Plaster-In LED Lights - Fire Resistance

[Jammy5]

Hi there,

 

This should be an easy one for you guys and girls to confirm.

 

I'm looking at having a large rectangular plaster-in LED profile, in the ceiling of my kitchen/diner and various bedrooms/hallways 

 

This is a three story home and it talks about fire compartmentalisation and retaining 30 minute fire protection throughout, especially the main escape route (hallways, landing and stairs).

 

There are steel beams in the kitchen and I was going to put fire resistant plasterboard in here to protect these. The rest I was just following the plans and putting standard 15mm plasterboard and 22mm boards which provide 30 mins fire resistance.

 

The question is, does the install of this LED profile, cause issues in achieving the 30 minute fire resistance or am I overthinking it?

 

Will this be something that will come up in checks with building control, warranty company etc?

 

If it's going to be an issue what are the suggestions?

 

Thanks in advance,

Jamie

[Nickfromwales]

44 minutes ago, Jammy5 said:

Hi there,

 

This should be an easy one for you guys and girls to confirm.

 

I'm looking at having a large rectangular plaster-in LED profile, in the ceiling of my kitchen/diner and various bedrooms/hallways 

 

This is a three story home and it talks about fire compartmentalisation and retaining 30 minute fire protection throughout, especially the main escape route (hallways, landing and stairs).

 

There are steel beams in the kitchen and I was going to put fire resistant plasterboard in here to protect these. The rest I was just following the plans and putting standard 15mm plasterboard and 22mm boards which provide 30 mins fire resistance.

 

The question is, does the install of this LED profile, cause issues in achieving the 30 minute fire resistance or am I overthinking it?

 

Will this be something that will come up in checks with building control, warranty company etc?

 

If it's going to be an issue what are the suggestions?

 

Thanks in advance,

Jamie

Ask the supplier if the lights are fire rated or not. If not, then you’ll need to fit fire ‘hoods’ behind them, in the void, or make boxes up out of 15mm FR plasterboard (sealing all joints with intumescent caulk).

 

If your steel is not exposed, it doesn’t need to be fire boarded, as the 12.5mm PB + skim coat gives you 30 mins FR.

[Thorfun]

@Jammy5 i know it's not what you asked but have you considered a fire suppression system? our architect designed our house without one with large opening windows from every room upstairs and things to protect stairwells to multiple exit routes from the basement etc. in the end it probably cost us more than a fire suppression system would have! 

 

in hindsight, if our architect had said we can save £X and hassle by installing fire suppression i'd have probably jumped at it.

 

just wondering that if you installed one of those you wouldn't have to worry so much about the fire rating of some things maybe?

[Mr Punter]

A bit off topic, but I know of no instance where a domestic dwelling in the UK ever suffered structural failure via steel losing strength in a fire.

[Oz07]

How thick are these led lights? You could just fire plasterboard the whole ceiling, filling joints if needed for fire regs, then fit your lights and standard plasterboard underneath. Maybe some battens sandwiched between if you need the depth for the lights. Make sure joist and truss manufacturers allow for the extra dead load on ceilings. 

Edited 21 hours ago by Oz07

[Jammy5]

7 hours ago, Oz07 said:

How thick are these led lights? You could just fire plasterboard the whole ceiling, filling joints if needed for fire regs, then fit your lights and standard plasterboard underneath. Maybe some battens sandwiched between if you need the depth for the lights. Make sure joist and truss manufacturers allow for the extra dead load on ceilings. 

They're 13.6mm so no battens would be needed. I found that the profiles are aluminium which apparently is a A1 rated material.

 

The following product page states it's A1 rated:

 

https://www.ledspace.co.uk/products/pack-of-10-2m-drywall-plaster-in-profiles-for-led-strip-24mm-wide

 

Although I've asked for written confirmation or a certificate stating this.

 

Does that all stack up and look like I have a solution?

 

Many thanks,

 

Jamie

[Oz07]

6 hours ago, Jammy5 said:

They're 13.6mm so no battens would be needed. I found that the profiles are aluminium which apparently is a A1 rated material.

 

The following product page states it's A1 rated:

 

https://www.ledspace.co.uk/products/pack-of-10-2m-drywall-plaster-in-profiles-for-led-strip-24mm-wide

 

Although I've asked for written confirmation or a certificate stating this.

 

Does that all stack up and look like I have a solution?

 

Many thanks,

 

Jamie

I still don't think penetrations in the main fire stop ceiling would be good. Probably have to fill the gap between board and light with intumescent mastic. What about standard pb double boarded. 15mm if nessecary.

[Jammy5]

Just had a chat with building control and double boarding could be the best option I agree, thank you