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Jeff Howell. Reproduced from Sunday Telegraph, 26 May 2002
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Downlighter Dangers
A few months ago you wrote about the problem of downlighters in plasterboard
bathroom ceilings allowing moisture to escape into the roof space and cause
condensation. I have now discovered another problem with downlighters. I am
converting a house into three flats, which means the separating ceilings
must have a one-hour fire rating. The building control officer says cutting
holes in the plasterboard for downlighters weakens the integrity of the
ceiling, compromising its fire resistance, and he will not permit them. I
wonder if building control officers elsewhere are aware of this, or are
quite so diligent in enforcing the rules?
CW, London
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Jeff replies:
Low-voltage downlighters cut into ceilings are all the rage
with interior designers and architects, but few of them consider the
implications for fire safety (or noise or moisture transmission) of cutting
65mm holes all over the ceiling to fit them in.
Fortunately, some manufacturers are grappling with the problem.
Electro-Technik's "Fire Safe" downlighters, for example, have been tested
and found to preserve the required half-hour fire resistance in houses and
one-hour fire resistance between flats, and are also claimed to stop sound
and moisture transmission through ceilings (01527 831794,
www.firesafe-lighting.co.uk).
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