For Loft Insulation - JCC Loftbrace or Halolite InsulationGuard or ?

[brummydave]

Firerated downlights in upstairs rooms. Hmmm loft insulation over the top or not?

Anyone used these:

Fireguard Loftbrace for 400mm Joist Centers

or

Halolite

or something similar to enable this?

Just wondering which to use.

Cheers, D.

 

[sparkytim]

Cost more then the light fittings!

No problem to cut out insulation around fitting to provide air space.

Some newer LED fittings can be covered over.

 

[shed69]

Cost more then the light fittings!No problem to cut out insulation around fitting to provide air space.

Some newer LED fittings can be covered over.

If your talking JCC or the Aurora one, then its not true...! I spoke with JCC and they didn't recommend covering and in Aurora manufacturers (from info on here iirc), they can't be!!!!

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so who knows!!!!!!

 

[brummydave]

True there's some heat out the higher powered LED fittings. Mind you, the main complaint with them I have is they're too bright! I do recall seeing a unit in PE which could be covered over, but can't recall which one. It's probably well pricey too.

With insulation getting to be as thick as the loft, it seems a bit daft to leave holes in it. Plus, most firerated fittings are over a tenner so the metal covers are less. Gonna ask Denmans what their price is.

Nobody actually used them though?

 

[NozSpark]

I have never used them myself, I've always removed insulation from around the back giving a good 6" clearance.

However on a couple of occasions where the ceiling joists were 9" I have put pieces of plaster board between them to create the void and then put the insulation over that.

 

[Andy™]

or you could get some plant pots (not the cheap plastic ones though!

 

[shed69]

[quote name='Andy

 

[PC Electrics]

Cost more then the light fittings!No problem to cut out insulation around fitting to provide air space.

Some newer LED fittings can be covered over.

Yes problem. It contravenes the building regulations which requires the insulation to be continuous.

I use the Halolite box - get them from Screwfix, about a fiver apiece when you buy 5+

 

[steptoe]

Yes problem. It contravenes the building regulations which requires the insulation to be continuous.I use the Halolite box - get them from Screwfix, about a fiver apiece when you buy 5+

so what takes priority,

building regs , which are statutory

or

BS7671, which are not statutory, but state manuf instructions ? which generally state such and such a clearance.

so folks, in line with the other thread about following manuf instructions, regs, or statutory laws, who actually does what?

I'll admit Im obviously a law breaker on this one, but Ive also [i think} admitted to being a regs breaker on the fuse the fan down too,

jeez, Herc, come on boy, Im a gonna get my boots on real quick now.

 

[sparkytim]

Yes problem. It contravenes the building regulations which requires the insulation to be continuous.I use the Halolite box - get them from Screwfix, about a fiver apiece when you buy 5+

Electrical Safety Council advice;

http://www.esc.org.uk/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/industry/guidance/DownlighterTradeLfltweb.pdf

Page 4

"Building regulations DO NOT prevent the leaving of a small area around them....."

 

[PC Electrics]

I did a small extension about a year ago. I used the boxes behind the downlights. The BCO was well chuffed and commented that he wouldn't have signed off a completion without them. He said the insulation layer is required to be continuous, but didn't elaborate on exactly which bit of the regs that comes from.

I believe the document you refer to is out of date, having been published before the latest amandments to BRs.

The BCO concerned may have been refering to L1A, section 5.9, which says:

"the building fabric should be constructed so that there are no reasonably avoidable thermal bridges in the insulation layers caused by gaps within the various elements"

I sell downlight insulation shields to my clients on the two pronged basis of thermal efficiency (of great concern to most people as fuel prices continue to rise) and safety (they prevent downlights being covered accidentally, eg by boxes in a loft which can [and do] catch fire). Not had anyone refuse them yet.

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Instead of shunning them, treat them as a business opportunity. More material profit and more installation work = more earnings. Every little helps.

 

[brummydave]

Yes problem. It contravenes the building regulations which requires the insulation to be continuous.I use the Halolite box - get them from Screwfix, about a fiver apiece when you buy 5+

Good to hear you're using them. I looked at the halolite but it is only 220 or 340mm, whereas the JCC is 400 or 600mm... and with most joist centres being 450mm I thought the halolite would be well too small. How do you fit them?

Good thoughts re better insulation, safety and longevity though. It's all how you sell it to a customer eh! That or tell em it's a must.

BTW Have you signed up for Electricfix? Every little discount helps. Plus the dedicated counters save time too

 

[shed69]

There's plenty of plant pots on here!!!

Can't believe someone gave me bad reputation points for a joke!!! Wow.....

 

[NozSpark]

Can't believe someone gave me bad reputation points for a joke!!! Wow.....

I don't know if I should like that or not

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Like you say,,,, Wow!

 

[steptoe]

Can't believe someone gave me bad reputation points for a joke!!! Wow.....

:slap

well Ive been told in no uncertain terms that Im a 5WW and I got negative reputation for being one,

it comes to us all mr 69, maybe it was Bill, or it coulda been Ben, or even little weed!!!!!

 

[shed69]

I know....... I'm in bits.....

Wheres the nearest cliff......!!!

 

[safedepth]

I have used the Aurora ones, not LED but CFL, 11 watt IIRC. Clearly stated on instructions they could be used directly under thermal insulation if used with correct lamp.

Good price at