Downlighters/Fire protection

[aidan1979]

Hi

We've had new downlighters fitted in the sitting room and kitchen. They are mains voltage recessed ones and have 50W GU12 bulbs in them.

The ceilings were lowered because the joists were really bent and dipped in parts so the new ceilings are in parts up to 2.5 inches lower than they originally were. We are on the top floor and are thinking of having chipboard flooring laid in the loft. However, I've heard that you can't cover the downlighters as they can cause a fire.

Is there any way in which we can lay floors in the loft (e.g. using fire cones or making a small box out of plasterboard)? Being loft joists they aren't very big and are probably about 5 inches high which will be the distance between the downlighters and the chipboard floors.

Any help/advice is much appreciated.

 

[New2Game]

Look in screwfix, they have firehoods, prob what you are looking for

 

[RF Lighting]

Fire hoods do not stop downlights setting fire to things. Their purpose is to stop the spread of fire through a fire resistant (usually plasterboard) celing

 

[Taylortwocities]

Look at the leaflet that came with the downlights. It will state the min distance from the top of the lamp to the underside of the floor.
If its not enough, screw a length of 2x2 batten (eg) on top of all your joists to make the distance bigger then lay your floor.
Me, I like to leave clear air above the lights - does wonders for lamp life.

PS if there's any terminal blocks up in the loft, dont cover them over with flooring unless you make an access piece.

 

[Pensdown]

PS if there's any terminal blocks up in the loft, dont cover them over with flooring unless you make an access piece.

The simplist way is not to fix the junction box and leave enough slack on the feed cable so it can be pulled back through the light hole for future inspection.

 

[Taylortwocities]

I was referring to any existing JBs up there, you just know that there will be some....