Fire insulation guards for LED lamps?

[ICES Tom]

Hi,
Do you need to fit heat guards when using 3W LED GU10 lamps in down lights, they literally kick out no heat?

 

[Sintra]

It's nothing to do with the heat the lamps kick out but the fire compartments that you are breaking by cutting out the holes.

 

[ICES Tom]

A heat cover doesn't create a fire seal as it has open sides or holes for ventilation. It is designed to keep enough space around the top of the fitting so insulation can be laid on top and the heat from the fitting is vented via the cover. If a fire seal is to be maintained a fire rated, can style downlight should be used. Only comment i have previously seen stated that they should still be fitted in case the lamps were changed back to halogens. Wasn't sure if there was a reg for it?Just been in my loft of new (old) house to discover insulation laid over the top of all the downlights. In for an itchy day tomorrow I think!!
Thanks

 

[Richard Burns]

If you are talking about the loft braces to keep the insulation away from down lights then this would still be a good idea since LEDs have a significantly shorter life when they get hot, so if they are covered by insulation then they will fail sooner.
Keeping them as cool as possible would be good.

(If you needed fire rated down lights and the ones fitted were not the can type then you can fit fire hoods over the down lights to seal the penetration in case of fire (they would also hold off the insulation))

 

[ICES Tom]

Makes sense, thanks.

 

[Farmelectrics]

So if you have gu10 LEDs do you need fire covers on them yes or no

 

[stuartcourt]

if you break a fire seal ie a ceiling that has a fire rating then yes (as post 2 ) just allow a bit of breathing space around lamps anyway simple

 

[Darkwood]

So if you have gu10 LEDs do you need fire covers on them yes or no

You need to omit the lamp from your thinking its in the building regs not the BS7671 that you must maintain the fire rating of the ceiling you drill through so if its say 30mins plasterboard then when you have fitted the fitting this should not be lower because the fitting has compromised it.... i never fit cheap standard gu10's anymore i always fit fire rated ...most give up to 90mins protection.

If it was due to the lamp as your question would imply then what would stop joe blogs coming along after you had fitted some LED lamps not like them and fit 50w hal's when working out anything like loading of a circuit in design etc always assume the max rated lamp had been fitted to the GU10.

 

[Farmelectrics]

Thanks darwood

 

[ICES Tom]

Thanks Darkwood