John Bullivant, Technical Manager at Eterna Lighting, provides us with a guide to 30, 60 and 90 minute fire rated downlights.
Building regulation Part B specifies the level of fire protection required within different types of properties. Typically the requirement for ceilings are either 30, 60 or 90 minutes and in each instance the ceiling joist spacing and plasterboard specification will be configured to achieve the required duration of fire resistance.
When cutting a hole through a fire-rated ceiling to install a recessed downlight the integrity of the ceiling is compromised and this increases the risk of the spread of fire. It is therefore important to choose a suitable fire rated downlight that will maintain the fire rating of the ceiling.
Testing, testing
There are separate 30, 60 and 90 minute tests for fire rated downlights. In each test the ceiling configuration is different with ceiling thickness and joist centre spacing altered to simulate typical 30, 60, 90 minute ceiling constructions.
It is important that fire rated downlights pass all three tests separately as the differences in ceiling construction mean it is not safe to assume that passing the 90 minute test means a downlight would also pass the 30 and 60 minute tests.
All Eterna fire rated downlights have been tested within 30, 60 and 90 minute ceilings and their installation will restore and maintain the original fire rating of the ceiling.
The downlights utilise intumescent material to achieve their fire rating – this material is designed to expand at high temperatures and, in the event of a fire, seals the hole and blocks the passage of the fire from passing through the downlight.
True colours
Eterna has recently launched a new fire rated downlight under its EternaPro range, offering a five-year warranty from installation.
The high performance 8W downlight is dimmable, boasts an energy efficiency of A+ and is designed to fit a hole size of 76mm. It boasts a beam angle of 60° and the IP65 rating also makes it usable in bathrooms.
The new downlight is colour selectable with warm white, cool white and daylight (3000K, 4000K and 6000K respectively) and will achieve 780 lumens in cool white, 770 lumens for daylight and 670 lumens at warm white.
There are three products in the range, one for each bezel colour option of polished chrome (product code: IFIRELCSCR), brushed nickel (product code: IFIRELCSSN) and white (product code: IFIRELCSWH). It is fully fire rated to 30, 60 and 90 minutes and, to help with easy installation, the product comes with a connector terminal block which also has four terminals to allow for loop in/out lighting circuits.
For more information about the range of fire rated downlights from Eterna Lighting visit: www.eterna-lighting.co.uk
