In most buildings the ceilings between floors have a fire rating. This is the length of time that the ceiling will prevent a fire in the room below spreading to the floor above. Most ceilings are 60 minute rated, although there are 30, 60 and 90 minute ratings.
When you install a recessed downlight into a ceiling, the hole that you make compromises the integrity of the ceiling and would allow fire, smoke and heat straight through to the floor above.
A fire rated downlight plugs the hole, with a sealed unit, and an intumescent seal with is designed to swell to over three times it's size in the event of a fire.
If you install a regular downlight (not the fire rated type) then you would also need to install a fire hood over the top in the void behind the ceiling to maintain the fire rating of the whole ceiling.
The good news is that we have a number of ranges of low energy downlighters that we stock at My Green Lighting, which are 90 minute fire rated. This means that they meet the requirements to maintain the fire rating of any ceiling.
If you need more information about this or anything else, please get in touch.
