A shower is an integral feature of a bathroom. It is a device that releases drops of water through a lot of tiny holes and that you stand under to wash your whole body. Bathrooms need to be adequately planned because you cannot add lamps after the fact to compensate for a bad plan.
Every shower needs light because it facilitates much easier washing or freshening up quickly. The procedure of choosing to light a shower varies because the vanity, tub area, and shower do not demand the same lighting choices.
Nonetheless, the shower lights’ overall design still needs to be unique and cohesive. The shower or bathroom lights have in common the same circuit as the hallway lights and outlets. Also, getting your shower lighting right is an essential attribute of a conducive bathroom.
Now, the question is, do shower lights need to be GFCI protected?
Most shower lights need to be Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protected because it guards the house wires and receptacles from overheating and possible fire. It guards against possible electrocution caused by an electrical fault. Shower lights need Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter because of their valuable role in light regulations and protecting the individual from electrical shock.
Furthermore, in choosing a bathroom or shower light, there are three main things one need to consider:
- Which safety rules you need to follow.
- The way you intend to use the lighting in your bathroom.
- What types of lighting in your bathroom will you prefer.
The most important thing to consider when choosing your shower light is whether they are safe to use.
As stated from the onset, shower lights are very important in a bathroom. Its usefulness can never be overemphasized. Undoubtedly, it is not mandatory that shower lights need to be GFCI protected, but for the sake of safety, it is recommended that shower lights need to be GFCI protected.
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Shower Lights
The absence of shower lights renders the bathroom dingy and dull. Adding a recessed light above the shower provides welcome illumination while showering. Recessed bathroom lighting is perfect for the ceiling above the shower because it does not take up any space overhead.
However, a remarkable moisture-resistant bathroom light fixture is required in the shower because the area is subject to so much moisture and humidity. MR16 or PAR20 halogen lamps are common for shower recessed lighting but never LED retrofit modules in the market enable you to incorporate energy-efficient LED lighting into your bathroom.
Make the bathroom feel spacious by creating a framed or frameless glass shower enclosure in frosted, textured, or clear glass. Glass shower enclosures add brightness to the shower area because they allow light to pass through. Due to the bathroom’s nature, which is often damp and wet and slippery, it is crucial to get the shower lights right. Shower lights help to give the bathroom a facelift. The shower lights’ wiring must be accurate, if possible, with a ground fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI).
Importance of Shower Lights in the Bathroom
Bearing in mind the service that bathrooms renders, the importance of shower lights can never be relegated to the background. Shower lighting is critical or important. Unarguably, the bathroom is usually the first room we enter in the morning, setting the mood for the remainder of the day. It is equally the room we enter when we are half asleep in the middle of the night.
In respect of the bathroom’s daily routines, including washing, putting on makeup, shaving, grooming, etc., shower lights will help with its accuracy and effectiveness. There might be difficulty in carrying out these in the bathroom in the absence of a shower light.
A bathroom can as well become the most unsafe place in the house if the right things are not in place. It is a fact that bathrooms are often damp and wet, and slippery, making it possible to slip and fall. Lighting is critical for our safety. Statistics have shown that 80% of all falls for older adults occur in the bathroom. A light over the tub and shower is ideal for providing both mood and grooming lighting.
Shower legs are so much easier when you have overhead lighting. It brightens your mood helping you feel more refreshed and energized. The lights also have the added value of fresh air and help reduce moisture levels.
What are GFCI and its Purpose in the Bathroom?
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) is an electric device that monitors electrical current, cutting power, or tripping when the outlets detect an imbalance or excess flow down an unintended path. It is designed to respond before electricity can affect your heartbeat. Its primary purpose is to avert a possible electric shock.
However, before the advent of GFCI requirements, about 800 people died annually from household electrocution in the U.S.A alone. The importance of GFCI in the bathroom can never be overstressed.
Do Shower Lights Need to be GFCI Protected?
Shower lights need to be GFCI protected because it is designed to reduce electrical shocks in an accident when a Shock occurs thereby reducing the risk of severe injury or fatality. The fact is that the Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter plays an essential role in electric flow regulation. Although the NEC does not require either the switch is or the light fixture to be GFCI protection to meet UL requirements. It is important to do so to be on the safer side.
Importance of GFCI protected shower lights
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) is a safety device installed for the sole objective of monitoring the flow of electricity flowing from a power source, usually connected to electronic components, through mitigating the amount of electric power that flows through it. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) can prevent serious or even deadly electrical shocks and electrical fires. Because of such a valuable role, GFCI is very vital in shower lights.
- They are designed to reduce, not eliminate, electrical shocks in an accident when a Shock occurs.
- If a GFCI has been installed, the risk of severe injury or fatality is significantly reduced. GFCI’s are very important in wet or damp environments such as the bathroom.
Final Thoughts
The shower light is an essential component of a modern and conducive bathroom. The shower lights need to be GFCI protected. This is as a result of the role the GFCI plays in electric flow regulation. It aids in reducing the risk of electric shock. In choosing shower lights, and their electrical wiring, always use multiple switches and dimmers for lighting. This permits a vast array of possibilities for everyone who uses the bathroom. Everyone has different needs, and the value of doing this cannot be overstressed. It will also promote the shower’s conducive nature at every point in time for whoever uses it. Therefore, the shower lights must be accurately wired with a Grand Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) installed.
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