Downlighter/insulation query

c class 226

Hi
We are currently building a flat roofed sun room out the back of our house. At the moment the plan is to use 12v halogen downlighters. Problem is the electrician says he needs a 12" space in the insulation around each light to let the light breathe and let the heat away. Is he being lazy and couldn't be bothered working in a smaller space or do halogens need that much ventilation around them. There will probably be 6 to 8 lights going in the ceiling and it seems to me to make a mockery of good insulation practice to have that size of a chimney for each one.
Alternatively, has anyone any suggestions of other types of lights we could use?
TIA
C class 226

DublinDilbert

c class 226 wrote: »

Hi
We are currently building a flat roofed sun room out the back of our house. At the moment the plan is to use 12v halogen downlighters. Problem is the electrician says he needs a 12" space in the insulation around each light to let the light breathe and let the heat away. Is he being lazy and couldn't be bothered working in a smaller space or do halogens need that much ventilation around them. There will probably be 6 to 8 lights going in the ceiling and it seems to me to make a mockery of good insulation practice to have that size of a chimney for each one.
Alternatively, has anyone any suggestions of other types of lights we could use?
TIA
C class 226

Clearly you've no idea how hot a halogen bulb gets, they get extremely hot!!

Your electrician is being safe and doesn't want to set your house on fire.

Its been mentioned on here a few times that there is a special metal "plant-pot" type thing that you can put over the back of them, to give space around the light and keep everything away from it.

bauderline

There are a number of suitable products here ....

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Lighting_Menu_Index/Fire_Cover_Downlight/

These guys appear to do a nice product and the LV version can apparently be used in close proximity to insulation...

www.snaplite.co.uk

Good luck with it !

P.

watty

They have dichroic filters. This means the light gets reflected in a spot but the heat goes equally in all directions.

You can set paper on fire with them. That's why the desk lamps (usually much lower power) have little stalks at front to stop them getting to close to any surface.

c class 226

bauderline wrote: »

There are a number of suitable products here ....

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Lighting_Menu_Index/Fire_Cover_Downlight/

These guys appear to do a nice product and the LV version can apparently be used in close proximity to insulation...

www.snaplite.co.uk

Good luck with it !

P.

Thanks bauderline. Some useful info there.
C class 226

dave.c

hey
yes them downlights get very hot
and i have seen a lot of burnt beams
and cables because of them.
dont get me wrong i have about 60
of them in my own house.
there are some fire covers that can go over them
but can be expensive and have to put in prior
to slabbing

there are some other alternatives out there
unfortunately they are not as warm feeling
your electrician may have some samples

also 12v halogens will not be sold not year

maybe try some wall uplights lovly warm feeling

good luck

dingding

Might be worth looking at other alternative bulbs that fit in the same fitting. There are LED and Flourescent types but neither give the light of the halogen bulbs.

Your car headlights are also halogen bulbs probably 55 Watt. Did you ever feel your car lights after a long run.

Other options might be surface mounted lights. or lighting the room by means of standard lamps and uplighters as a previous poster said.