Why has my house not burnt down due to insulation installation?

[cludelessdiwhye]

I have been topping up the insulation in our roof. We had major renovations about 3 years ago, and so when topping up the insulation I have found that electrical cables are covered with insulation as are LED downlights.

My understanding was that doing this posed a fire hazard, and so you should always leave clearance around lights (unless they are specifically rated for it) and also around electrical cables. Is this just a theoretical risk, or is there another reason why we haven't had a house fire?

[AlanM52 · Accepted solution]

Hi @cludelessdiwhye,

Depends on the type of LED downlight.

Here is one link with some info.

You can search for more info using 'LED ceiling light IC or IC-F rated chart'.

You will likely want to remove one light to check the rating and if that's the case 'safety first' and use a proper 2/3 step ladder.

If needed follow this which is in the link above:

Downlights without IC Rating (Including CA80 & CA135 Ratings)

On the other hand, a downlight without IC rating cannot come into direct contact, or be covered by insulation. If a downlight without IC rating is to be used, insulation must be cleared around and above the downlight to allow heat to dissipate. If this heat is trapped by the covering of insulation, it would pose a fire hazard, along with a significant reduction in the usage life of the downlight, causing it to fail prematurely and the potential discolouration of the ceiling.

Cheers

[MitchellMc]

Hi @cludelessdiwhye,

Alan has already given you some very helpful information. There are downlights that can safely be covered with insulation, but that does not mean yours are rated for that. This is why installation instructions always specify clearances and, in many cases, provide the clips or guards that keep insulation away from the fitting. The main risk with non-IC-rated lights is heat build-up. If the heat cannot dissipate because the fitting is buried, it can shorten the life of the light, damage the ceiling and, in the worst cases, create a fire risk. So even though nothing has gone wrong so far, it is still important to check the rating of each fitting and correct the installation if required.

The same applies to the electrical cabling. Some types of cable can be safely covered with insulation, but others should not be, and that is something only a licensed electrician can properly assess because it depends on how the wiring has been installed. If it is an accessible roof space, an electrician may recommend enclosing cables in conduit, depending on the layout.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Mitchell