How many downlights to use?

[keep_it_simple]

How many dimmable 50w downlights would you all recommend for a room of 17ft by 11ft? The ceilings are 8ft high.

I think 9 (3 x 3) but have been advised that 6 ( 3 x 2) would be more than sufficient.


Also, the ceiling is 12.5mm plasterboard with a skimmed finished so would 60 minute fire & acoustic rated lights be acceptable to the authorities?

 

[Steve]

Also, the ceiling is 12.5mm plasterboard with a skimmed finished so would 60 minute fire & acoustic rated lights be acceptable to the authorities?

bog standard fittings would probably acceptable, depending on whether theres a flat or a garage above.

Whatever number of lights you choose, if you're dimming them, splitting them into 2 or 3 switches will prove beneficial to your dimmers.

 

[keep_it_simple]

It's on the top floor so above me is just a flat roof.

The room is an open plan kitchen/ living room so I was going to split it into two areas for lighting; the kitchen with 3 lights and the living room with 6. Each area will have its own dimmer switch.

 

[sm1thson]

i thought the general recomendation on here was a total of 0 downlights.

 

[jwilliams]

bog standard fittings would probably acceptable, depending on whether theres a flat or a garage above.

Garage above?

 

[Steve]

bog standard fittings would probably acceptable, depending on whether theres a flat or a garage above.

Garage above?

You never know! I was hypothetically speaking. Were there a garage above, the ceiling would have to be fire rated (IIRC), since all barriers between garages and living accomodation must be fire rated!

 

[plugwash]

i've seen a transit drive through a door and straight into a lift once in the center of manchester somewhere presumablly to be unloaded on an upper floor.

 

[Steve]

i've seen a transit drive through a door and straight into a lift once in the center of manchester somewhere presumablly to be unloaded on an upper floor.

It wasn't a window-cleaners lift was it? like on the adverts?

 

[plugwash]

it just looked like a fairly ordinary (metal box with buttons in it) but rather large lift though i didn't get a very good look at it.