Downlights in kitchen have to be fire rated?

[cairns]

Hi there, I'm changing the downlight fittings in my kitchen. Do they have to be fire rated?

Thanks.

 

[telectrix]

for the small differenc in cost i would use fire rated, but i think the regs. only insist on fire rated if the floor above is occupied by different owner/tenant

 

[malcolmsanford]

You will find that fitting Caps on downlighters is normally done when you need to keep the integrity of the fire barrier in flats and multi occupied dwellings.

If you live in a single dwelling ie your own house or bungalow you don't really need to. Like quite a few sparks I still would fit them just as a safety aspect as any cable egress should be sealed

 

[saabuldin]

If you live in a single dwelling ie your own house or bungalow you don't really need to. Like quite a few sparks I still would fit them just as a safety aspect as any cable egress should be sealed

Do you have any proof for this?

 

[Johno]

Apparently it isn't just about fire barriers, there is an issue with building regs about sound barriers which apparently fire rated fittings overcome, and the way I understand it with the fire situation is that (as mentioned before) in a normal 1 or 2 storey dwelling the fire barriers don't come into it. I have no official rules that state this, but for the difference in cost I always fit the fire rated ones (unless in a suspended ceiling maybe). I reckon that they are better aswell, as no light escapes around the rim.

 

[Des 56]

You will find that fitting Caps on downlighters is normally done when you need to keep the integrity of the fire barrier in flats and multi occupied dwellings.

If you live in a single dwelling ie your own house or bungalow you don't really need to. Like quite a few sparks I still would fit them just as a safety aspect as any cable egress should be sealed

Agreed