Fire rated downlights

[Carol1]

Hi everyone,

I am having some downlighters put in my kitchen. Above the kitchen is my sons bedroom. Because the old ceiling was a mess I have had a false ceiling put in. My electrician said that because he will not be cutting into the actual ceiling then there is no need for fire rated downlighters. However someone I work with (who reckons he knows the regs) said that fire rated ones are neccessary. I have done some research (on here and other forums) and it seems that 'fire rated' is nothing to do with the lights but is relevant to the fact that there are holes in the ceiling therefore providing a path for a fire. If this is true then surely fire rated ones are not needed in my case and if anything will make it worse as holes would need to be cut in both ceilings to accommodate them.
Can anyone confirm (or not) this so I can put my know-it-all scare mongering colleague right.
Many thanks
Carol

 

[RF Lighting]

Fire rated DLs are only required if you are drilling holes in a ceiling which is specifically designed as a fire barrier.

This will typically be ceilings between different flats, or the ceiling of an internal garage.

In a normal domestic property fire will probably burn up the stairwell before it gets through a 60mm DL hole.


See here for more information
Fire rated DLs basically have a fire hood built in.

 

[Taylortwocities]

RF is right (again)

Most of the "you must have fire-rated downlights" comes from the people that make them.

HOWEVER.
What you must have is a heat alarm in the kitchen linked to smoke alarms in the hall and upstairs near the bedrooms. Then you can leg it before things get hot!

Hopefully, your sparky has advised you about this??

 

[Carol1]

Thanks for that guys. I already have mains powered smoke alarms but no heat alarm. I will ask him about these when he comes.

Thanks again for putting my mind at rest.

carol

 

[experience]

I was under the impression that they were needed if someone is living in the room above i.e. bedroom - that was confirmed when my assessor asked me about fire barriers

 

[GaryMo]

I was under the impression that they were needed if someone is living in the room above i.e. bedroom - that was confirmed when my assessor asked me about fire barriers

Your assessor is wrong. Yes that's the case if it's separate flats for example but no if it's a standard two storey dwelling.

 

[experience]

Problem with being a spark theres so many rules and regs and their constantly changing
I stand corrected - found this great article on the subject

http://www2.theiet.org/Publish/Wire...nstalling_recessed_luminaires_in_ceilings.pdf