non fire rated downlighters in a kitchen with bedrooms above?

[urchy107]

Hi all, I have recently fitted some non fire rated lights supplied by the customer into a kitchen with bedroom above,they are gu10 all fitted with led. I have been under the impression that this is ok in a 2 story house with a stairwell connecting main floors as long as holes are not cut in fire board or double skinned. I used to fit these with my previous employer and he was well on top of all the regs etc but I have just been told this is not the case anymore? If anyone knows the crack it would be much appreciated, I have only put them in 1 house since being self employed so wouldn't be the end of the world if i have to change them but im sure the customer wont be happy, but that's the problem with customers supplying materials I suppose. cheers

 

[telectrix]

don't panic. you don't need to fit fire rated if the room/s above are occupied by the same occupier as below. this is because the hnbouse occupied by one family is considered as a single fire compartment. it's only when you have , say, a flat above, occupied by a separate tenant.

 

[Snapester]

I am under the impression that you are required to fit fire rated downlighter's if there is a habitable room above according to Part B Building Regs.

 

[urchy107]

cheers for that speedy reply, thats just what I wanted to hear. I was starting to panic a bit. nice one

 

[telectrix]

nope. only if separate occupancy. the exception would be in an integral garage, with say, a bedroom above. the whole purpose of fire rated fittings is to reinstate a fire barrier that you have breached by drilling a hole. a normal ceiling in a house is not a fire barrier.

 

[ezzzekiel]

ever get the feeling you just keep repeating yourself Tel?

 

[telectrix]

yup. beats watching emmeroids and dead enders though.

 

[urchy107]

im guessing that gets asked a lot then. cheers for the help

 

[Farmelectrics]

am i right you dont need to fit fire rated if there leds any way as there is no heat source with leds

 

[telectrix]

no because occupier can replace LEDs with halogens. and the purpose of fire rated fittings is not to prevent them catching fire. it's to reinstate the fire barrier you have breached ( if the ceiling is classed as a fire barrier, which it ins't in most domestic properties)