Fire-rated or not?

[whazza22]

Are fire-rated downlights required in a kitchen of a two storey house with a bedroom above?

Obviously its better to have fire-rated ones but they have already been purchased.

Building regs seem to condradict all the electrical regs and advice :S

 

[telectrix]

fire rated are required only if the room above is separately occupied, e.g. by a tenant or another owner. or if in a garage with living quarters above. . if it's a single dwelling, then not necessary.

 

[rocker]

Nope not required but really you should try and push them. OK the lights have been purchased but could you talk the customer into installing fire hoods?

 

[malcolmsanford]

Your so right there is total confusion about this.

It's widely accepted that if your living in a flat and there is another flat above you then you have to use Fire proof fitting or fit a fire hood. By cutting the ceiling you are deemed to have lessened the fire barrier and therfore need to fire proof. Often some building controls also insist that you fit the hoods even if you have fire proof fittings, as they then ensure sound proofing.

In your single dwelling then most cases fitting of non fire proof downlighters is done without further protection. Though the ESC advises that if the ceiling is the sole means of fire repression, then it is advisable to fit hoods.

It also I believe that like the height of sockets and switches, you can not fit non fire proof downlighters in new builds, I may be wrong here, and if i'am then I apologise. Though you still can in existing properties.

IMO I would fit the hoods. They are only about 7-8 pounds each and they will give you peace of mind.

 

[accordfire]

Aaaaarggggh! And we really have to wait until post 2013 to get some of this mess sorted out. Bloody Building Regs.

The essence of it is as the guys have said - single family dwelling, then fire safety applies at a lower level than if a multi-tenanted dwelling.

Why, I have no idea at all. Personally, I think it is stall far too easy to build family homes of any size which are more potential coffins than safe homes.

I think I would fit fire hoods as a minimum on all downlighters.

 

[RexT]

Hi Guys,

I think the catch all would be that the fire risk assessment would show this is a great idea. I would fit the fit the fire hoods and also ensure that there was adequate smoke / heat alarms to deal with any potential fire. You could always check with builing control as normally they would have authorit of signing off some compliance with building regs.
Obviously it is down to cost but its surprising how people can forget what you said after an event when the blame is being pushed around. It would be a good idea to ensure that your suggestions are in writing and the client then has the opportunity of responding to what they are prepared to go along with.
Best wishes,
Rex

 

[pennywise]

I haven't put in a normal downlight in for around 2years now.

 

[Amp David]

Me too

 

[iconnect]

I always fit fire rated and have done for years it was my understanding that when part p came in it was a requirement like I say everydays a school day lol Better safe than sorry mate !!

 

[andekoch]

i also only install fire rated. basically i am anti downlighters. had a client the other day, good client of mine, who wanted downlighters installed in an upstairs bedroom. to cut a long story short I told him I would not do it since we could not agree on using fire rated lights, he is still a client.

 

[iconnect]

Years ago I got pulled up on it by a building inspector on a extention I was doing !! My understanding was it was to maintain fire rating of ceiling as you was cutting it and making the ceiling weeker ? But prob like the sound proofing in stud walls lol hardley ever happens in fact I have only seen them fitted in the home building show !!