Downlights fitted into this? Strange one and need some help

[actionjackson]

I would like to install 6 x downlights into a box section that contains a plastic duct that runs down the back of my lounge for the bathroom/cooker ventilation. ( I have added a couple of pictures to my profile album if you would like to see what I'm on about)

It measures 24cm High x 12cm Wide. There is a 6cm clearance from the bottom of the plastic duct pipe to the bottom of the box section. The box section also contains insulation material but this could be removed where needed.

I live in a first floor flat and I'm aware of the fire regulations but the box section has been built onto the wall/ceiling so i wouldn't be breaking the fire seal between the other flats.

I plan to use Aurora fixed 12V downlights as i already have them available. They require 50mm clearance around.

I would appreciate any thoughts or suggestions to this project?

Thanks
Neil

 

[PrinceofDarkness]

Consider the use of LED downlights only, or take the boxing apart and fit aluminium ducting. Otherwise forget it - the heat would be too much for the plastic ducting.


Lucia.

 

[electronicsuk]

Perhaps some surface mount spots or even surface mount downlights would be a better option? Anything that close to plastic ducting (or any building material, really) is just asking for trouble.

If you do go the LED route then it would be advisable to fit proper integrated LED fittings rather than using lamps with a GU10 cap, as the latter could lead to someone fitting halogen lamps again in the future.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Consider the use of LED downlights only, or take the boxing apart and fit aluminium ducting. Otherwise forget it - the heat would be too much for the plastic ducting.


Lucia.

absolutely. What is that plastic pipe carrying? Poo? Water?

You don't want either flooding into your flat when the pipe melts.

 

[actionjackson]

Consider the use of LED downlights only, or take the boxing apart and fit aluminium ducting. Otherwise forget it - the heat would be too much for the plastic ducting.


Lucia.

absolutely. What is that plastic pipe carrying? Poo? Water?

You don't want either flooding into your flat when the pipe melts.

The pipe is only carrying air from the the cooker/bathroom extractors.

Surface mounts are an option but not really what I'm looking for.

LED's are also an option but expensive and i already have LV downlights to use. I did think that 60mm clearance would be fine.

 

[PrinceofDarkness]

AJ: This might be beside the point, but are you saying that you're using a common duct for the hob extractor and the bathroom extractor? If so, how do you manage to prevent the greasy cooking aromas back-tracking into the the bathroom? The Building Regs allow for common ducts between bathrooms and en-suites etc, but they don't allow sharing between kitchens and bathrooms. However........

This 'plastic ducting': I expect that it's soil pipe or similar - and not the flimsy, flexible coiled-wire type?

I really don't think it's a good idea to use standard downlights - and certainly not to do so just because you have a few spare ones hanging around. If you were to fit a half dozen of them over that short distance, you'd end up with a brilliantly lit wall below, but little overall general lighting of the room.......


Lucia.

 

[actionjackson]

The duct is a common duct for the bathroom and hob extractor. The building was built 5 years ago (nothing to do with me) with NHBC certification which is worrying.

I haven't had any problems with smells contaminating the bathroom though.

Yes the duct is a solid plastic pipe - probably PVC.

I have contacted Aurora to confirm clearance etc as the instructions state a minimum of 50mm clearance to the sides with no mention of clearance above the light.

The wall will be lit as a feature - not for general lighting so no problem there.

I appreciate that just because i have these lights doesn't mean i should compromise H&S but its worth checking into.

Thanks for your help.

Neil

AJ: This might be beside the point, but are you saying that you're using a common duct for the hob extractor and the bathroom extractor? If so, how do you manage to prevent the greasy cooking aromas back-tracking into the the bathroom? The Building Regs allow for common ducts between bathrooms and en-suites etc, but they don't allow sharing between kitchens and bathrooms. However........

This 'plastic ducting': I expect that it's soil pipe or similar - and not the flimsy, flexible coiled-wire type?

I really don't think it's a good idea to use standard downlights - and certainly not to do so just because you have a few spare ones hanging around. If you were to fit a half dozen of them over that short distance, you'd end up with a brilliantly lit wall below, but little overall general lighting of the room.......


Lucia.

 

[Taylortwocities]

The lights WILL come with the maker's instructions. They will say what the clearance above needs to be.

Looking at some (Linlite) downlights I have here with regular halgen lamps. These require a void depth of around 160mm. For you that will be the distance from the bottom of your box to the bottom of your plastic pipe.

I would say its a bad bad idea.

 

[electronicsuk]

If you have the fittings lying around and want to use them purely for that reason, nobody here can stop you. However, it WILL damage the plastic pipe with that little clearance, almost without doubt.