» The Down-light argument

[MikeT]

Guys,
I've just been reading the latest Electrolink mag over here and there is an article in there about some sort of retro-fit heat barriers that have come under fire from the authorities here.
Now, these things look like (given the pics in the article) a sock that fits over the top of the down-light fitting in a ceiling, who exactly is selling these is un-clear.

But, the thing that has been said is that our downlights here were never made to be fully enclosed on the top side of them, you still have to let heat out of them.

I'm pretty sure that you guys in Aussie are aware of the debacle over the Home insulation people causing fires by covering downlights with all sorts of insulation types.

As an Electrician, I find a situation like this rediculous and I ask the question:

Why is it that Energy efficiency and the need to cover every thing up, takes presidence over Electrical and Fire Safety regimes these days?

As if we don't have enough houses catching fire as it is at the moment.

[Crispy]

Government regulators and f****** engineers.......

Thats my thoughts.

Have never seen a house burn down due to badly placed downlights - so far anyways.
One of the lights in my house should have been moved/not put in as it was directly under a truss beam, by directly i mean it was installed in such a way as the plug for the globe was hard up against the truss at a 90 degree bend straight out of the pins.

Was like this for a few years and there is no sign of anything burnt, and my house has not burnt down.
But people like to make stupid rules to make them selves feel important.

[dmooreV8]

I've seen many a fire caused by downlights and other electrical faults, as i work in the insurance field