Lighting track, residential: minimum height from floor, with respect to being able to touch the track)?

Hi, (DIY/planning question)

I do not recall anything in the 17th and I don't have the latest regs to hand.

For domestic track lights, with the powered track (230V) and where you can clip on fittings at any point - is there a minimum mandated height from the floor for a non-special location?

I'm reasonably sure I've never seen one and I presume the tracks meet a minimum IP to prevent fingers being able to touch the busbars - but thinking from the point of view of kids being able to poke metal things in the track...

This is with respect to a converted attic room with vaulted ceilings where one end of the track might come low, eg 3-4 feet off the floor.

That track would be tucked into the wall/ceiling junction, so bonking the lights with head is less of a consideration - the fall back would be LED tape lights in profile for difficult areas.

Many thanks, Tim

  • I don't recall anything in BS 7671 either - and it's likely to be no worse than a BC lampholder, which you can place at any height (including table lamps) - but check the manufacturer's instructions as such considerations may well fall under the equipment standard rather than BS 7671 itself.

      - Andy.

  • this sort of stuff - Illuma track is declared IP20 in the datasheet.

    Makers instrcutions do not indicate any such limit.

    Mike.

  • Thank you :) I have been through the instructions (Knightsbridge in one case) and they don't say anything either.

    Cool -

  • I didn't see anything in the Knightsbridge instructions either.

    Thank you - looks like I don't have a problem :)

  • I do not recall anything in the 17th

    One difference between the 17th and 18th is that 30mA RCD protection is now required for domestic lighting circuits regardless of other factors - which means there should be some additional protection should the worse happen.

       - Andy.

  • Hello Tim

    I don't have track lights in my home. I always considered them to be major heat sources.

    Your suggested solution to use LED tape lights seems to be the best option.

    I don't know if you have the same LED tape lights that we have here in the US.

    The new ones now come in pre-set colors and lighting levels.

    Peter Brooks

  • I don't have track lights in my home. I always considered them to be major heat sources.

    Does that depend on the kind of lamp inserted into the fitting, that's clipped to the track? With LED variants of most lamp types readily available these days would the efficiency (& heat generation) be any different to any other arrangement?

    Yes, LED tapes are readily available too (with innumerable variants, including RGB, colour temperature, dimming and wifi control) - all very useful for lighting a fixed area. On the other hand  track systems give the end user the ability to easily move and direct the light to where it's needed at any particular time - which of itself can give very efficient results. 

       - Andy.

  • Hello Andy:

    I personally don't like points of lights strung on a ceiling - looks too much like Christmas lights.

    I like using some form of LED Light diffusers.

    Peter