Downlighter advice

[marcus2704]

I need 6 halogen downlighters to go in my cellar conversion. The lights will be set into a plasterboarded ceiling with packed insulation, and Im concerned that the heat generated by the downlighters will be dangerous. I looked at ones here - http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/FRCL02CBR.html - and I assume from that fire rated (to 100min) means that in the event of a fire they will withstand it for approx 100min. Are there downlighters that I can buy that are safe to inset into an insulated ceiling, or do I have to buy spotlights?

[L4_Isoside]

I have one of thoes bulbs on by bed side table and i warn you they get __EXTREMELY__ hot, burns my hand from about 15 cm away, so i wouldn't risk is unless you can find a way of making sure the bulbs stay cooler/ dont go near anything that can melt/ burn etc.

Just my 2 cents.

Chris

[neilball]

You can use the fire-rated downlighters in your ceiling provided you leave enough free space around the fitting and transformer. This may mean cutting away the insulation at each fitting to create the necessary void but this would rarely be a problem in most cases.

You do have to make sure you use the correct lamp - aluminium coated not dichroic - and these throw nearly all of the heat and light from the lamp forward into the room rather than leeting it pass through the back of the lamp into the ceiling void.

[marcus2704]

Is it worth buying a 'fire-hood' do you think?

[neilball]

If you are using fire-rated fittings then there is no need for a separate fire hood. If you want to use the fire hood to create the void for the fitting then this could work providing it creates a large enough void & does not collapse under the weight of the insulation you are trying to displace.

[CO2000]

My Father made up wooden boxes to go round the lights (approx 8" sq & the height of the sections was the thickness of the joists Inc notches cut of for cable) & these kept the insulation away from the bulbs.

This was in a loft though so access was good from above.

Co.

[Goochie]

With all fire rated downlights there is no need to use an additional fire hood. You would normally need to move the insulation away from the fitting and transfrmer otherwise the lamp holder or transformer will fail due to overheating.

Some companies sell insulation support boxes that you can fit above the downlighter to keep the insulation away from the back of the fitting. Failing that you can use plasterboard to build a box and keep the insulation away.

One other thing that has not been mentioned is the type of lamp (bulb) that is fitted. There are two types of theses - aluminium reflactor and Dichroic. The dichroic lamps have a special coating that will throw the heat back into the fitting - this is fine when using a conventional downlighter but will cause a fire rated fitting to overheat and the lamp holder to fail. Alwyas make sure you use "aluminium reflector" lamps in a fire rated fitting.