Ring or radial

[m4tty]

Hi,

I'm doing 1st fix on an extension Monday and Tuesday and have to put a socket circuit and a lighting circuit. I know that the extension is going to be used for a bedroom and a bathroom so nothing substantial. I was thinking of going for a 20a radial rather than a ring.

Just wondered what others would do. Ring or radial?

Also customer is having about 20 downlighters and 3 pendants plus extractor fan on the new lighting circuit. The builder said about fire hood and just wanted to clarify if I use fire rated downlighters. I won't need fire hoods? No living space above and the extension is on 1st floor.

Thanks for any help, advice or pointers

cheers

 

[Zeespark]

Radial would be fine, if the downlights are fire rated, then you dont need hoods as well.

AndyGuinness

 

[Lurch]

Use your judgement on the ring\radial, but for 4 sockets would you really consider putting a ring in?

And no to the fire hoods, probably don;t even need fire rated downlighters.

 

[NozSpark]

+1

building inspector is going to love all those downlighters (Pt L)

 

[batty]

All depends on what insulation is above the downlights. I would put ring main in but I am old fashioned.

 

[NozSpark]

Not meaning the insulation Batty!!!

I was really wondering if he's thought about his % lighting more than 40 lumens / watt

---------- AUTO MERGE Post added at 00:08 ---------- Previous post was at 00:06 ----------

and a ring main for a bedroom is a bit excessive and VERY old fashioned

 

[cadspark]

Radial - much easier to test.

Maybe recommend CFL or LED downlighters to client.

 

[batty]

Not meaning the insulation Batty!!!I was really wondering if he's thought about his % lighting more than 40 lumens / watt

---------- AUTO MERGE Post added at 00:08 ---------- Previous post was at 00:06 ----------

and a ring main for a bedroom is a bit excessive and VERY old fashioned

I was just saying it may depend what lights you use depending on what insulation is above insulation on extensions and new builds can be a real problem with some downlights and I would still go with a ring main.

 

[NozSpark]

Oh Yeh,

That as well Batty

 

[Evans Electric]

A radial would do for me M4tty, and I always use fire rated down lights anyway , just need to educate the builders to leave a gap in the lagging .

 

[initforthemoney]

..... just need to educate the builders to leave a gap in the lagging .

Not sure the LABC officer would agree.

 

[Evans Electric]

Who cares , Init , its my job to install the downlights in a safe manner , having a square of lagging left out does the job. I have no control of what happens after .

Another case of being so over regulated its a wonder we get to leave the house each day !!!!!

 

[tom1]

safety first,

warm house second

 

[PC Electrics]

Come on chaps, it's quite simple really. the insulation in the loft space is required to be continuous. The downlighter requires space for heat dissipation. So, you need to put some kind of enclosure behind the downlight to allow the insulation to run over the top whilst providing space. You can do this in several ways, you could use a proprietory product such as a firecap or those metal protectors, or you can build something like a plasterboard box. If the joists are only 3 inch you could add an inch with batton and just put a piece of plasterboard over the light position (screwed in place). Simples!

http://www.talk.electricianforum.co.uk/downloads.php?do=file&id=89

http://www.talk.electricianforum.co.uk/downloads.php?do=file&id=181

 

[SteveT]

How about this - where space is not required - Large catering cans are excellent for this, they have the required clearances, act as heat sink and can be easly connected to earth.

Get to know a local cafe

 

[Bacon]

My mate has used old ceramic flower pots cheeper than dedicated fire hoods and pots are cheep in winter.

 

[Evans Electric]

I leave it up to the builder TBH , He knows now that they can't be covered . I don't see lagging as my remit TBH.

 

[PC Electrics]

I leave it up to the builder TBH , He knows now that they can't be covered . I don't see lagging as my remit TBH.

I agree. However, ensuring the downlights have the necessary 'breathing space' and cannot be covered by a careless (or more likely, ignorant) builder/homeowner is. As discussed in another thread, if things go 'belly up' who are 'they' gonna gun for? You, methinks.

http://www.esc.org.uk/pdfs/business-and-community/SwitchedOn-Issue-15.pdf page 12

http://www.esc.org.uk/business-and-community/guidance-for/downlighters.html

http://www.esc.org.uk/business-and-community/research/luminaires.html

 

[PC Electrics]

Fitting some form of enclosure behind the lights also stops the cold draught that can come from a loft space through this type of fitting.