FossLED Fire Rated Downlights

In our store you may have noticed that we have a range of fire protection ceiling lights. You may also have some questions about these items, and we are happy to answer a few of them right now on this blog. This article tries to answer four simple questions you always wanted to ask about the fire-rated ceiling lights, but maybe you were afraid to ask... 1. What is a Fire-Rated Ceiling Light? A fire-rated light fitting completely seals the opening that was made in the ceiling when it was installed. That means sealing even the tiny hole that was necessary in order to pass electrical wires through. To achieve this, many fire-resistant ceiling lights incorporate an amount of intumescent material that expands in response to heat and completely seals that opening. This fully protects your house in case of a fire. 2. Why should I invest in a fire-rated light? Regulations state that any multi-storey building must incorporate fire-proof materials between its floors to slow the spread of fire. Plasterboard is sufficiently fire-resistant: a single sheet will withstand a fire for around 30 minutes. This offers a longer time to escape. Further, plasterboard sheets can be layered together for an extra 30 minutes per sheet: in most domestic properties, the ceilings are fire resistant for up to 60 minutes, but in high-rise buildings and commercial buildings, 90 minutes may be necessary. So fireproof light fittings need to be rated for installation in 30, 60 or 90-minute ceilings. Be warned, however, that a 90-minute rated fitting may not be suitable for use in a 30 or 60-minute-rated ceiling, and vice versa. If it is not rated, the manufacturer has not tested the light for that use. Light fittings should only be used in the situations for which they are specifically rated. 3. What official standards are available? BS 476-20 (1987) outlines the method for testing fire-resistant construction materials and covers most of the important facts. However, a couple of additions have since complicated matters. Part E also mandates resistance against sound, so fire-resistant ceiling lights are also acoustically rated, which means they prevent the passage of sound through the opening as well as fire. And since 2010, Part L has required at least 25% of the lighting in a property to be energy-efficient. 4. Where can I buy fire-rated ceiling lights? Luckily, we sell both acoustic-rated and L1-compliant ceiling lights! We also stock waterproofed IP65-rated fire protection lights that can be used in the bathroom and kitchen, as well as a lot of other items. Above: Aurora Sola i9 range of fire-rated ceiling downlights. Visit the Fire Protection Ceiling Lights section to see the full range available, some of which also come in a different finish while others have a high IP rating for water and dust protection.Fire Protection Downlights

Downlighters are one of the most modern and attractive ways to brighten up your home, but choosing the wrong downlighter, incorrectly installing it, or fitting the wrong lamp can pose a serious fire risk. The guide below gives advice on how to prevent your downlighters from becoming a fire hazard (whether Fixed Ceiling Downlights or Adjustable Ceiling Downlights). Read the first part below and the second part - Advice for Downlighter Safety(2): reflector types and checking your existing downlighters. Advice for Downlighter Safety The ceiling downlighters (ceiling recessed lights, whether adjustable downlights, fixed downlights, or Fire Rated Downlights) operate at mains voltage (230 Volts) or are powered via a transformer at extra-low voltage (12 Volts). Extra-low voltage (ELV) downlighters are often described as “low voltage” on product packaging. Downlighters may also be described as ‘Fire rated’. This means they have in-built fire protection that completely seals the downlighter in the event of fire in the room below, to prevent the spread of fire and smoke into other areas. For all downlighters installed into a ceiling, it is recommended to use of ‘fire rated’ downlighters fitted with ‘aluminium’ reflector lamps (see ‘Different lamp types’) to ensure fire and excessive heat are kept out of cavities. Also, where a downlighter is likely to be covered with thermal insulation in the cavity, it’s important to choose a downlighter that will operate safely under these conditions. Are You Thinking of Installing New Downlighters? It is recommended that you use a registered electrician to install your downlighters and that you keep the manufacturer’s instructions in a safe place for future reference, such as when you need to replace a lamp. When fitting replacement lamps it is good to pay attention to: Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions; Check the packaging and the downlighter for details of correct replacement lamps and do not exceed the maximum allowed wattage; Always switch off the electricity before changing a lamp; Don’t fit a dichroic (cool beam) reflector lamp unless the downlighter is specifically designed for use with that type of lamp. If in doubt, fit only aluminium reflector lamps (see ‘Reflector types’ in the next article); If the lampholder is damaged, scorched or corroded, do not fit the lamp, and seek advice from a registered electrician. Read the second part of this article via, Advice for Downlighter Safety(2): reflector types and checking your existing downlighters.Buy Fire Rated Downlights at Sparks