Neighbours down lights - no fire caps and sound leakage

[boilerfrustration]

My neighbour downstairs has installed down lights in her flat. But there are two problems which concern me. Firstly, they have no fire caps and secondly, I can now hear all the goings on in her flat and presumably she can hear those in mine.

Can I get the Council's environmental health office to force her to fire and sound proof the lights?

If not, can anyone recommend an effective fire and sound proof device which I can put over the lights? Could I use a heavy duty terracota plant pot for example or is there something I can buy online? I can quite easily lift my floor boards to carry out this job myself.

 

[ColJack]

plasterboard box over them, sealed with fire mastic.

plenty of space for her lights to "breathe", then fill your side of the boxes with rockwool..???

council should be informed since she's probably broken building regs regarding fire barriers in flats..

 

[1john]

I think you want building control, not environment dept. Keep us updated as this unfolds please. Check your smoke alarms too, if whoever installed these doesnt know about breaking fire barriers, perhaps they dont know much about electricity either

 

[boilerfrustration]

I rang the local planning team who said that installation of lights in a listed building such as ours might be a building control issue. I'm just waiting to hear back from the council regarding this.

I like the idea of boxing over these lights with plasterboard but there are so many of them in her ceiling that I haven't got time to put the boxes together. Would terracotta plant pots be suitable? Do they need to have holes in top to allow for 'breathing' or can I just used totally sealed pots?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I suggest you try and reach a mutually satisfactory solution which is done entirely by your downstairs neighbour - you should not be put to any trouble or expense.

She was wrong to install the lights in the way she did, so it is down to her to resolve it, but if you start putting things over them which ends up damaging them, or the wiring, or shortens the lamp life etc then you will be in the wrong.

 

[spongobongo]

I rang the local planning team who said that installation of lights in a listed building such as ours might be a building control issue. I'm just waiting to hear back from the council regarding this.

You must have spoken to the planning team's monkey, not the organ grinder. The installation of downlights in a ceiling is a heritage matter that comes within the remit of the planning team. If the lights have been installed without listed building consent, then she's committed a criminal act. If that doesn't frighten your neighbour into action, nothing will.

The lights are also a building control matter, and you do indeed need fire hoods. But for heaven's sake get your neighbour to pay for their installation.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Hoods like these http://www.soundservice.co.uk/acoustic_fire_hoods.html provide acoustic and fireproofing features and can be fitted through the downlight holes.

It is fiddly & not cheap so (per the above) make your neighbour do it.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Also from that site (with my highlighting):

WE WOULD ALWAYS ADVISE AGAINST CUTTING HOLES IN THE CEILING TO FIT LIGHTS AS IT ALLOWS SOUND TO PASS THROUGH IT MUCH MORE EASILY. IF YOU MUST USE DOWNLIGHTERS PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU FIT THESE HOODS WITH ALONG WITH OUR OTHER SOUND REDUCING PRODUCTS FOR CEILINGS AND/OR SEPARATING FLOORS.

And doesn't "Independent acoustic testing has shown that a ceiling with down lighters and acoustic hoods installed performs to within 1dB of the equivalent ceiling without no holes within it at all" mean that the best performance you'll get is that it'll be 1dB louder, or about 12%, i.e. the best you can hope for is that you'll still notice more noise from downstairs?

 

[1john]

Terracotta pots arnt going to help much in the event of a fire, and will do nothing for acoustics, you need to have the sound proofing reinstated and you also need to have the same protection from fire entering your dwelling from hers. A mistake in her flat could cost YOU dearly.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Also from that site (with my highlighting):

I saw that too and thought:

"Isn't it curious that a company that make money from selling accessories for downlights advises against the use of them in the first place."

 

[Deluks]

The only way get get the soundproofing back the the way it was before the holes were cut is to match the density of the ceiling, so like for like pb as Coljack's opening statement is the way to go.

If it's decided that this is the way forwards and you end up doing it yourself make sure you are paid for your time and materials.

 

[LiamPope]

Also from that site (with my highlighting):

I saw that too and thought:

"Isn't it curious that a company that make money from selling accessories for downlights advises against the use of them in the first place."

Nah - enough people will do it anyway that I'm sure their order books are full for years

 

[boilerfrustration]

There's not a chance in hell that my neighbour will voluntarily agree to infill the holes. I'm still pursuing the other route through the local council.

 

[1john]

There's not a chance in hell that my neighbour will voluntarily agree to infill the holes. I'm still pursuing the other route through the local council.

I would be quite concerned, especially if they have breached the fire barrier between their flat and yours.

 

[Donkmeister]

There's not a chance in hell that my neighbour will voluntarily agree to infill the holes.

A fairly common reaction when people are told that their DIY/interior design plans breach regulations and should (must?) be rectified.

I've always wondered why all downlighters don't come as fire-rated as standard... Make it part of the fitting and a) they'd be too expensive for people to put 400 of them in one room and b) they would be safer as most people don't actually heed any notices on the box saying "Must be fitted with firehood".

Well, they might read it, then look on the next shelf and find that the firehoods will add a whopping £50 to their £5000 kitchen project and thus necessitate a slightly inferior choice of oven gloves and teatowels.