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Hi,
This is my first post to this forum. I would like to install down lights to my unit. I am on the top floor of a 1950’s strata block, which has 5 units on each floor. Given the vintage of the building and knowing that there have been no assessments in the time the current residents have been here (one over 30 years) I can guarantee that the ceilings are not fire rated.
Strata Manager wants me to engage a certified trade to confirm this and based on their assessment, make the call if it is viable to install down lights. If it is fire rated, then no one would want a breach – me included. But conversely, adding down lights to a non fire rated ceiling poses a risk.
Not really sure where to go from here?
Thoughts would be appreciated.
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I’d suggest saving yourself some bother by not installing down-lights that penetrate the ceiling. Firstly you avoid the concerns you have raised. Secondly, down-lights amount to a hole in the ceiling that you can’t insulate. They are a place to lose heat in winter to gain heat from in summer.
Instead I would suggest getting surface mounting LED fittings that give the same effect but don’t run into the other issues.
I live in QLD and had a problem installing down lights in my ceiling as the ceiling was 1970’s ‘pop corn’ painted onto the slab.
In my renovation I dropped the ceiling slightly to cover the ‘pop corn’ and installed plasterboard. The new plasterboard provided a more modern and smooth surface and provided better sound insulation.
Had I dropped the ceiling to accommodate the down lights, then the ceiling would have been too low.
My electrician suggested the following lights, which look like and function like a down light. I was very happy with the end result. They suited a modern minimalist scheme. There are other similar brands and styles on the market.
I don’t think you would need to drop the ceiling. I understood LP to have only mentioned that because she wanted to cover her original ‘popcorn’ ceiling. I would expect that you could surface-mount LED fittings directly onto (rather than through) your existing ceiling.
Im an original 1950 building its unlikely the ceiling will be fire rated and the strata manager should know if its fire rated or not. You should not be made responible for making that assessment in my view.
Id be asking the SM if the building has any fire safety items or if an amnual fire safety certificate has been lodged. If not, its not fire rated.
In any case you can readily obtain fire rated covers and seals for downlights, so dont be to conerned about that.
You can also purchase fire rated downlights like these;
https://www.bestbuylighting.com.au/ffirefox-fire-rated-led-downlight-sunny-lighting.html
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