How do I install halogen lights in my ceiling

[imperialchambers]

Hi, I want to install 2 lots of 5 20 watt halogen lights in my living room. The only problem is, I know halogen lights get very hot so do I need to go in to the loft and remove the thick insulation from around the top of the lights. The only thing is the ceiling hangs of the roof of my flat and the beams of the ceiling cant be walked on as it will not take any weight. Should I just fit the lights with the fibre glass insulation going over them and hope it doesn't go on fire, isn't the fibre glass fire proof. Please help before I burn my flat Down. Thanks Tony

 

[Adam_151]

There are several issues here, the first as you correctly Indentify is heat build up, yes, the insulation should be removed from around the fitting to enable the fitting and ceiling to shed heat, the second issue is fire barriers, this is especially relevant as you say you dwell in a flat, the ceiling acts as a fire barrier, when you cut a hold in it, this breaks the fire barrier, it has to be re-instated with a firehood, the last bit least thing is conservation of energy, where the insulattion has been removed from around the light, heat excapes from the builing, the best way to deal with this, is to consult the documentation that comes with the lights on clearances, and constuct a plasterboard box to cover light and firehood, and run the insulation over the top of this

 

[Steve]

Adam, the ceiling in this chap's flat wont be a fire barrier, surely, since he is on the top floor by the sounds of it.

He also says the joists cant be walked on - how's he gonna run the cables?

I also advise a dimmer - 200w is a lot of light, and a lot of heat. Get a 400w dimmer, due to the halogen load.