Very interesting regarding down lighters.

[baldsparkies]

During a conversation with a local building control guy on site today something came up that I found to be an interesting twist.
These days we all tend to fit fire rated down lighters, with the open type becoming more and more frowned upon for obvious reasons.
Now the conversation got around to Bathroom down lighters first, and the fact that correct IP ratings are required within relevant zones, however in most domestic situations where the attic or loft space is above they technically need not be fire rated.
Simple reason is there is no habitable room above.
Ground floor is generally different because in most locations bedrooms are above.
But !! and here's the twist.
A Kitchen is normally below the bathroom, and guess what !! Bathrooms are not classed as habitable rooms.
So non fire rated down lighters would appear to have more scope regarding regs than commonly thought.
A few times the quote was, don't assume !! Show me a regulation that specifically states you cant use non fire rated down lighters on a 1st floor ceiling of a traditional ground and 1st floor property ??
Or the ground floor of the same property where a bathroom is above.
Ok I know the answer is (Well I always use fire rated regardless) and that's fair enough.
But where non fire rated are already installed it would appear we shouldn't be to quick to judge
Otherwise we can confuse, and possibly quote personal opinion vs written regulations. :thinking:

 

[Andy78]

In fairness you would be issuing an opinion on a building regulation rather than BS7671 wiring regulation.
But what the hell, here we go again !!
You imply you would code a non fire rated down light !!
Your confident you can find justification in the wiring regs to do so !!
Let us know when you find it in BS7671, 1996 or 2015, cus up to now, a total no no for installing non fire rated down lights or those currently installed within building regs is simply not the case.
There are situations where its perfectly acceptable, like it or not.
If you want to code on a matter of personal preference,
Don't forget that loose stair tread you noticed whilst yer at it, give em there monies worth.

Reg 527.2.1 requires a wiring system that penetrates a building fabric to reinstate the same degree of fire protection.

Not that I would necesarilly issue a code in normal circumstances, only if I perceived an above normal risk.

 

[Dave OCD]

Apart from all this though, surely 'open' downlighters wouldn't comply with the Building Regs in relation to acoustic/transmission of sound requirements and Halogen units certainly won't meet Part L.

 

[davesparks]

Apart from all this though, surely 'open' downlighters wouldn't comply with the Building Regs in relation to acoustic/transmission of sound requirements and Halogen units certainly won't meet Part L.

Indeed, the acoustic part would scupper their use in the kitchen ceiling mentioned above.
But I don't think that would stop their use in the top floor ceiling below the loft.