The New Firecap Range

Mindful of electrical contractors' increased responsibilities, we have extended the range of high performance Firecap intumescent Fire Protection Products. These now include Fire Protection Sleeves for electrical trunking, conduit,SWA, cable tray and ventilation ducting. Furthermore, in response to demands from the NHBC and other insurers,we have launched Loftcap, a vapour seal to cover downlights that penetrate a loft void.

All these technically advanced products are easy to install and have been designed to ensure minimum additional costs. Rigorous testing by independent laboratories and consistently high standards throughout the UK based manufacturing process provide contractors with total peace of mind that their installations have been carried out with proper materials that satisfy the demands of Building Control in all respects.

Building Regulations confirm...

...that when a hole is cut into a fire rated ceiling to fit a downlight, the fire stopping ability of the ceiling is impaired. In the event of a fire, flames could penetrate through the light fitting and spread to the floor above with the subsequent risk to life and property. The downlight itself can also be a source of fire due to the high temperature of lamps and the promixity to flammable material.

To provide total peace of mind and total protection, a Firecap downlight cover should be installed over the light fitting if the ceiling is a fire separating element. Firecap will stop the spread of fire for at least 60 minutes. In fact, recent tests by Chiltern International have demonstrated that Firecap downlight covers can give added peace of mind by providing up to 2 hours protection from fire.

When Firecap downlight covers are fitted as part of the ceiling structure they become in effect a permanent fixture. This means that the fire protection with Firecap remains even when fashion may dictate a change of light fittings.

Fully Intumescent Material

Firecap is uniquely manufactured from a fully intumescent material that swells to more than three times its original thickness when exposed to fire. This means that the void above the downlight fills to ensure that flames and heat do not penetrate into the area above.

The Local Authority Building Control approval scheme, (LANTAC) and the National House Builders Confederation (NHBC) have approved Firecap covers for use in this application.

Sound Insulation

Building Regulations demand that many walls and ceilings must resist the transmission of sound to adjoining areas. Firecap downlight covers have unique insulation properties and have been independently tested by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) to meet all Building Regulations requirements when correctly installed as part of an approved building system. Firecap is also LANTAC, Robust Details and NHBC approved for this application.

Permanent Protection

Firecap covers maintain the integrity of the ceiling structure whatever downlight fitting is used, changed or even removed. If fire rated downlights are installed and then subsequently replaced with standard downlights, the fire stopping integrity of the ceiling will be compromised. In these circumstances someone may be liable or vulnerable in the event of a fire unless Firecap covers are installed.

2 Hour Tested

To demonstrate the exceptional fire stopping capabilities of Firecap downlight covers they have been third party fire tested for 2 hours in a plasterboard ceiling. At time of printing, no other intumescent cover has yet matched this level of endurance in a fire test.

All Covered

Amongst the key benefits of Firecap downlight covers is the broad range of both light fittings and ceiling types and constructions that the products have been designed to protect. They include most commonly used ceilings and joist constructions as well as suspended ceilings, unlike some competitor fire rated downlights and covers that can have limited applications.

Peter E Jackman IEng MIFire EFBEng AIWSc, Technical Director of International Fire Consultants Ltd. - widely acknowledged as a leading independent expert in fire engineering - says:

“Building Regulations 2000 Approved Document P allocates full responsibility to the electrician to make good the fire performance of any fire-rated floor/ceiling/wall after carrying out an electrical installation and legal action can be taken for non-compliance. Many, so called fire rated downlight fittings/covers are only tested in a small number of ceiling constructions and consequently this leaves the electrician vulnerable to “legal action” if the solution that he uses is wrong for the installation."