Downlight covers are small devices which act as an essential safety feature in homes, apartments or commercial premises that have ceiling downlights, protecting inhabitants against fires which can start in the recess which surrounds downlights.
Thankfully, downlight covers, such as those installed by experts like www.thermahooddirect.com/, can prevent potential fires by sealing this recess, preventing this fire risk. Let’s have a look in a little more detail how downlight covers work.
What Causes a Fire Risk?
Recessed downlights certainly do give a lovely soft lighting, but without suitable downlight covers, they can cause a fire risk.
When a hole is purposely cut into a ceiling to make space for a downlight, there’s space for fire to potentially spread. Without this hole, the ceiling – particularly those made of plasterboard – would be a natural fire barrier between the two storeys of a house or apartment block. This is exacerbated by the fact that the recess around the downlight can potentially heat up because of the electric light sitting within.
If a fire starts, it can easily come into contact with the wider ceiling structure which usually consists of wooden ceiling joists which fuel the fire.
How do Downlight Covers Prevent Fire?
Fire rated downlight covers act as a fire prevention by sealing off the hole that’s been created. It’s advisable that a qualified electrician fit any new downlights and covers, according to experts at ElectricalSafetyFirst.co.uk.
Modern downlight covers have an in-built intumescent pad, which swells upon reaching a certain temperature. This pad then blocks off the route of any potential fire.
