Do downlights need a fire hood?
Table of Contents
Downlights can also be fitted with a fire hood, to make the ceiling fire safe and also to protect from the build-up of dust and other flammable particles. Fire hood installation should be considered to further protect from the risk of fires that comes with recessed downlights.
Can you put downlights in a fire rated ceiling?
Traditionally, the installation of downlights means the ceiling’s fire rating would be compromised, and the previous options that exist to maintain the fire rating have been less than satisfactory. Many products on the market are known as ‘heat resistant’ which is not a compliant Fire Rated solution.
Do downlights cause fires?
What are the main causes of downlight fires? A fire can start when the heat given off by downlights comes in contact with combustible material including insulation, leaf litter, dust or roof timbers. DFES research shows downlights can heat up to more than 240 degrees.
Do LED down lights get hot?
Contrary to some marketing claims, LED bulbs do indeed generate heat as does anything that consumes electricity. The important thing to keep in mind is that LEDs consume a lot less energy than incandescent or halogen bulbs and are much more efficient in how they use that energy versus traditional bulb types.
Do LED lights need fire hoods?
However if your LED spotlights are NOT fire rated, and they are installed in a room where there is a living space above (bedroom, bathroom or landing etc) whether that living space belongs to you or not (upstairs flat), then you will need to have the fire hoods fitted.
Do LED downlights need a cover?
Fire-rated LEDs Now, fire rated downlights don’t necessarily need a cover for heat or safety reasons, as these fittings have been designed so that quilt insulation can be installed directly over the top without causing any undue risk. However, cutting holes in the ceiling for downlights creates air leakage.
Are LED downlights safe?
LED downlights contain no hazardous solids, liquids or gases such as mercury or tungsten. This means they are safer for the environment and your family. They also utilise direct lighting, meaning they don’t create the same light pollution of traditional lighting.
How hot do downlights get?
Okay, but how ‘hot’ is hot? In development and testing, we found that the heatsink of a fully lit LED bulb was around 60°C-100°C (140°F-212°F) depending on the make and model of the LED bulb, room temperature, and airflow.
Can insulation be put over LED downlights?
The answer to this used be no, but with the arrival of the loft lid you can now have an energy efficient and safe lighting installation. The loft lid creates a barrier between the downlight and the thermal insulation. The insulation can then be laid over the loft lid and packed to the sides if necessary.
How do I know if my downlight is fire rated?
The most obvious way to know if existing downlights are fire rated is by removing the light and checking for a sticker or label. This label should say that the light is fire rated. If there is no label to say that the light is fire rated, you can check for critical differences in the light’s design.
How do fire rated downlights work?
Fire rated downlights seal off the hole and slow down the spread of fire. Modern fire rated downlights are fitted with an intumescent pad which swells up when it reaches a certain temperature and blocks the spread of fire. The fire then has to find another way around – delaying its progress.
Do you need a fire hood for a downlight?
So that is why in general you need to install fire hood or use fire rated fittings. Its a common misconception that downlighters are fire rated so the heat produced from the fitting either will won’t happen or they will not catch alight. They still will if you leave insulation on top of them.
What is the purpose of a fire hood?
The purpose of a fire hood is to stop or slow down the passage of fire, through the holes cut in the ceiling that the downlight sits in.
What are fire rated downlights used for?
Fire rated downlights are used to restore the fire integrity of a ceiling. In the event of a fire, the downlight hole is like a gateway that allows fire to spread through, unchallenged. Once the fire starts to spread through this hole it has direct access to the adjoining structure, usually made from wooden ceiling joists.
What is a downlight cover?
Downlight covers, also known as downlight fire hoods, are often used when installing downlights into a ceiling below an attic as they are designed to protect the unit once covered in insulation. This helps to prevent overheating as well as reducing the amount of warm air that can escape.