Fire rated downlights

[mickys86]

What's the deal with fire rated downlights? I have only installed fire rated but when is it possible not to? Example ( reason for my question)
Just come out of hairdressers and he was telling me how he's bought 50 Phillips 7w LEDs. But then he shows me the fitting he's going to put in. It's just the ring with two clips to keep it in the ceiling. Nothing to hold the lamp in place either. Going back in half hr for hair cut and just wondered what you more experienced guys think.....

 

[Richard Burns]

Fire rated downlights are required to maintain the integrity (from a fire propagation point of view) of the surface you penetrate.

If the surface is not a fire barrier between two areas then fire rated equipment is not required.

If you have a ceiling between a shop and a domestic residence above then this will be a fire barrier, however if you have a ceiling for a room and the rest of the house (or shop) is above then you do not need a fire rated down light.

If the connection is to an attached garage in a house then this is a fire barrier.

I generally look at it that if there is a corridor/stairs connection between the two points and no intervening door then what point fire protection, but that is just my thought.

 

[telectrix]

ditto^^^^

 

[staylor34]

Hi Micky, personally I would always fit fire rated, cost wise it's a, no brainer really, especially upstairs where you have a loft mainly to stop the insulation resting on a bare open fitting like you have mentioned, although it should still be kept away from the fitting. I think heat wise the Led's run cooler? I may be wrong. Richard is right, they are there to keep the integrity of the fire barrier. If the hairdressers has a domestic property above then he will need to fit fire rated fittings regardless of the Led lamps.
S

 

[mickys86]

Thanks guys. That's what I thought..... I'll send some questions his way shortly.....

 

[High Tower]

I have recently been passed some EICR's to quote the remedial on and my biggest bug bear is the coding of dl's in suspended ceilings not being fire rated, I always fit fire rated and I would never fit anything else but I would never code that on a report, when are people going to realise that suspended ceilings have ZERO fire rating........rant over lol