Loft insulation over LED lights & electricity cables

timmeh500

We are looking to put more insulation in the loft of our house (we've been in about 6 months). All the lights in the ceiling underneath the loft were halogens but we have replaced them all the LEDs (as cheaper to run and understand they don't produce heat like halogens do).

A friends has told that with the LEDs we don't need to be worried and lay the insulation over them in the loft. Is this true or do I need to cover them with some kind of housing?

Also in the loft there are lots of electrical cables servicing the lights and other points. Some of it is contained in a foam tube but do I need to ensure the cables are above any new insulation I lay or can I just put insulation over it?

Cheers.

Ectophile

LEDs do produce heat - just not so much of it. The higher power ones need a bit of ventilation or they will overheat and fail early, so it's worth leaving some airspace above them.

Putting insulation over the top of cables can make them overheat if they are heavily loaded. Lighting circuits are unlikely to be a problem, but power circuits could get too hot. Ideally, the cables should have an airspace around them, or be on top of the insulation.

PheoUK

I think that buildings regs might specify that you need to put a fire cover over the lights I'm question. I would contact your local planning dept to ask for advise - ours has office hours where you can make an appointment for a phone call

elstimpo

timmeh500 wrote: »

We are looking to put more insulation in the loft of our house (we've been in about 6 months). All the lights in the ceiling underneath the loft were halogens but we have replaced them all the LEDs (as cheaper to run and understand they don't produce heat like halogens do).

A friends has told that with the LEDs we don't need to be worried and lay the insulation over them in the loft. Is this true or do I need to cover them with some kind of housing?

Also in the loft there are lots of electrical cables servicing the lights and other points. Some of it is contained in a foam tube but do I need to ensure the cables are above any new insulation I lay or can I just put insulation over it?

Cheers.

I would make sure any lamp is effectively covered and directly separated from insulation.

elstimpo

Ectophile wrote: »

LEDs do produce heat - just not so much of it. The higher power ones need a bit of ventilation or they will overheat and fail early, so it's worth leaving some airspace above them.

It's not really do with the power of an LED it's more to do with the heat dissipation system. I sell an LED Spot which cannot be used in enclosed fittings because they heat dissipation system is designed around an aluminium fins that dissipate heat by continually replacing hot air with cool. We have a 5w Spot at £10 that doesn't use this heat dissipation system and instead uses a specially designed plastic heat surround, so it can be used in enclosed fittings.

As i said previously, you should always play it safe when it comes to any sort of electrics.

timmeh500

Thanks for your replies. Are these things or similar any good for securing over the downlighters and then placing insulation over?

Sorry it doesn't let me paste a link but if you Google Downlightcovers Direct you'll see what I mean.