. At the wiring stage it is important:
- The correct choice of cable cross-section, taking into account all the necessary reserves, taking into account the specifics of the room;
- To avoid fire in the wiring, there should be no soldered wire connections;
- In the wood-trimmed walls of the room, wiring is carried out in internal open lines, and if possible, power is created for lighting devices from adjacent rooms with a less aggressive environment;
- Grounding.
The next thing to consider when choosing a tape is the different climatic conditions in specific rooms of the bathhouse complex. Depending on the temperature, humidity and required light emission in each room, the optimal type of LED strip is selected. For example, in steam rooms they use tapes with maximum protection against penetration and high temperature, while in showers there is a need to use sealed tapes, but not necessarily heat-resistant ones. In dry saunas, on the contrary, the heat resistance should be increased, but the degree of protection is sufficient and IP65-IP66.
For installation, in addition to the LED strip itself in the steam room, you will need:
- power supply (1 for every 5 meters of tape), it must be placed outside the room with extreme temperature and humidity;
- controller (when using RGB tape), performs the function of switching colors;
- the plug is attached to the end of the tape using heat-resistant sealant;
- connecting connector (also mounted on heat-resistant sealant).
Direct installation of the tape is easy. In rest rooms, you can use self-adhesive tape, and in rooms with high humidity and temperatures, special fastenings are used.
All kinds of options for attaching the LED strip without using an adhesive base: plinths, brackets.
Installation of fiber optic lighting in a bathhouse
The best option for bath rooms is fiber optics.
It best withstands aggressive influences (temperature and humidity) and creates dim light. Having made a choice in favor of a fiber optic system, you must first draw an installation diagram and measure the total length of the backlight. We carry out further work in this order:
- We install the projector in the waiting room. It runs on a halogen lamp and passes the light through a filter to cut off infrared and ultraviolet radiation.
- We connect the optical conductors-light guides and bring them into the steam room or washing department. They work using multiple light reflection technology.
- Attach attachments if necessary. They are usually presented in the form of crystals.
- We fix it in pre-marked places. Please note that you need to carefully monitor the radius of bends. The diameter of the arc should be less than ten times the diameter of the thread. If the thread is 0.8 mm in diameter, then the bend should be a maximum of 8 mm. Increasing the bend will result in light loss in the arc.
Please note that for use in steam rooms it is better to use optical fiber in a glass shell than in PVC. It withstands aggressive influences better.
Installation nuances
In addition to LED strips, fiber optics are used as lighting devices in saunas and baths. But if you still choose a heat-resistant LED backlight, then try to adhere to one more recommendation. Considering the temperature factor, place the tape in the lower part of the room, because the temperature near the ceiling will be much higher. In addition to the temperature factor, it is also convenient. The lighting of wooden shelves in a sauna, or a strip of light from under a stone bench in a Turkish bath, looks very cozy. And if we are talking about a multi-color LED strip, then such decor helps to tune in to the desired relaxing mood. Placing the tape under the bench, or on the side of the shelf, additionally creates comfortable reflected light, allowing the visitor's eyes to rest.
LED
LED lighting has a number of undeniable advantages.
- Economical (lower energy consumption compared to incandescent light bulbs)
- Safety (sealed models, low voltage)
- Light quality (bright light)
- Variety of glow colors (white, green, red, etc.)
Incandescent lamps
The most popular lighting for a bathhouse is ordinary light bulbs. It is important to understand that they must be used in conjunction with special sealed lampshades and sauna lampshades.
If incandescent lamps with a power of up to 60 watts have the appropriate degree of protection, then they are not dangerous even when exposed to liquid.
Halogen
It has a number of undeniable advantages.
- Economical (lower energy consumption compared to incandescent light bulbs)
- Safety (lighting is sealed)
