Electrical Quote

CazDIY · 3 Nov 2015

Hi,

I'm about to rent out a property and have had an 'unsatisfactory' report back due to having non-fire rated down lights in the bathrooms - they have insualtion over the top and no dome covers also.

The quote from the company who did the inspection to carry out the remedial work - supply and replace the existing spot lights for fire-rated downlights (8 lights) is £400+vat. This quote also includes issuing a new certificate afterwards.

This seems a lot.....is it, or is it reasonable?

Thanks

freddiemercurystwin · 3 Nov 2015

Sounds like a good scam to me, why not just fit some hoods yourself http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00...fire+hoods&dpPl=1&dpID=51DkTwbGPeL&ref=plSrch BTW you know there's no legal requirement for a certificate let alone an inspection unless it's an HMO.

CazDIY · 4 Nov 2015

Thanks, I know it's not a legal requirement but I thought having a satisfactory electrical report would be something to give extra peace of mind. The property is less than ten years old and I thought that this would be straightforward. Now that this has cropped up, I feel I do need to replace the down lights, but I'm just wondering what a decent price would be.....

seasickstevie · 4 Nov 2015

If the property is a two-story house, I can't see why you would need fittings to be fire-rated.

Is it a flat?

freddiemercurystwin · 5 Nov 2015

CazDIY said:
Now that this has cropped up, I feel I do need to replace the down lights

If you're not interested in whether replacing the lights or in fact any of the work is actually required or not then just get some other quotes.

sparkydave in wales · 8 Nov 2015

is there a room above the bathroom? if not they don't need to be fire rated, and the hoods are easy to fit yourself, the price doesn't seem too bad bearing in mind the lights eould be around £10 each and the hoods probably about the same, but it might not all be necessary

davidlong · 14 Nov 2015

Good evening cazdiy,
I've just joined the forum and seen this thread, and I'd like to make a few comments if I may.
Even some very experienced electricians do not know what 'fire rated' really means. They believe it means that the lights will not start a fire, but it really means that these lights can be fitted into a fire rated ceiling without compromising it's effectiveness. Normally these are only needed between housing units, flats etc. The best downlighters are LED ones as they generate much less heat than the halogen ones, but ideally there should still be no insulation on top. A simple barrier higher than the insulation is fine.
I have removed halogen downlighters to replace them with LED ones and in one instance where insulation had been packed quite thickly around them the cables had started to melt.
Sorry to waffle on for so long, but I really believe that in some cases halogen downlighters can be a fire accident waiting to happen.

Kind regards

davidlong

seasickstevie · 15 Nov 2015

Welcome David.
No need to apologise about waffling, plenty others do it around here

skenk · 17 Nov 2015

Seen plenty damage caused by insulation sitting on recessed lights, you want to be getting that sorted. How were the electricians who quoted proposing to do that (is there access from above)?

bear2015 · 28 Nov 2015

Had the same problem in my house fitted LED's and the electrician signed it all off

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