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"Safe as houses?"
Left to right: Trevor Atkins, M.D. Electro-Technik Ltd; Julie Kirkbride M.P.; Alan Rogers, General Manager, Electro-Technik; Anthony Ottway, M.D. Green Lighting Ltd.
MP BACKS CAMPAIGN FOR SAFER HOMES
A plasterboard ceiling lining has a fire resistance such that in the event of a fire, the fire will be contained in that room long enough to allow the rest of the premises to be evacuated.
The fire resistance period is 30 minutes for houses and 60 minutes for flats and apartments.
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Recessed down lighters are a very popular form of attractive lighting but the holes cut into the ceiling to fit them, can cause a serious reduction in this fire resistance period.
To ensure that their installation is fire safe, some protection must usually be added to the down lighters to reinstate the ceiling fire resistance.
F L Patents of Alvechurch have developed a range of low voltage down lighters that have inbuilt fire resistance and that also maintain the acoustic properties of the ceiling.
Submissions to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have been made by F L Patents that current Building Regulations should be reinforced to ensure that all domestic installations are fire safe.
Julie Kirkbride, M.P. for Bromsgrove, who is supporting this submission and is on hand to aid its progress through the relevant officials in the Department, visited Electro-technik Limited of Stoke Prior, who are manufacturing this range under licence, to see first hand the production unit. It was also an opportunity for her to discuss in detail the lack of awareness that exists in this potential hazard and to see a
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demonstration of the effects of excess heat generated by some low cost imported down lighters.
With many of the components and technical services being provided by other companies in the Alvechurch, Redditch and Bromsgrove area, it is hoped that improved compliance of Building Regulations will result in an increased demand for these fire and acoustically protected down lighters and create the opportunity for new jobs.
Julie was very impressed with what she saw and will be continuing to support the submission and if possible help to increase the awareness that down lighter installations must be protected.
Alan Rogers
www.firesafe-lighting.co.uk
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