Why You Should Use Fire Rated Downlights

Fire rated downlights are designed as a safety measure and will prevent the spread of fire. If you are unsure about whether you need to install them or not then think about the small amount of cost that is involved then consider what and why they are designed to do.

Fire rated downlights are made from or contain intumescent material, this material expands when it reaches a certain temperature sealing off the hole and slowing down the spread of fire. The fire is then unable to have direct access to the structure of the building.

Fire rated downlights are used to maintain the ceilings trimless downlights fire integrity. Part B of the Building Regulations covers fire safety and has been a legal requirement since 1987. Not all downlights have to be fire rated but it is important to know when and where they should be used.

When a recessed downlight is installed, a hole must be cut into the ceiling to allow the downlight to be mounted in. This hole reduces the fire integrity of the ceiling. In the event of a fire, flames spread through the holes and set light to the structure of the building. Most ceilings are constructed from timber joists which in the event of a fire, could burn and collapse in a matter of minutes. If the structure of the building is made from materials with higher temperature ratings such as concrete then fire rated downlights are not necessary.

The minimum fire rating for downlights is 30 minutes; this rating is for ceiling joists with a spacing of 600mm. This should allow enough time for the occupants to escape the building or for the fire service to extinguish the fire without floor or the entire building collapsing.

There are three types of structurally different ceilings:

1. 30 minute ceilings have ceiling joists with a spacing of 600mm and with one layer of 12.5mm plasterboard fixed to the underside of the joist.
2. 60 minute ceilings have ceiling joists with a spacing of 600mm and with a double layer of 15mm plasterboard fixed to the underside of the joist.
3. 90 minute ceilings have ceiling joists with a spacing of 450mm and with a double layer of 15mm plasterboard fixed to the underside of the joist.

Most fire rated downlights are suitable for all three types of ceilings but some are not and only rated for 30 or 60 minute ceilings.

When downlights are being installed in upper floor ceilings with roof space only above them they don’t necessarily need to be fire rated. This is because there is little risk of the fire spreading through the holes and onto the structure of the building. However, fire rated downlights have many other advantages. They are also approved to other important Building Regulations such as Part C – moisture protection, Part E – acoustic resistance.

Building Regulations now state that a room should be air tight, if you have multiple downlights that are not fire rated warm air will escape through the holes. In cold trimless downlights ceiling spaces such as loft areas, downlights act as chimneys and draw out the warm air from a room.

Even if you feel that fire rated downlights are not important for preventing the spread of fire then these other Building Regulations should be considered. Most adjustable downlights do not provide moisture protection or acoustic resistance.

To summarise, although fire rated downlights are slightly more expensive, they are safer, comply with the Building Regulations and may offer peace of mind.

The Best Places to Install Downlights In Your Home

Downlights, also known as recessed lights are a great alternative to traditional hanging lights. Where hanging lights tend to need to be hung in the centre of a room for both room balance and light distribution, downlights can be positioned according to need and because they are recessed, they can be positioned without interfering with the aesthetics of the room. Halogen or LED trimless downlights are also extremely economical to run as they have very low energy consumption. Downlights also come inboth fixed or rotating to allow the light to be directed as required. Their appearance is subtle as the guts of the workings is concealed in the ceiling and they often suit contemporary styled home or offices.

When installing downlights, general consensus is to either divide the area into 2 x 2 meter grids and place a downlight in the centre of each grid or to space your downlights at ¾ to 1 whole the distance from the ceiling to the surface being lit (e.g.so if you are lighting a kitchen bench then the light spacing will be closer than if you are lighting to the floor). Whichever method you employ, you need to be aware of, understand and be able to identify the three different types of lighting you might require in your household.

Task Lighting

• Task Lighting is, as it suggests, is task oriented. So if your aim is to light a kitchen bench then you have dedicated lighting to that end. It is recommended that you avoid positioning downlights over people’s faces, particularly if the downlight is above a mirror. Most professionals also recommend that you identify any task lighting required first and map that out before progressing to other lighting types.

Accent Lighting

• Accent Lighting is used to draw attention to or conversely to hide a room feature. For example, you may wish to highlight a piece of art work or wall hanging by using accesslighting to best set it off.

General Lighting

• General lighting is all other general purpose room lighting. General lighting aims to provide even light without shadows.

Downlights are economical, versatile and also come with the option of dimmer switches to alter the light strength. Because downlights are recessed the source of light is less obvious and allows the focus to be on other pieces in the room. Different strength downlights are also suggested for different rooms with 2700kw downlights suggested for lounges (a warm white) and 4000kw trimless downlights suggested for kitchens and hallways (a cool white).