When are fire rated downlighters required?

[m4tty]

As above thanks

 

[paul b b]

fire rated downlighters are required to stop the spred of fire. you could use normal downlighters and put a fire hood on top, but IMO, better and less fiddley to use fire rated.

the only time i have not had to install a fire hood, was required was on a open plan living room with downlighters under the stairs.

 

[danny7299]

so would you need fire rated ones if there wasn;t another floor above.. ie it was just going into the loft?

 

[Tooold]

This is only as I understand it, In theory no as long as the ceiling wasnt a fire barrier. The advantage of fire rated is not so much of a cold spot and less chance of anything landing on the lamp and catching. IMO fire rated always in lofts under floors etc.

 

[paul b b]

i would, personaly, put fire rated every where, but when customers get there own with out unstanding, or indeed knowing about fire ratings, i use fire hoods, though a pain if you have to put them in through the hole

 

[batty]

Trouble using standard down lights upstairs they have no condensation seal and if its a new build generally building inspector will not pass build. What surprised me was did some work at a new house a few months back and there was no insulation in ceilings on lower floor and sparks had used standard down lights and building inspector had passed job.

 

[tom1]

i use fire rated all the time now they are only

 

[Evans Electric]

As Tom1 I also use only Fire Rated now.

Deke

 

[kme]

As do I. If customer is purchasing, I spec. fire rated only.

 

[Dane]

Fire rated only in 99% of places.

If customer purchases and there the wrong ones, i refuse to fit them then explain the reasons why. and if they require i print somet off.

 

[aptsys]

... i refuse to fit them then explain the reasons why...

Let's hear it then

 

[Dane]

Let's hear it then

fire barriers and all simple.... safety

and id rather leave a property knowing that the lights are fire rated and not some ****ty thing

 

[killswitch]

hi: i always specify firerated.

my understanding is that they're required if there is a habitable room above.

..but just fit them everytime.

i also try and get people to have pendants/fancy fittings instead, in a few years they'll be out if fashion and lots of holes to ceilings are gonna be an issue/need boarding.

 

[professional]

The whole issue of fire-rated downlights is somewhat contentious since the driving force behind their increased use has been the sales tactics of the companies supplying them. LABC`s/DC&LG must have come under enormous pressure to insist on their use.

I strongly suspect that their is a serious lack of evidence of how none fire-rated fittings have aided the spread of fire - but the usual approach of fear, uncertainty and doom seem to be doing their job.......................

 

[tom1]

The whole issue of fire-rated downlights is somewhat contentious since the driving force behind their increased use has been the sales tactics of the companies supplying them. LABC`s/DC&LG must have come under enormous pressure to insist on their use. I strongly suspect that their is a serious lack of evidence of how none fire-rated fittings have aided the spread of fire - but the usual approach of fear, uncertainty and doom seem to be doing their job.......................

thing to consider even if they are not needed, not much in price diff and from what i have use they seem better quality and it sounds better to customer

 

[Stevie h]

Do I need to install fire hoods/fire rated downlighters in every situation?

It really depends on whether the ceiling forms part of a fire compartment, its type of construction, its load-bearing capacity or if it has been specified by the client/contract.

Generally speaking, a dwelling is considered to be a single compartment with regards to fire (Part B of the Building Regulations) unless it has an integral garage or has a protected stairway leading to a third floor. In the case of 3-storey dwellings, it is advisable to fit fire protection to downlighters installed in intermediate floors, especially where the integrity of flooring above has been compromised (e.g. gaps between floor boards, etc.).

Where recessed downlighters are installed in ceilings that are not fire compartments such as the intermediate floors of 2-storey dwellings, the ceiling needs to have a minimum fire rating of 30 minutes.

Research was commissioned in 1996 to look into the effect on the fire resistance of plasterboard ceilings with conventional rectangular joists having recessed downlighters installed (with no boxing in or fire hoods). The results of the tests were published in the July 1996 edition of Building Control Magazine. These results confirmed that the installation of downlighters, without being boxed in and with no fire hoods in plasterboard/timber joist ceilings, have little significant effect on fire resistance ratings up to 30 minutes. It must be inferred from these tests, therefore, that with ceilings of robust type construction (12.7mm plasterboard with conventional rectangular timber joists at not more than 450 mm centres and the flooring is at least 18mm thick with no gaps), it is not necessary to 'box in' downlighters or to use fire hoods for the purpose of restoring the fire resistance capability of ceilings that do not form part of fire compartment construction.

Taken from the ECA web site