spotlights in kitchen

i=p/u · Mar 17, 2011

yo all, i was wondering isit ok to notch joice in kitchen ceiling to fit spotlights, as long as rcd protected. cant work above. as there is a bedroom above do these spots need to be specific kind and do you have to use heat rsistant flex.

when i buy lights with the data sheet say all this .thanks

go on the reds

Johnny-G · Mar 18, 2011

i=p/u said:
so johnny g is that 2 feeds and switch wire all in 1 connector. do you have start from junction box

Just use them as you would a rose, with loop and switched line at all of them.
Or just switched line and neutral.

i=p/u · Mar 18, 2011

would you swear by them???

alextrician · Mar 18, 2011

i=p/u said:
yo all, i was wondering isit ok to notch joice in kitchen ceiling to fit spotlights, as long as rcd protected. cant work above. as there is a bedroom above do these spots need to be specific kind and do you have to use heat rsistant flex.

when i buy lights with the data sheet say all this .thanks

go on the reds

notches in a joist should be no deeper than than 0.125 of the depth of the joist and should not be cut any closer to the support than 0.07 of the span and not further away from the support than 0.25 the span.
this is in the top of the joist but cant find anything to say you can or cant do it in the bottom of the joist.
and i would say yes the fittings do need to be fire rated to keep the 30 minute fire barrier especially if there is another room above the room you are installing them in. if not fire rated then a fire hood should be used

Johnny-G · Mar 18, 2011

i=p/u said:
would you swear by them???

Swear by them?

nickblake · Mar 18, 2011

safe plates available at screw fix and all good wholesalers use them all the time Safe Plate Joist Cover - Protects Hidden Wires and Pipes

IQ Electrical · Mar 18, 2011

SirKit Breaker said:
Cut ceiling below joist and about an inch either side, shove a long 10mm auger bit through joist on an angle cos you wont get it square, and if you do it properly it will be at least 50mm from joist bottom face.

IQ i also disagree with you about the fire rated fittings. You must maintain the 30 minute fire rating of the ceiling, and also the accoustic side of things as well. In my humble opinion it is better to fit fire rated anyway just on cost alone. I pay about £5 for these things including the lamps. £49.99 for a set of 10 at electrifix.

Cheers.....Howard

Hi Howard,

We always fit fire rated whatever the circumstances, the cost difference is negligible now but you are under no obligation to do so unless breaching a designated fire compartment.

An 'average' house by definition of Approved Document B is one fire compartment because of the big hole in the middle where the stairs are

i=p/u · Mar 18, 2011

the 0.4 to 0.7 of span of joice. whats that all about??? is that distance from load bearing wall and not more than 0.7 away..

the ceiling as it stands has 2 pendants and two switches ... anything elese useful guys wud be gd, i luv the info, confuses feck out of me , this way thaat way,this way that way

SMB · Mar 18, 2011

i=p/u said:
the 0.4 to 0.7 of span of joice. whats that all about??? is that distance from load bearing wall and not more than 0.7 away

The infomation you require is part of 'Approved Document A....Stucture'. (Building Regulations).

It deals with depth of chases in walls and the size of holes and notches in both floor and roof joists.

This can be seen on page 119 of the 'IEE Electricians Guide to the Building Regulations'.