Downlighters - joists - best thing to use to cut out

[brizospark]

Installing 5 downlighters down the centre of a hallway - the downlighters cant be moved to one side - need to go central but I am just catching the joists - about 1/4 of the hole is covered by joist - whats the best tool to notch out this part of the joist - it's pretty hard wood as the house is old

 

[telectrix]

would not even think about it. why not alternate the downlighters, 1 on the left, then 1 on the right etc,?

 

[brizospark]

hall is too small to pull that one of tel - surely I would get away with notching a half half moon out the joist

 

[One_of_them]

none basically.

dont believe you can notch joist from below. Your best bet is to clip to bottom and fill in with plaster as best as.

 

[Specialist]

Notching the bottom of a ceiling joist is definately a no no, your weakening the joist.

 

[Richard Burns]

The hallway is not suitable for fitting downlighters, I think this would contravene building regulations and the downlight manufacturers instructions. But if you were going to do it I would use a rotary rasp.

 

[ipf]

Notching the bottom of a ceiling joist is definately a no no, your weakening the joist.

Too right, besides creating a fire hazzard.

 

[mechelec]

I would be pretty concerned about fire risk if using gu10 or MR16 lamps. They get pretty hot and that close to the joist could be an issue if they were on for long periods

 

[goldie]

usually you should leave 50mm clearance from joist due to the heat disipated from the lamp and as mentioned above its not good to butcher joist. especially if your having to cut parts out in multiple areas. Change location of fittings at either side like tel said

 

[Specialist]

Too right, besides creating a fire hazzard.

Good point ipf, thanks.

 

[jamie-spark]

Downlighters are generaly requird to be installed a minimum of 50mm away as joist are of a combustable msterial and the high temperatures they give off. The esc say thid is one of the biggest causes of house fires in the uk. Go to there website for the download on the fire prefromance of buildings. You would be mad to install them like this and for structursl reasons

 

[Adam W]

Downlighters aren't the be all and end all; I'd consider a different kind of fitting - something surface mounted, wire mounted or even wall mounted.
Either that of you could use directional downlighters down one side, angled in towards the wall, maybe lighting some pictures or something.

 

[micknew]

What about 4W LED downlighters, they wouldn't set fire to nearby joists?

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Not much to add really except read the manu. Instructions. If you fit them like that you're asking for (serious) trouble. Don't do it brizo!

 

[Specialist]

What about 4W LED downlighters, they wouldn't set fire to nearby joists?

Still does'nt get round the fact that your weakening the beam.