Fire Hoods On Recessed Lights

[adammid]

Can someone tell me if it a requirement to have fire hoods fitted to halogen recessed lights. The lights are fitted in a kitchen with a bedroom above, which has wooden floor boards and the joists are approx 4 inches deep.

I keep getting told different things. 

I know in an ideal world you would even if you didn't have to, but I am pricing a very large job and fitting fire rated downlights could make all the difference to me winning the job or not.

Regards

 

 

[ProDave]

Fire hoods are old hat.

Just fit fire rated downlights, a LOT easier.

 

[NozSpark]

You only need to use fire hoods when you are breaking a fire barrier.

A plasterboard ceiling in a "normal" house isn't regarded as a fire barrier (unless it's the ceiling of an integral garage) although it does have a fire rating of 30mins

One of the other things you need to conside is that most "downlights with built in hood" also have an acoustic rating which means that they are designed to restrict the passage of sound.

Now the question that you need to ask yourself is... Do you really want to be fitting open backed downlights in a kitchen ceiling, which is the room that has a higher risk of starting a fire, with a bedroom above?

IMHO you should be using energy efficient lighting on a job like that anyhow to meet building regs, so the price difference between open backed fittings and ones with integrated fire/acoustic hoods will be minimal.

 

[Evans Electric]

Personally I think the non fire rated should be removed from the market to avoid confusion .     The thought of some tinder dry, old, crumpled up newspaper coming into contact with a 50W GU10 in an open style fitting is frightening .

A fire rated JCC fitting just over £6  plus the Vodka And Tonic.  

 

[adammid]

Evans I totally agree that open backed ones should be taken off the market.

Noz, I agree with you saying that should you really be fitting open backed lights in a kitchen ceiling. I always will fit fire rated ones but  as you also say, a ceiling in a domestic property unless in a garage is not regarded as a fire barrier and therefore they are not required.

 

[tom1]

while down lights and energy efficiency are on the cards, i mostly fit click fire rated for about £6 + vat. last time i used these with led.  http://www.downlightsdirect.co.uk/downlights/fire-rated-downlights/icage-fire-rated-downlights.html?page=all

they were a bit more money but they say the lamp will last longer

 

[steptoe]

last downlights i fitted were fire-rated and I got 20 of them for under a tenner including LED lamps, 

was a returned order at my local eddys and they were knocking them out cheap to shift as it wasnt their normal line of kit,

I only needed ten for the particular job but bought all 20 cos the price was good, next job was pure profit on materials [virtually], 

 

[tom1]

sounds like you got a good deal

 

[matt.leung]

i wish these where fire rated http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p31851 as they give a fantastic light output