Does exposed basic insulation on downlights need to be resolved.

On EICR prior to a CU change I found about 12 downlights with basic insulation exposed, some connections in connector strip and some connector strip covered in insulation tape.

Napit code breakers recommends a C2 in this situation. 

 Best practice guide 4 says providing they are not easily accessible or likely to come in to contact with metal work code C3 is recommended.

In my mind best practice guide 4 is probably the more sensible approach. 

Something that I come across regularly

My planned approach going forward with exposed basic insulation will probably be:-

    In enclosed roof/floor space between building floors  C3

    In loft space with easy access C2

Connector strip covered in insulation tape C3

Not sure how I feel about just covering exposed connector strip with tape.

If I have to actually re-make the joints labour costs as much as the lights, so replacing probably makes sense and gives a good result providing hole size doesn't exceed say 85mm.

But if the existing holes exceed 100mm I end up using something like a 135mm concealer ring   which is a great technical solution, but in my opinion doesn't look great.

I think it's a reasonable solution if the customer has no plans to make other changes in the next few years.

My current customers plan to renew their kitching in the next year, I am sure they won't live with a compromise solution for the new kitchen. which means whatever I ask them to pay for replacing the lights or remedial work will effectively  be throw away money.

I am sure if I ask NAPIT support line 3 times I will get 3 different answers, all eventually coming down to the statement, use your engineering judgement. This email is an attempt to get opinions to help form that judgement.

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  • Don't electrical connections need to be in a suitable enclosure? Wether that's a specific product or part of the building. Is it not about preventing heat/fire/sparks getting out in the event of an overheating/arcing bad connection? Also, even if connections where the cable sheathed is not clamped and are not in an accessible space still at risk of being disturbed by Mr Plumber shoving pipes through etc?

  • Don't electrical connections need to be in a suitable enclosure?

    Reg 526.5 ...give or take 526.5 (iii).

    The point about insulating tape still standards, whether or not it's in an enclosure.

    • An equipment enclosure complying with the appropriate product standard
    • An enclosure partially formed by or completed with building material that is non-combustible when tested to BS 476-4: Fire tests on building materials and structures. Non-combustibility test for materials.

    now 476-4 is quite a stiff test - harder actually than the glow wire test that applies to junction boxes,  a sample is placed in a furnace at 760C and examined for flames and out-gassing.  An all- wooden box will fail, but glass fibre insulation, plaster, cement and so forth pass. A choc block sitting on plasterboard is probably right on the limit of OK, as the enclosure is then completed by something incombustible, but it is not ideal

    Mike.

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    • An equipment enclosure complying with the appropriate product standard
    • An enclosure partially formed by or completed with building material that is non-combustible when tested to BS 476-4: Fire tests on building materials and structures. Non-combustibility test for materials.

    now 476-4 is quite a stiff test - harder actually than the glow wire test that applies to junction boxes,  a sample is placed in a furnace at 760C and examined for flames and out-gassing.  An all- wooden box will fail, but glass fibre insulation, plaster, cement and so forth pass. A choc block sitting on plasterboard is probably right on the limit of OK, as the enclosure is then completed by something incombustible, but it is not ideal

    Mike.

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