Fire Hood regs question

[Indecisive]

Does anyone know if I need to fit fire hoods to my downlights. I am in a flat and there is a concrete separation between my ceiling and the room above. My understanding is that the firehood is required to contain a fire from burning through to an above floor for a minimum of 30 mins but my concrete seperation would do this anyway so I won't require them right?

Thanks

[vex]

IIRC - these are only for new build regulations, once built you can change whatever you want.

Might be worth checking with you build management or landlord (leaseholder) as well.

V.

[davee]

Originally Posted by vex

IIRC - these are only for new build regulations, once built you can change whatever you want.

Might be worth checking with you build management or landlord (leaseholder) as well.

V.

NO you cant change whatever you want once it is built You have to remain within building regulations whatever changes you want to make, ESPECIALLY when it is to the Fire Regulations. If you contravene the regulations and a fire was to occur, apart from the potential risk to life, your insurance company would doubtless claim your negligence was a contributory factor and do their best to avoid the claim.

Indecisive, if you have a suspended ceiling below a concrete separating structure you will not be breaching the fire barrier so you would not require fire hoods.

[Indecisive]

Originally Posted by davee

NO you cant change whatever you want once it is built You have to remain within building regulations whatever changes you want to make, ESPECIALLY when it is to the Fire Regulations. If you contravene the regulations and a fire was to occur, apart from the potential risk to life, your insurance company would doubtless claim your negligence was a contributory factor and do their best to avoid the claim.

Indecisive, if you have a suspended ceiling below a concrete separating structure you will not be breaching the fire barrier so you would not require fire hoods.

Thanks very much. It's what I thought but always good to get another opinion.

[vex]

I agree and should have worded my response better.

However that doesn't stop the those less aware from doing what they like. Just look at the number of none fire hodded / none fire rated downlighters that are still available.

Building inspectors can only inspect at build. The energy efficient lighting rule is a joke with a high proportion of people swapping them out as soon as they own the property.

A project we are on at the moment is having some doors replace as soon as the client takes ownership. Although fire rated the Building inspectors did not aprove them so the originals are going back in until the client takes ownership then they will be replaced. Madness!

V.

[Jigster]

Originally Posted by vex

I agree and should have worded my response better.

However that doesn't stop the those less aware from doing what they like. Just look at the number of none fire hodded / none fire rated downlighters that are still available.

Building inspectors can only inspect at build. The energy efficient lighting rule is a joke with a high proportion of people swapping them out as soon as they own the property.

A project we are on at the moment is having some doors replace as soon as the client takes ownership. Although fire rated the Building inspectors did not aprove them so the originals are going back in until the client takes ownership then they will be replaced. Madness!

V.

There is only so much that the regulations can do. The owner has to take responsibility for the safety of their own home. The regulations require fire doors, but they are no use if they left open 24/7, for example. Having no fire doors in place at all, however, could invalidate insurance policies.

As for the spotlights, despite the fact that the concrete floor might provide your resistance, i dont think it is worth the risk considering the minimal extra costs involved.

[Indecisive]

Thanks for your concern, but at £8 upwards a piece (and I would of needed 10 so that at least £80) I wouldn't really say minimal extra cost.

Halolite Fire Rated Cloth Hood 150mm - Screwfix.com, Where the Trade Buys

Yes it's minimal compared to what it would cost if they caught fire but if we lived in that paranoid sort of world we would be frightened to cross the road.

I am no expert but to my knowledge concrete is going to last far longer than a cloth firehood and if the regs are not an issue, I think I would lose more sleep by throwing £80 down the drain.

Anyway, there already up now lol