Do I need fire rated downlights

xyz321 · 7 Aug 2017

Hi
In our 3 bed 1950 semi I have got downlights in living and dining rooms. These r 12V mr16 at the moment. I am looking to change to mains voltage LED (currently I have three downlights in each room, I will be adding 2 more). Upstairs are bedrooms.

I won't be doing this myself. I got couple of part P registered electrician for quote. One said I need fire rated downlight and other said I don't (and said in these types of houses, whole house is one fire compartment except for any loft of basement.i dint have loft or basement conversion.)

So can I please get some guidance on whether it's required to have fire rated downlight or not?

Many thanks
J

Iggifer · 7 Aug 2017

If you go for Enlite E8 downlights, which you should anyway because they're brilliant. Then they're fire rated.

I think you'll find that the majority of quality LED downlights are indeed fire rated anyway.

Have they given you prices yet?

stillp · 7 Aug 2017

xyz321 said:
can I please get some guidance on whether it's required to have fire rated downlight or not?

No, it's not required, but many of the good ones are fire rated anyway. The term only means that in the event of a fire, they are less likely to allow the spread of fire through the holes in the ceiling than non fire-rated ones.

flameport · 7 Aug 2017

xyz321 said:
other said I don't (and said in these types of houses, whole house is one fire compartment except for any loft of basement.i dint have loft or basement conversion.)

They are correct.

However the fire rated ones are usually better anyway for little or no extra cost, as the back will be fully enclosed.

Also note that it's not just fire rating that matters - things such as sound passing through the holes is also a consideration.

xyz321 · 7 Aug 2017

Thanks. I havent got costs at the moment.

I was also under the impression that fire rated lights mean sealed units where lights cannot be changed. I did not ask this to electricians so don't know.

Any recommendations for fire rated ones with changeable lamps (if they exist)

Many thanks.

Iggifer · 7 Aug 2017

You'll need to ensure your electrician knows you want a standard fitting with a retrofit LED lamp. An "integrated fitting" is the type with a built in LED chip. Fire rating does not affect this.

You'll get a better light output from an integrated fitting but you'll have to change the fitting if it fails.

We fit Robus downlights (mostly because every wholesaler round here keeps them on the shelf, but they're decent enough) and Enlite Ice lamps

xyz321 · 7 Aug 2017

Iggifer said:
You'll need to ensure your electrician knows you want a standard fitting with a retrofit LED lamp. An "integrated fitting" is the type with a built in LED chip. Fire rating does not affect this.

You'll get a better light output from an integrated fitting but you'll have to change the fitting if it fails.

We fit Robus downlights (mostly because every wholesaler round here keeps them on the shelf, but they're decent enough) and Enlite Ice lamps

Thanks.

Taylortwocities · 8 Aug 2017

xyz321 said:
I was also under the impression that fire rated lights mean sealed units where lights cannot be changed.

Not the case. Fire-rated ones are made to slow the passage of fire through them. Usually they contain an intumescent material that swells up in the event of a fire.

They are only required if the ceiling (that you'd be turning into a swiss cheese effect with all them holes) is a fire barrier. In domestic buildings this usually is only found in flats, maisonettes and the ceilings of garages.
So your second electrician is correct. Use him!

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Do I need fire rated downlights

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