Fire safety is of vivid concern following the tragic events of Victoria’s bush fires. The principle of a firebreak is actually mandatory due to all of the combustible elements of a ceiling; for example linings, joists, beams, ducting, as well as the future build-up of dust, leaves, nests, which can spoil the fire resistance of thermal insulation.
And, with future interference from pests, turbulence, or people being common, hi-temp halogen downlights demand a permanent fire break. There have been so many silent, potentially deadly ceiling fires, caused by combustibles in close proximity to exposed or poorly guarded high temperature parts.
Contractors who are installing downlights that operate externally above 90°C (at 25°C ambient) should be warned. The default clearances of option d in the new 2007 wiring rules also demand that the above factors are fully considered before this option is taken for a firebreak.
In this application, a larger gap is a larger trap for loose combustibles. One Electrical Installation Manager recently said that if contractors use option d, they have not done their homework.
Sound advice is to quote every time including combinations that are designed to run cool enough to cope with all factors. Installers should also check fine print carefully to ensure they are not using poorly designed downlights that require costly heat forward lamp replacements in the future, in order to run cool enough.
Property owners should only be expected to use the cheapest available replacement globes. These globes would increase external temperatures, for example, only four hours of exposure to combustibles is enough for potential ignition at 140°C.
Australia’s specialists in downlight protection products, Arrowform , now offer the Firebreak Downlight range. Their fixed and tilt models are designed to run cool. They also have detailed instructions allowing installation into timber ceiling linings.
These Firebreak models allow safe, close proximity to timber and insulation, allowing effectiveness in relation to both acoustics and energy savings. The Firebreak downlight range from Arrowform is suitable for the walls and ceilings, and Insulation and Acoustics sectors.