fire hoods

[ronky]

Do you need to fit fire hoods if the recessed fittings are fire rated to part C, and building regs part B, am using the newlec range NL10687a, any advice please Ronky

 

[sedgy34]

Do you need to fit fire hoods if the recessed fittings are fire rated to part C, and building regs part B, am using the newlec range NL10687a, any advice please Ronky

umm!! never seen fire rated spotlights with hoods on too (are they hoodies lol)

 

[Richard Burns]

Fire rated down lights to Part B of the building regs do not need fire hoods. (the "fire hood" is part of the construction.
Part C of the building regs is for moisture sealing of penetrations. (with which those down lights also comply)

 

[ronky]

thanks Richard,should have replied earlier, sorry ,butyou have confirmed my thoughts ,thanks again ,ronky

 

[Farmelectrics]

time you buy fire hoods its cheaper to change lamps to leds then there is no issue with heat

 

[Darkwood]

time you buy fire hoods its cheaper to change lamps to leds then there is no issue with heat

Think you missed the point of a fire hood... its designed to stop the spread of fire from one floor to the other through the light fitting which is normally a weakness in the fire rating of the ceiling and not solely as fire-protection if the Lamp or fitting catches fire... so if fittings didnt have a fire rating and building regs required a fire hood then changing lamps to LED's wouldn't get around the issue that and even if it was the case the fact that a gu10 hal can be refitted would have to be accounted for.

 

[Farmelectrics]

ok darkwood read it wrong so the fact in my house were i changed all halogens to leds are you saying i need to still have hoods above them in case someone in the future puts halogens back in

 

[GaryM]

ok darkwood read it wrong so the fact in my house were i changed all halogens to leds are you saying i need to still have hoods above them in case someone in the future puts halogens back in

Is the room above classed as a separate fire compartment? If so then you need fire rated fittings OR a fire hood.
If it's a standard house and a single fire compartment then you don't need either.

They're not in place due to the heat of the fittings (heat reflective lamps are used), they're there for any breaches between separate fire compartments (flats for example).

 

[Farmelectrics]

is that the only places generally there used then in flats

 

[GaryM]

is that the only places generally there used then in flats

If you had an integral garage built into your house (room above) and you required downlights in there (yes, I've seen it!) then they would need to be fire rated as the garage would be classed as a separate fire compartment.
Most people fit them thinking it's the heat given off by the fitting that requires them which is incorrect. We always fit fire rated fittings due to them being a better quality fitting for not much more money.

 

[Darkwood]

I always fit them too regardless as they may give you valuable escape time in a fire even if your house dosn't require fire rated fittings, a fire in the living room or kitchen could quickly migrate through a standard recess to say a bedroom while your asleep... no need to expalin further.... i would consider the 30 / 60 / 90 mins to be one route less for the fire to get to you and hopefully you react to smoke alarm etc with extra time needed say for fire brigade to get you out of window.
No brainer in my mind and struggle to see why fire rated fitting are not enforced throughout in all situes.

 

[GaryM]

No brainer in my mind and struggle to see why fire rated fitting are not enforced throughout in all situes.

Probably due to the fact there's a bloody great hole in the hallway ceiling with a stairway poking through!