Fire rated down lights

[pilsbury]

just a quick question on fire rated down lights. What is the fire rating of X minutes for? The lamp catching fire and setting the ceiling or above alight? Fire above the light coming down into the room below? Or both?

Trying to work out whether they are necessary in my single storey extension with free space around them

 

[mwatsonxx]

The fire rating is the time they will resist a fire breaking through the light fitting from the space below to the space above.

 

[pilsbury]

Thanks for clearing up. So With my flat roof above, not a huge deal.

 

[mwatsonxx]

Personal choice, but would be advisable to check any lease/rental agreement and insurance policy. I would always install them in my own place.

Edit - "Iggifer" has raised a very important issue below, post #6

 

[JohnW2]

Thanks for clearing up. So With my flat roof above, not a huge deal.

No deal at all, really. The only common situation (in the average domestic building) in which fire-rated ceiling lights are required is if the floor above is a separate dwelling (e.g. flat), in which case the ceiling/floor between the two has to function as a fire barrier.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Iggifer]

The only issue with installing them in a flat roof is you shouldn't install them in a cold roof, only a warm roof. Otherwise you will introduce cold spots and potentially condensation. A cold roof is the more common type of flat roof as it's cheaper.

 

[pilsbury]

Mine is a warm roof.