Recessed lights - yea or nae

BarneyMc

I'm building a house, nearing electrical first fix and have a dilemma.

The kitchen/diner is 23 x 16 feet and I'll be installing 2 standard ceiling lights. I'm in two minds about putting in recessed ceiling lights. Is this a passing fad or a really good way of lighting large rooms and a once off chance not to be missed? I've also a 12 x 9 feet bathroom and have the same dilemma.

I realise there's no right/wrong answer but would love to get others' opinions.

Calahonda52

That house not finished yet!!
Assuming its ground floor ceiling in a two storey:
If and only if it can be done with no impact on airtightness, insulation and uncontrolled air movement and you address the fire risks properly then I see no reason why not. Have enough subsections on the switching rather than dimming.
Lay out the line of kitchen units on the floor before you drill the ceiling, paying particular attention to any wall hung units and other floor to ceiling stuff.

Bathroom requires a higher standard of fitting but same rules apply

BarneyMc

Calahonda52 wrote: »

That house not fined yet!!
Assuming its ground floor ceiling in a two storey:
If and only if it can be done with no impact on airtightness, insulation and uncontrolled air movement and you address the fire risks properly then I see no reason why not. Have enough subsections on the switching rather than dimming.
Lay out the line of kitchen units on the floor before you drill the ceiling, paying particular attention to any wall hung units and other floor to ceiling stuff.

Bathroom requires a higher standard of fitting but same rules apply

Big hold up with the bank :mad: but now back on it again

Yes the kitchen is on the ground floor of a 2 storey house so how can it affect air tightness?

I suppose I can always get the wires and switches installed now if nothing else.

316

Are you building the house in Russia or Alaska that you are on about air tightness?

BarneyMc

316 wrote: »

Are you building the house in Russia or Alaska that you are on about air tightness?

Monaghan

I assume you're not up to speed on the airtightness of buildings?

Anyway to get back on topic, I'd like to hear opinions on recessed lights with regards to aesthetics and practicality.

Summer wind

Our house has just had its first fix done too. Our kitchen is 6.5m x 4.3m and we were going to have recessed ceiling lights in the kitchen, hallway, 2 sitting rooms and the landing. This was planned in 2013 when the house was designed but we only got planning and started building in November 2014 after the new regs came in. We couldn't get the recessed lights then because of air tightness so our electrician has only put 3 in our hallway and is putting in extra plugs for us instead.
I'm kinda glad we are not getting so many of them now though because I actually prefer pendant lights and I've found some lovely light fittings. I was lucky that I had so much time to think about it in the end.

BarneyMc

Summer wind wrote: »

Our house has just had its first fix done too. Our kitchen is 6.5m x 4.3m and we were going to have recessed ceiling lights in the kitchen, hallway, 2 sitting rooms and the landing. This was planned in 2013 when the house was designed but we only got planning and started building in November 2014 after the new regs came in. We couldn't get the recessed lights then because of air tightness so our electrician has only put 3 in our hallway and is putting in extra plugs for us instead.
I'm kinda glad we are not getting so many of them now though because I actually prefer pendant lights and I've found some lovely light fittings. I was lucky that I had so much time to think about it in the end.

Great, exactly what I'm looking for. Can I just ask though, how the lights would have affected your air tightness?

Summer wind

I don't really know to be honest. Our floors upstairs are cement and our engineer and electrician talked about it with us and we decided between us that it would be too much work to drill all those holes. I think the recessed lights have to be sealed properly to stop heated air escaping through them into the attic because heated air rises. I'm not sure about this though. I know our engineers hoping for a good ber rating possibly A2 so we are solar panelled and insulated up to our eyeballs.
I do like the look of the recessed lights and thought they'd look good on the landing along with a chandelier style light fitting but it was just too much work and I guess a lot less bulbs to buy. I think the lads on the construction forum would know a huge amount about the air tightness side of things. They're very helpful and your engineer will no doubt be on top of this too. Best of luck.

Carawaystick

You can get led GU10 downlights, so heat and pwoer cosnumption will be waay less than with halogens. I've a few that you can't tell which are halogen and which are led, and a few more that you can see leds. Get the first type.
They will also not need replacing this decade, unlike halogen ones.

316

BarneyMc wrote: »

I assume you're not up to speed on the airtightness of buildings?

You assumed incorrectly, there are various options available to. Its pretty simple stuff surprised your engineer isn't up to speed on this.

BarneyMc

316 wrote: »

You assumed incorrectly, there are various options available to. Its pretty simple stuff surprised your engineer isn't up to speed on this.

I'm very aware of air tightness issues - thank you. Your initial contribution to this discussion ("Are you building the house in Russia or Alaska that you are on about air tightness?") was a tad ambiguous. Please explain.

Calahonda52

BarneyMc wrote: »

Big hold up with the bank :mad: but now back on it again

Yes the kitchen is on the ground floor of a 2 storey house so how can it affect air tightness?

I suppose I can always get the wires and switches installed now if nothing else.

Good re bank..
The proper way to do it is to install airtight boxes above the hole

this is just the idea, not recommending that product
http://www.ecologicalbuildingsystems.com/UK/Products/Product-Detail/Optime-Down-light-protectors

They need to be sealed to the PB with the wire in place.

Re the A/T if the box is not airtight, then the air passes through the fitting, especially the eye ball ones, and through the insulation and out wherever.
or the reverse.
I specced a proper box for a client but the builder made up ply boxes and just sat them on the pb and horsed on the fibre glass etc.
I did my little smoke test on a windy day, the smoke just p$$$ed up through the fitting.
The floor above had to get lifted........

Keep well, in Alaska or wherever you are:D

BarneyMc

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Good re bank..
The proper way to do it is to install airtight boxes above the hole

this is just the idea, not recommending that product
http://www.ecologicalbuildingsystems.com/UK/Products/Product-Detail/Optime-Down-light-protectors

They need to be sealed to the PB with the wire in place.

Re the A/T if the box is not airtight, then the air passes through the fitting, especially the eye ball ones, and through the insulation and out wherever.
or the reverse.
I specced a proper box for a client but the builder made up ply boxes and just sat them on the pb and horsed on the fibre glass etc.
I did my little smoke test on a windy day, the smoke just p$$$ed up through the fitting.
The floor above had to get lifted........

Keep well, in Alaska or wherever you are:D

Thanks RE the banks!

OK, on the ground floor surely recessed lights in the dropped ceiling, below the concrete slabs will have no effect on airtightness? There is no penetration of the airtight layer as it's not there!

On the first floor I have an airtight membrane on the underside of the joists and 2 inch batons where the recessed light will sit. I thought the new LED recessed lights don't need any hood or protection? Therefore again, where is the penetration?