Downlights in Kitchen

[Daddy Boots]

The more I look, the more unsure I'm becoming on what's the best option.
Definitely going ELV for 9 x 35/50w downlighters in the kitchen. It's just been skimmed after I scrapped off the dimply stuff the previous owner used in a failed attempt to cover the minor cracks. The ceiling's 9ft (ok 2.7m) high and I can currently get all of the floorboards up in the room above so any wiring isn't currently a problem. As I've got full access I don't see a problem cutting through the lath&plaster.
Do I need fire-rated or ordinaries with hoods or no hoods ?
Do I go for integrated xformers which would be easier to install but costlier/less choice or separate xformers which will be more difficult to access once the room above gets a carpet/flooring.
Do I need a 400,600 or 1000w dimmer.
Do I do all the cabling myself and get a friendly Part P sparks to make final connections
Or just call the same sparks and say "please install 9 x 35 /50w downlighters in my kitchen" and let him decide the above.

 

[Steve]

You seem to know what you're talking about. But whether you go above board and legal re. part p is up to you. Most transformers for individual lights can be fitted through the downlighter hole, so replacement will not be a problem provided there is enough slack on the cables to pull the transformer out later. Definitely go for individual 60VA transformers. You wont need fire hoods. See last post in "for reference" for info on fire hoods.

 

[Pensdown]

http://www.lighting.eu.com/firerated/home.htm

Good to see I'm not the only one that prefers 1 trany per light

I'm still not sure about the fire hoods. I've read the building regs again and again and if you class the void between the ground and 1st floor as a "concealed space" then you need them. You could also argue that the space below a flat roof is a concealed space so one again you would need them. The link shows a fitting that claims to meets part B of the regs, which part? Can someone clear this up once and for all?