I’m planning a backlit stone wall in my shower. My question is specific: what IP rating do I need behind it, and what does a code like IP65 protect against?
Short answer: I need a rating that suits a wet area, for the whole setup — sheet, connections, controller and driver — and I need it confirmed for my exact model before the wall is closed up. Once the stone is up, I can’t easily check what’s behind it.
How to read an IP code
IP stands for ingress protection. The two digits after “IP” answer two different questions.
| Digit | Means |
|---|---|
| First | Solids and dust |
| Second | Water |
The digits are not a single score: a higher number on one side says nothing about the other, and a higher second digit does not automatically cover every lower water test.
As general examples only: IP65 means 6 for dust-tight and 5 for water jets, while IP67 means 7 for temporary immersion. Those explain the digits; they are not a rating for any particular sheet, controller or driver. If a supplier gives me a code, I ask which part it covers, including connections.
What a shower wall actually exposes
A sheet behind stone is not an exposed strip in a shower niche, but “behind stone” does not mean “dry”. Steam and condensation can build up behind a daily-use panel, water can reach edges, grout joints and cut-outs, and a leak can reach places the design never expected.
So I ask where each part will sit, and what can reach it. A fully covered sheet, a sheet near an open edge and a driver in a nearby cavity are different cases.
For the wider safety side, see backlit stone shower wall safety. This post stays on the IP question only.
My wet-area checklist before ordering
- Each part, separately. IP code for the sheet, controller and driver — a sheet rating alone does not cover the rest.
- Exact location. Where do the sheet, joints, controller and driver sit? Driver placement must suit a wet area.
- Connections included? I ask whether the rating covers joints and cable entry points as installed.
- No “waterproof” without a code. That word is marketing language until I see a code and the part it applies to.
- Certifications for my market. I confirm the certifications required for my market when ordering.
- Confirmed before the wall closes. Model name and rating confirmed before ordering, while I can still change them.
Why the sheet rating alone is not enough
A backlit panel is a system. The controller and driver share the same damp environment unless placed elsewhere, and joints are part of that system too. Checking only the sheet could leave a well-protected sheet fed by a driver never meant for that spot. No single code answers this for every shower: it depends on location, exposure, and what the supplier confirms for that exact model.
What to ask the supplier, word for word
When I request a quote, I keep the IP questions short:
- What is the IP rating of the exact sheet model I would receive?
- What are the IP ratings of the controller and driver supplied with it?
- Does the sheet rating cover the joints and cable connections as installed?
- Where should the driver be placed in a shower, and does that suit a wet area?
- Does anything about my layout — edges, niches, cut-outs — change the rating I need?
If an answer comes back without a code or part name, I ask again — better by email than behind a tiled wall.
FAQ
Does IP65 mean I can put a light directly under the shower spray?
Not on the code alone. As a general example, 5 means water jets and 7 means temporary immersion — different tests. What matters is location and the supplier’s confirmation for that exact model.
If the stone covers the sheet, do I still need a wet-area rating?
Yes. Steam, condensation, edges and joints can still reach behind the stone.
Is a higher IP number always better?
Not necessarily. The digits measure different things, and a higher second digit does not automatically cover every lower test.
Does the sheet’s rating cover the driver and controller?
No, not automatically. Each part can carry its own rating. I ask for each part separately.
What if a supplier just says a sheet is “waterproof”?
I ask for the IP code, the exact model, and whether connections are included. Until then, “waterproof” tells me very little.
What I do next
I work out where each part will sit, run through the checklist, and get the exact model’s rating confirmed before I order. To do that, request a quote or a sample from JJS LED light sheet, noting where the sheet, controller and driver will sit. You can also browse the flexible PCB LED light sheets range first.