Eight years ago I installed some recessed ceiling lights in the upper floor of our thatched house and installed fire hoods over each one in the loft space. Ever since I've wondered whether I can increase the safety of this arrangement by installing a further box - made of plasterboard say - over the hoods with holes drilled for ventilation all around the top. Given my time over again I probably wouldn't have installed the lights, but they are very functional and the arrangement I describe should protect them from my main worries - attack from vermin and the possibilty of thatch material getting near anything hot. Can anyone advise whether this is sensible and what size the holes should be to prevent mice getting through them.
Recessed ceiling lights
- Thread starter umborne
- Start date
Not being sure of the fire regs regarding thatched roofs, but ordinarily, firehoods are not required in roof spaces (and shouldnt be used as they shorten lamp life and can sometimes become a fire risk themselves)
If theres no problem now, leave it as it is.
If theres no problem now, leave it as it is.
Unbourne, you should understand what fire hoods (and fire-rated fittings) are for.
They are made to delay the spread of fire, from the room below, through a fire-rated surface.
If your ceiling is not fire-rated, or made of flammable material (laths??) then there is no point having fire-hoods.
If you want to reduce the risk of someone laying a piece of flammable material over your hot spots then I would suggest building a sizeable plasterboard box over each light, with vent holes.
Given you have a thatched roof I would suggest that installing a handful of mini-fires under a tinder-dry haystack would not be sensible.
It may be bbetter to remove the stupid thingsand use a more suitable and energy efficient method of lighting your house.
Edit: You should have a look at The Dorset Model. An extract is here: http://www.thatched-group.com/articles/building/TheDorsetModel.htm
Look especially at recommendations (3). Also, check your fire insurance - there may be restrictions.
Finally, is your house listed? Are these type of lights permitted?
They are made to delay the spread of fire, from the room below, through a fire-rated surface.
If your ceiling is not fire-rated, or made of flammable material (laths??) then there is no point having fire-hoods.
If you want to reduce the risk of someone laying a piece of flammable material over your hot spots then I would suggest building a sizeable plasterboard box over each light, with vent holes.
Given you have a thatched roof I would suggest that installing a handful of mini-fires under a tinder-dry haystack would not be sensible.
It may be bbetter to remove the stupid thingsand use a more suitable and energy efficient method of lighting your house.
Edit: You should have a look at The Dorset Model. An extract is here: http://www.thatched-group.com/articles/building/TheDorsetModel.htm
Look especially at recommendations (3). Also, check your fire insurance - there may be restrictions.
Finally, is your house listed? Are these type of lights permitted?
And Regulations (3)
Regulations (3) of what document?
And Requirements (3) 
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