die cast downlighters

[murphs1]

Hi, can you help please. Why are there die cast fire and accoustic rated downlighters? Does it mean that they have no opening in the top to let out heat and sound? They seem to be very expensive compared to ordinary downlighters. Thanks for reading this.

Pete

 

[nozspark]

Die cast downlights are "cast" out of molten metal whilst most cheaper ones are made out of cold pressed steel (die cast are better quality IMHO!)

Fire / acoustic rated downlights are used to stop noise and fire spreading up through the ceiling and into upper storeys, can't think of which building regs apply but different LABC's apply the rules differently. THe regs actually state that they should be used when a fire rated ceiling has been breached - my LABC's say that any plasterboard ceiling has a fire rating of 30 mins so they should be used whenever you install into ground floor ceilings when there is a habitable room above.