Fire hoods for downlighters

[Steve D]

Hi All,

I've never fitted any downlighters before and I've been asked to fit some. They're not fire-rated by the look of it and they are to be installed in a bedroom where there is just the loft above it.

What are the rules regarding fire hoods? After scouring some older threads, it seems to indicate that if there is just a loftspace above the light then fire hoods aren't necessary.

Cheers
Steve

 

[ezzzekiel]

firehoods required for living quarters above or if fireseal is broken

 

[Amp David]

Ask yourself is the ceiling you're cutting into classed a fire rated. If it is fit hoods or fire rated fittings and if not then they ain't required.

 

[Steve D]

Excuse my ignorance, but is a 'fire rated' fitting the same as an 'F-capped' fitting ?

Cheers
Steve

 

[Amp David]

Think F capped can be fitted into normally combustable materials.

I'm sure someone will correct me in a a minute or 2

 

[martysparky]

I think most fit fire rated as standard and I always like to provide as much protection as possible when it comes to preventing the spread of fire.

Considering we should fill holes where cable passes for that reason.

Make sure you keep the insulation at bay and provide some way to ensure that it does not fall back on to the fitting.

 

[Steve D]

Cheers for the advice guys.

 

[ggf]

As said above I fit fire rated as standard

 

[Spudnik]

I always fit fire rated nowadays, however, they are not really required to be in a normal domestic dwelling, unless they are fitted in an integrated garage ceiling or in a ceiling with a flat above for eg.

 

[Sanke]

Just a thought
I believe standard plasterboard has a 1/2 hour fire rating If we fit a non fire rated product & there is a fire which spreads to loft who will have made the situation worse ? Surely the extra cost is worth it ?

 

[martysparky]

Just a thought
I believe standard plasterboard has a 1/2 hour fire rating If we fit a non fire rated product & there is a fire which spreads to loft who will have made the situation worse ? Surely the extra cost is worth it ?

exactly!

 

[Des 56]

Just a thought
I believe standard plasterboard has a 1/2 hour fire rating If we fit a non fire rated product & there is a fire which spreads to loft who will have made the situation worse ? Surely the extra cost is worth it ?

The IET commisioned research on the effects of downlights and fire integrity

The conclusion of the research was that they have no effect whatsoever on the spread of fire in a normal domestic situation
The joists themselves form a fire compartment and the installing of a non fire rated downlight was nil on the spread of the fire

Its available to view on the IET site

 

[martysparky]

Astonishing!

 

[Des 56]

By the way,I take the article with a heavy dose of salt myself, I fit Firerated if I supply the fittings myself,research or no

 

[pete3]

So the concensus is always fit fire rated whether they are mains voltage, low voltage or low energy type am i correct?