Don’t get burnt by non-compliance: Fire-rated downlights

The rules around recessed lights are complex and the result is that not all products out there are truly compliant, leaving you and your customers exposed.

Could your product manufacturer provide the required verification? You might be surprised.  Despite claiming compliance, not all manufacturers test across all ratings and, when additional minutes can mean the difference between surviving a fire or not, testing, compliance and certification is crucial.

Don’t leave yourself and your customers unprotected.

Anthony Parkinson, Technical Manager at Ansell Lighting, guides you through the regulations and how to ensure you choose the correct fire rated downlight for the right ceiling type:

 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.

This is obviously sound health and safety advice – FRDs have in-built protection that prevents fire and smoke spreading in the event of a blaze.

However, the Building Regulations and National Housebuilding Council (NHBC) standards relating to recessed lights can be complex and misunderstood – with the NHBC recently clarifying its guidance to builders and developers in order to strengthen compliance with fire resistance standards.

So what do the ratings mean?

The three fire resistance ratings, of 30, 60 and 90 minutes, which indicate the length of time a complete floor-ceiling structure must be able to withstand fire to enable the evacuation of people and prevent the rapid spread of flames and smoke can also be complicated as they differ according to the building structure and number of floors. For example, the ceiling of a typical semi-detached house will require a lower fire rating than one at the top of a high rise tower block or offices, and if a structure has a 90 minute rating that does not mean it is automatically covered for a 30 or 60 minute rating.  It’s crucial that manufacturers test against all ratings, as in this case, minutes mean survival.

Additionally, there are distinct specifications of ceiling thickness and joist spacing according to each time category, and these vary according to the different types of joist in use. Therefore, understanding a building’s fire resistance ratings and the specific requirements relating to different types of ceiling joist is essential when specifying downlights.

There are three types of joist to consider – solid timber, I-Joist and metal web/open web (commonly called the Posi Joist).

Solid Timber Joist

The most traditional of all ceiling joists, the solid timber joist is typically only seen in domestic dwellings which were constructed more than 20 years ago, though you will also see them used within 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 wallboard and 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

A lightweight joist designed for domestic applications, I-Joists now dominate the house-building market and are used on new builds across the UK. They have greater strength-to-weight ratio compared to other options, which accounts for their continued growth in popularity.

Specifications for each fire resistance rating category are:

30 minute construction –

• 600mm joist centres
• 220mm x 63mm – 9mm OSB/3 ‘web’
• 15mm Type A Wallboard plasterboard

60 minute construction –

• 600mm joist centres
• 220mm x 63mm – 9mm OSB/3 ‘web’
• 2 x 15mm Type F Fireline plasterboard

90 minute construction –

• 450mm joist centres
• 220mm x 63mm – 9mm OSB/3 ‘web’
• 2 x 15mm Type F Fireline plasterboard

Metal Web/Posi Joist

The Posi Joist (metal web/open web) is a new joist type used in the UK. It combines the lightness of timber with the strength of the Posi Strut steel web, which enables it to span far greater distances. The Posi Joist can be used across a wide range of applications, for both floor and roof, in domestic, industrial and commercial applications. It is not used in 90 minute construction applications.

Specifications for the relevant fire resistance rating categories are:

30 minute construction –

• 600mm joist centres
• PS9 (225mm x 0.9mm) + TR26 (47mm x 72mm timber)
• 15mm Type A Wallboard plasterboard

60 minute construction –

• 600mm joist centres
• PS10 (253mm x 0.9mm) + TR26 (47mm x 72mm timber)
• 2 x 15mm Type F Fireline plasterboard

Ensuring compliance

It is essential to guarantee that the fire rated downlights installed meet the requirements of Building Regulations and the NHBC.

Selecting the right FRD can be made simple by selecting a model which complies with every category of the joist specifications. Ansell Lighting is the only manufacturer to offer a range of FRDs that can be used across all ceiling types, including the Ansell Prism Pro and Edge Quad/Pro FRDs, which can be specified for every joist type and every fire resistance rating.

These (and other FRDs in the range) come with full documentation of relevant testing, including test house certification numbers, to provide absolute confidence that the downlight will offer maximum protection to the people inside a building, and the structure itself, in the event of a fire.

They also meet the requirements of Part B Fire Safety, Part C Moisture Protection, Part E Acoustic Resistance and Part L (One and Two) Energy Efficiency Building Regulations.

It is the responsibility of the lighting manufacturer to evidence that a FRD is fully compliant. When specifying any FRD, proof of certification should be established, to avoid inaccurate specification or the risk of purchasing cheaper imports which might not be fully compliant.

Responsibility for fire safety in buildings is, ultimately, a collective industry-wide concern. Sharing knowledge to ensure best practice and compliance with the often complex requirements associated with building construction and lighting installation can only benefit us all.