sunken spotlights

BIASI 24S · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 2:07 pm Post Subject: sunken spotlights

i am currently having a single storey kitchen extension done. while the inspectors were round to check the progress so far he mentioned that if we were having sunken spots in the ceiling (which we were hoping for) we could not cut into the insulation, basically saying we could not have sunken spotlights. is there a way around this?

Steve · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 2:09 pm Post Subject:

Not to have sunken spotlights, the obvious answer.

Of course, there are alternative technologies to halogen which can be fitted in insulation.

See here.

BIASI 24S · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 3:14 pm Post Subject:

would fire hoods solve the problem?
i am trying to seek advice from the building inspector but he's obivously hard to get hold of!
we may have to go for ceiling mounted lights but would ideally like sunken spots.

Adam_151 · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 3:45 pm Post Subject:

BIASI 24S wrote:

would fire hoods solve the problem?

No, the issue you are having is the building inspector isn't happy about the gaps in the insulation which the lights are going to cause, this is a non compliance with part L (energy conservation), you can't not leave the holes becuase the fixtures will overheat, the only way you cough possibly get around it, is to seek the clearances needed around the fitting from the company that made them, construct a plasterboard box to those dimensions or bigger and roll the insulation over the top of that.

Firehoods are neither thermal insulation or a way of stopping hot lights setting fire to stuff, they are simply for maintaining the resistance to fire a ceiling has when you cut a hole in it, basically its whats known as an intumescent firebarrier, like the strips you get in fire doors, and in a fire it'll swell up and form a barrier!

Steve · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 3:55 pm Post Subject:

BIASI 24S wrote:

would fire hoods solve the problem?
i am trying to seek advice from the building inspector but he's obivously hard to get hold of!
we may have to go for ceiling mounted lights but would ideally like sunken spots.

Did you click my link and read the contents?

BIASI 24S · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 4:13 pm Post Subject:

missed the link. but just read it. thanks. good info. we have an electrician coming round tomorrow so i'll ask his opinion as well i just wanted to get some kind of idea myself first, i now have some good questions and suggestions if he dosent suggest them first . thanks for the help! i'll post the outcome.

DESL · Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 6:00 pm Post Subject:

Why not go for good quality under cupboard lighting - and a simple ceiling light set up

Lets face it spots in ceiling cast all sorts of shadows over work tops.

shabbirchakera · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 3:48 pm Post Subject: LV Spot Lights

I have seen LV lights from either TLC or QVS that are acoustic compliant to Part B&E of building regs. These will be economical than buying separate hoods. Also read an article from an academic institution recommending this solution. Consider, TLC type FR or QVC type DLFR series at approx £7 each less volume discount.