Emergency Lighting


fire-rated downlights F


Safety first:


Whilst not considered under the umbrella of ‘emergency lighting’, fire rated downlights play an important role in preventing fire and smoke spreading in the event of a blaze. In this article, Chris Anderson, technical manager at Ansell Lighting, guides you through the regulations.


ollowing the Grenfell tragedy and subsequent Hackitt Review, the fire safety of buildings continues to face intense scrutiny. With the Government’s new Building Safety Bill becoming law, a greater emphasis has been placed on accountability throughout the construction chain and, as such, contractors in all areas need to ensure the appropriate fire protection products and solutions are specified and installed correctly. When it comes to lighting, Electrical Safety First, the UK’s leading charity on fire safety, recommends fire rated downlights (FRDs) are installed in any ceilings where recessed lights are specified – but why are FRDs important in providing fire protection?


FRDs have in-built protection that prevent fire and smoke spreading in the event of a blaze. Plasterboard ceilings, for example, naturally act as a fire barrier but when a hole is cut into the ceiling to install a recessed downlight, its effectiveness is compromised and a potential fire hazard is created. The hole can act as a gateway for fire to spread through and once this happens


fire can sweep through a building. Fitted with an intumescent pad which swells up when it reaches a certain temperature, installing a FRD as opposed to a regular downlight will seal the hole and slow down the spread of fire, restoring the fire integrity of the ceiling.


An essential lighting product, FRDs provide Electrical Wholesalers with strong year-round sales and present an important revenue stream for many. There are a large number of different products available and not every luminaire is suitable for every job. Ceiling types - solid timber, i-joist or metal web, their construction (30, 60 or 90 minute), thickness and joist spacing have different compliance regulations, affecting the type of luminaire required so it is important to have a good understanding of the regulations and to stock a comprehensive range.


Solid timber joist


Solid timber joists are typically only seen in domestic dwellings which were constructed more than 20 years ago, though they are also used in internal floor and separating constructions for both residential and commercial applications. Specifications for each fire resistance rating category are:


30 minute construction 600mm joist centres 220mm x 63mm


15mm Type A plasterboard


60 minute construction 600mm joist centres 220mm x 63mm


2 x 15mm Type F Fireline plasterboard


90 minute construction 450mm joist centres 220mm x 63mm


2 x 15 mm Type F Fireline plasterboard I-Joist


I-Joists now dominate the house-building market and are used on new builds across the UK, at Ansell Lighting we chose James Jones I Joist to test with as they currently hold the largest share in I joist sales. Specifications for each fire resistance rating category are:


20 | electrical wholesaler August 2022


ewnews.co.uk Continued on page 22


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