The eternal question: Downlighters!

[coopersim]

I'm a bit peeved, mainly because my builders were very lazy when they put up our new build. I'm redecorating the kitchen, and came to remove the downlighters as they've been stuck in with silicone, and have found this above three of the 9 lights:

Cooker Hood extractor pipe:

Gas pipe to fire in living room:

Joist:

So, I can't really move these lights without taking them all out, I can't put lights with fire hoods in due to lack of space, which leaves me with one choice as I see it - replace the bulbs with cool running ones like LED. Do GU CFL's run hot? I suppose that is another option.

Any suggestions?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Any suggestions?

Take them all out, repair and make good the holes, install lights which are actually designed to light up rooms.

 

[coopersim]

Hmm, like some nice brass wall lights!

 

[Steve]

GU10 CFLs dont run hot, no. They get warm, but you can wrap your hand round them and not feel pain.

 

[Christhescott]

take them out and put up a pendant!

If you decide to put in more downlights cut the hole with a holesaw and coat the edges with varnish that will minimize damage when you take them down again.

 

[electronicsuk]

As a bare minimum you really need to move the fitting that's far too close to the joist. I wouldn't be overly worried about the gas pipe, it isn't about to combust from becoming a little warm - remember the fire triangle?

As for the wiring and cooker hood vent, you should be able to push those out the way as best as possible.

Replacing with lamps that kick out less heat will help, but it doesn't guarantee that someone wont go and fit a standard halogen dichroic back there in the future.

 

[Taylortwocities]

, I can't put lights with fire hoods in due to lack of space,?

Why would you want those in any case - its not a fire-rated ceiling - even now when its been turned into something approaching swiss cheese, with all those holes.

 

[coopersim]

Does it make any difference that it's in a three storey house?

Thanks for all your advice!

 

[Taylortwocities]

Not unless its been split into separate flats.

 

[Steve]

Not unless its been split into separate flats.

I have a feeling you are wrong. Though I'm willing to be corrected, I thought . . .

. . . When a house has a 3rd level, all doors leading to that 3rd level must be fire rated, and any other barriers (ceilings, doors) must also be fire rated.

I'm not sure if the same is true of the doors/barriers below as well.

Perhaps banallsheds could advise, since he's swallowed the building regs.