Fire rated spots

[Cj24]

I install fire rated downlighters in every room in houses now but are they mainly for certain places such as in where there is a smaller void such as downstairs due to the smaller gap between obv the ceiling and the floor above, rather then upstairs where u have much bigger area being the loft

 

[stuart569]

They are to maintain the integrity of a fire rated ceiling. Like in between flats

 

[Cj24]

Do u not fit them as standard everywhere then

 

[sparky692]

I put them in all the time. .

 

[stuart569]

No they are far more expensive and whats the point?

 

[GaryM]

We only fit fire-rated fittings too - £6 + VAT for a JCC fitting isn't bad at all.

 

[SirKit Breaker]

No they are far more expensive and whats the point?

They are very cheap these days. I used to fit them as a matter of course. They only cost £2 more than a crappy flimsy non fire rated one, and it takes away the doubt about whether they should be fire rated or not.

The fire rating is to maintain the integrity of the 30 minute, 60 minute or 90 minute fire rating of the ceiling you are cutting into, and they must also meet the requirement for acoustic rating as well, its a building reg thing.

Fit a non fire rated into a HMO and watch the stih hit the fan when the 3 yearly check comes around!

Cheers..........Howard

 

[stuart569]

I thought they were allot dearer than that.Must of came down in price. Whats an HMO?

 

[GaryM]

Whats an HMO?

Houses in Multiple Occupation?

 

[needasparks]

Same here, always fit fire rated. IMO its the difference between a diy job and a professional job. its only a few quid more which goes on the job. but its not only about fire rating its also the soundproofing. TBH i never touch the jcc ones (sorry)after going back to them cooking up all the time as you can only use heat reflectered lamps in them and joe public cant tell the differenc e so i always use aurora which come with lamps and take any type of lamp.

 

[Richard Burns]

Fire rated downlighters DO NOT stop fires at downlights they stop fires in one area from progressing into other areas; you are maintaining the fire resistance of the existing partition.
Theoretically they are only required if you are installing them in a fire compartment as Stuart says, they will then stop a fire in one area from spreading to another.

If you fit a downlighter in the lounge and the lounge door, stairs and bedroom door are open then preventing a fire going through the plasterboard ceiling would be irrelevant.

The recommendation is to fit Fire rated downlighters in all situations, however it is not required.

 

[GaryM]

Downlighters and fire safety : Electrical Safety Council

 

[needasparks]

Did i miss a post ? where did the fire IN a fitting come from.

 

[Richard Burns]

smaller void such as downstairs due to the smaller gap between obv the ceiling and the floor above

Sorry, just going by the above it was indicating that the space available around a downlight was the problem. I did not mean fires in downlighters I meant fires caused by the heat of downlights which fire rated do nothing to help.

 

[GaryM]

I've not come across a ground floor ceiling with an upstairs that couldn't take a fire-rated downlight due to limitations on available height.