Which Halogen Downlight Fitting Provides Better Fire Protection?
Downlights, General Technical Stuff, Halogen May 11th, 2009Hi Daniel
Please could you let me know the difference between the Fire Guard Fixed Low Voltage Downlight Kit and the Safety Heat Hood Fixed Low Voltage Downlight Kit.
Which provides better overall fire protection?
Kind regards
Stuart
May 11th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Hi Stuart
Great Question
Both of these fittings have two very different purposes.
The Fireguard fitting has a fire rating. This means that it is primarily designed to seal and maintain a fire barrier in a ceiling. This stops the fire from getting from a living or office space and moving through a ceiling into areas above. These are mainly used in unit blocks or commercial premises.
The Safety Heat Hood Kit is designed to stop the heat from the halogen globe getting into the roof space and causing fires in your ceiling.
There is some info on this available here
Here are all of our fire related halogen downlight fittings
Let me know if you need any further info
Kind regards
Daniel
May 11th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Daniel,
Does that mean the Fireguard stops fires spreading and prevents heat from the lamp escaping, compared to the heat hoot which only prevents heat from the lamp escaping? This would make the Fireguard a better choice?
May 11th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Hi Stuart
The Fireguard’s primary design is to stop fire spreading from below into the roof space. Whilst yes it would probably do both it is not designed for keeping the heat out of the ceiling which is what the Heat Hood is designed for.
Sorry – yes I know it is confusing but I hope this clarifies it
Kind regards
Daniel
January 11th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Sorry Daniel, I think your advice is potentially fatal. A vented metal enclosure over a dicroic lamp offers no fire protection at all. Firstly they are vented, this is to allow the heat to escape and secondly metal is thermally conductive. If dicroic fittings operate at 250c and higher your vented metal enclosure offers no better protection than fitting nothing. In fact if vented, this will not restrict air leakage from the room below, the vent holes will however restrict the outflow of air. Hands up who think this will act as a dust trap! As 90% of fires are initiated by dust and debris sucked through a fitting are you seriosly prepared to represent these types of products as a solution?
March 19th, 2010 at 11:59 am
Hi WP
I think I should clarify this so there is no misunderstanding
There are 2 products available
A firehood – which allows you to install halogen downlights in ceilings and comply with the new standards. This stops fire starting in the ceiling from the heat caused bu halogen downlights
A Fire Guard – which is fire rated and stops a fire starting in your living area (under the ceiling) from penetrating the ceiling and moving a fire from living area to roof
I hope that makes sense
Kind regards
Daniel