Downlights are lights that are placed in a hole in the ceiling as opposed to lights that are hung from it. They are gaining in popularity, especially for light in the kitchen or bathroom, but as they can also give soft light, they are increasing popular in other rooms too. However, choosing the right ones and then installing them can be difficult, especially if you are unsure which ones are which and what regulations there are.
The Different Types
A downlight is usually made from steel or aluminium and is held to the ceiling in one of two ways, spring clips or compression clips. There are four main types of downlight; fixed, gimbal, eyeball and wall washer.
A fixed downlight is exactly what it says on the tin and doesn’t allow you to adjust the light. This type of downlight is good when used in a shower or bathroom.
A gimbal is similar to a fixed downlight, but you can adjust the light within the recess. This can be used when you only want to adjust the light slightly, such as towards a breakfast bar in the kitchen.
The eyeball downlight has a slight protrusion that contains the light bulb that allows you to adjust the spotlight to a greater degree than a gimbal.
A wall washer downlight has a light bulb that is contained within a hinged covering that allows the light to move ninety degrees. They can be used in small rooms around the perimeter to make them feel larger, or for use around a framed piece of wall art to draw attention to it.
Fire Rated Downlights
It is important when installing downlights to know whether you need fire rated ones or not, and if you do which fire rating you need. Most modern houses are designed to slow down the spread of fire to allow people to escape, and even the ceilings are taken into this consideration. Flat surfaces take longer to catch fire than those with edges, so cutting a hole in the ceiling to add a downlight can cause problems. All ceilings are given a rating of 30, 60 or 90, depending on how many minutes it takes to burn through.
Therefore you must get a downlight that matches or exceed the fire rating of your ceiling. So if you’re choosing fire rated downlights, then check with your local planning office so you purchase the right ones for your ceiling.
How to Place Them
Think carefully about the placement of your downlights on your ceiling. Generally the rule is to match the size of the fitting to how far they should be spaced, for example a 10cm fixture should be placed just over a metre apart. If you wish to use them to light objects, make sure they are placed between 30 and 45 cm in front of it.
Try to avoid putting them in lines so your ceiling looks like and airport runway lights. Make sure you know where the ceiling joists are so you know where you can put the downlights. However, if you are not completely confident in what you are doing, contact a qualified electrician or someone from your local planning or building regulations office and get help with the installation.
If you’re placing downlights in the bathroom, then you must consult bathroom light zones regulations, as certain types of lights can’t be placed within a certain distance of water and the such like. You must comply with these rules for a safe bathroom.
