Downlights in vaulted ceiling

[tomspark93]

Hi guys, I completed an extension between Christmas and new year. Single story bungalow, vaulted ceiling and a flat spot. Anyway, I installed 4 Ansell Orbio 360 In the vaults (2 in each one) under request of the client despite recommendation of installation in the flat spot. I left them wedged in to allow easy access for painting, customer painted and then pushed them in flush with the ceiling.

Had a phone call today from the builder claiming one was black and one was flickering and asking if it was a fire hazard, so I rushed out to see what was wrong and it turns out that they were full of water. Ceiling make up Kingspan between joists with a box section left out where the lights were going then fully underdrawn with 25mm kingspan then 12mm plasterboard. Obviously condensation build up has damaged them.

Builder recons with them being IP65 they should have been ok although obviously that's from beneath when flush with ceiling and the problem is above:6:

I've taken them all out as two seem to be ok. I'm going to try get them replaced under warranty when they dry out a bit as its worth a shot but I'm not convinced they will. The builder recons its because of the cold weather we've had and it being due to all the wet plaster etc, again i'm not entirely convinced.

Any advice as where to go next would be much appreciated, Tom

 

[Andy78]

I'm sure that KSR downlights are IP65 all round. But their external driver might not be.

 

[Midwest]

I queried fitting DL in a vaulted ceiling on here; http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk...ctrical-forum/106379-down-lights-celotex.html and spoke to my LBC (#12). Seems a tiled roofed vaulted ceiling is breathable (or should be), and installing DL shouldn't cause condensation problems. Are your sure its the DL/holes in plasterboard causing the condensation/water problem?

 

[tomspark93]

Just read through the thread, interesting read. I'm not but the builder has stated he used a breathable membrane under the tiles. Now his opinion is that it needs time to completely dry out as the rads hadn't been installed when I second fixed. However the last thing I want is to replace the fittings for the same thing to happen again. I've never come across this before and have done multiple similar installs without a problem.

 

[Midwest]

Dunno then. Perhaps he was a bit quick off the mark, and completed the ceiling before the timbers had dried out? You perhaps should consider holding off refitting the DL, until the issue is resolved. I'm told some flat roofs are sealed, cold system or something like that, where you shouldn't cut holes in the plasterboard/Kingspan, but vaulted should be okay, is just the debate about u-values.

 

[tomspark93]

That wouldn't surprise me knowing him. Customer goes on holiday next week and then so do I so we've agreed to leave it until after then anyway as they also have a pendant light in there too. Thanks for info