LED FIRE RATED DOWNLIGHTS

WHY CHOOSE LED FIRE RATED DOWNLIGHTS?

When faced with the task of choosing fire rated downlights for your home or business the smart decision is to go with LED versions. 

When a hole is cut into a ceiling to mount a recessed downlight a potential fire hazard is created. Plaster board ceilings, for example, have a natural ability to act as a fire barrier. In any building where people maybe living or inhabiting above, the ceiling below must be fire rated. LED fire rated downlights are used to restore the fire integrity of a ceiling.

In the event of a fire, the downlight hole is like a gateway that allows fire to spread through, unchallenged. Once the fire starts to spread through this hole it has direct access to the adjoining structure, usually made from wooden ceiling joists and quickly it can take hold. LED fire rated downlights by their design seal off the hole and slow down the spread of fire giving time for the safe evacuation of the building and aiding in reducing the spread of the fire and therefore the damage caused. Modern fire rated downlights are fitted with an intumescent pad which swells up when it reaches a certain temperature and blocks the spread of fire. The fire then has to find another way around - delaying its progress.

Our LED fire rated downlights have been fully tested, the product tested to BS 476 Part 21 to confirm compliance for fire resistance of load bearing floors are not compromised by fitting the downlight. Tested for 30, 60 and 90 minutes fire resistance constructions. This rating depends on the structure of the building and more importantly how many floors it has. The top floor of a block of flats for example would require a 90 or possibly 120 minute fire rating, whilst a ceiling in the bottom floor of a house would be 30 or 60 minutes.

If you cut into a ceiling you must restore it to its original condition and not interfere with its natural ability to act as a fire barrier.
 

Where Should they be Used?
 

The Electrical Safety Council (ESC) recommends that fire rated downlights should be used in all ceilings, regardless of which type of building they are being installed in.

Building Regulations

Legally any work carried out at a commercial or residential property must adhere to the Building Regulations. Fire safety is covered by Part B and is split up into Volume 1 for domestic dwellings and Volume 2 for buildings other than dwellings IE commercial buildings.

[click on the image above to be taken to the Government Planning website]

Which Downlight?

One of our most popular LED fire rated downlights is the  INTEGRAL 19-76-14 which uses 9 watts of energy to deliver 640 lumens of warm white light over a 36° degree beam angle. A perfect solution.