Spot lights on a flat roof - fire!!!!!

[Jamie444]

I am guessing here but sounds like to me the flat roof is built and the insulation is to be installed next after the wiring for whichever lighting (to be decide) is 1st fixed.

 

[Jonny66]

I am guessing here but sounds like to me the flat roof is built and the insulation is to be installed next after the wiring for whichever lighting (to be decide) is 1st fixed.

Thats the problem with these type of posts.......... so the answers the client so desperately wants to hear shouldn't be so easily given because they are just guesses..............

 

[Jamie444]

Thats the problem with these type of posts.......... so the answers the client so desperately wants to hear shouldn't be so easily given because they are just guesses..............

But also after reading these posts the client can take the information posted apply it to his situation then put the information to his builder/electrician. And between them come to an agreement.

 

[Jonny66]

But also after reading these posts the client can take the information posted apply it to his situation then put the information to his builder/electrician. And between them come to an agreement.

Cool, so next time your at your place of work and give your professional opinion, dont forget to inform the client to also ask some complete stranger (who's never seen the job) for their opinion....... so that between them and you, the client can come to some conclusion.........great train of thought there mate.

 

[Jamie444]

Yep.the facts are there.either the downlights are a fire hazard because the insulation is already installed and the client is trying to have them installed. Or the insulation isn't installed yet and fitting downlights will change the u value of the insulation. Either way the client and builder/electrician have to come to some agreement so the install is done correctly.

 

[monkee]

no need to be fire rated y no one lives above a flat roof

fire moving from one level to another but it is good pratice to fit them but it is not required on a flat roof

with the u values i think it becoming more of a thing is it a warm roof or a cold roof system this is all down to design stuff but all important

with open back heat tails should be fitted so when the customer changes the lamp thay pull the wires on to the back of the lamp

off the skate park with the kids....

 

[Midwest]

To be fair to the builder, he/she might have to prove to the LBC how they have kept the designed u values, when the LBC officer comes knocking and sees the ceiling populated with downlighters. I'm not clever enough to know the difference between warm/cold system. But if you have a limited space (i.e. flat roof), which is taken up by celotex (or the like), there's nowhere for downlighters IMO.

 

[hilali]

Hi Guys
Thanks for all these great comments. Really helpful. Had a chat with the electrician in light of your comments and he said now that he is happy fitting LEDs but the buildre seems to think now that condensation generated from the cold roof might cause a problem. By the way my building regs pass the plan with spot lights on without making any conditions in having them on as planned and this seems one point i have pressed on in my discussion with the electrician. So what do you think about condensation in this instance?

 

[VoltzElectrical]

If this was my flat roof, I would want all the insulation where it is supposed to be and not cutting holes in it and risk the cold bridging/ condensation onto electrical fittings.

I would be looking to install some sort of track lighting or any other lighting solution in this situation.

 

[Gavin A]

Hi Guys
Thanks for all these great comments. Really helpful. Had a chat with the electrician in light of your comments and he said now that he is happy fitting LEDs but the buildre seems to think now that condensation generated from the cold roof might cause a problem. By the way my building regs pass the plan with spot lights on without making any conditions in having them on as planned and this seems one point i have pressed on in my discussion with the electrician. So what do you think about condensation in this instance?

nobody can really say for sure without seeing the exact make up of the roof - other than your builder, but it's certainly something I'd be concerned about - many flat roofs now are designed with vapour barriers on the inside to prevent vapour getting through the insulation and condensing on the inside of the roof covering and rotting the roof, this vapour barrier can be the taped foil outer of the rigid insulation, or even foil backed plaster board, so if that were the case then you've just put a load of holes through your vapour barrier, meaning your roof probably will end up rotting from the inside.

Which would be a bit of a hefty price to pay for some downlighters.

I suppose you could try using bathroom rated water proof versions but then you're still creating a cold bridge etc.

It's probably a bit late now, but I hope you've listened to your builder and spark.

 

[hilali]

OK now it seems that it is sortde after the building inspectors said LEDs would be OK. Any recommendations for good LED recessed downlighters?
Many thanks

 

[GLENNSPARK]

been working on a loft conversion that some old bird wants..

theres a load of downlights to go in there and the chuffin buider and his plasterer mate have gone and borded it out ...with a load of kingspan hidden in there..
were going to have to try and cut it back within the newly plastered ceiling to provide some sort of a space around the cans...