Insulation and downlight dangers

• Electrical Safety Act 2002Some things to consider
• Obligation of insulation installers under the electrical safety legislation
• Wiring Rules and downlights

Safety regulators across Australia have concerns about fires caused by heat from recessed lighting setting fire to building material.

Recessed downlights operating at very high temperature are of most interest.

A fire can start if thermal insulation is installed too closely around these lights or they are too close to combustible material. Combustible material can include things like leaf litter which blows into roof spaces.

Transformers supplying the lighting can also get to excessive temperatures if covered by thermal insulation.

The Wiring Rules AS/NZS 3000:2007 have responded to this problem with provisions on precautions that must be taken for recessed luminaires including downlights.

The Wiring Rules say recessed luminaires must be installed with the default clearances and precautions unless designed and certified by the manufacturer with specific installation instructions for use close to combustible materials.

Some things to consider

• Where loose fill insulation is used, fire-resistant barriers must be used to ensure safe clearances are maintained between the insulation and the light.
• Barriers or guards must be used to prevent fire if there is a risk of combustible material such as leaf litter, debris or vermin gathering around a recessed light.
• After any work in the roof space, ensure safe clearances are maintained between the recessed lights, transformers, thermal insulation and combustible material.
• Unless the design of a recessed light provides otherwise or it is installed in a fire resistant enclosure there must be a safe clearance between the recessed light, thermal insulation and combustible material when they are installed.
• Always engage a licensed electrical contractor for any electrical work.

Contact your licensed electrical contractor or the Electrical Safety Office on 1300 650 662 for further information.

Obligation of insulation installers under the electrical safety legislation

The Electrical Safety Office is responsible for the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (the Act) which form part of the electrical safety laws in Queensland.

Insulation suppliers andinstallers in Queensland have obligations under the Act to ensure that their business or undertaking is electrically safe (section 30 (2) of the Act).

Section 30 of the Electrical Safety Act 2002 Obligation of employer or self-employed person

• This section applies to an employer or self-employed person.
• A person to whom this section applies has an obligation to ensure that their business or undertaking is conducted in a way that is electrically safe.
• Without limiting subsection (2), the obligation includes:
• ensuring that all electrical equipment used in the conduct of the person’s business or undertaking is electrically safe
• if the person’s business or undertaking includes electrical work, ensuring the electrical safety of all persons and property likely to be affected by the work
• if the person’s business or undertaking includes any work involving contact with or being near to exposed parts, ensuring people doing the work are electrically safe
• consumer mains
• submains in particular circumstances. 

Penalties for failure to discharge obligations under the Act range from 500 penalty units or six months imprisonment to 2000 penalty units or three years imprisonment if breaches cause multiple death.

A penalty unit has a dollar value determined by the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General. At the date of publication, the value of a penalty unit was $100.

Under the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992, if a corporation is found guilty of an offence, the Court may impose a maximum fine of an amount equal to 5 times the maximum fine for an individual.

Wiring Rules and downlights

The Wiring Rules AS/NZS 3000:2007 state that electrical contractors must take special precautions where thermal insulation is not fixed in position like loose fill. A barrier or guard constructed of fire resistant material is to be provided and secured in position to keep the necessary clearance.

The fire resistant barrier or guard may be a commercially available device including ones manufactured specifically for the light fitting used. The barrier can also be made of material that prevents the down-light or transformer from transferring a dangerous level of heat to surrounding insulation. The barrier itself must also withstand the heat of the down light or transformer.

The fire resistant barrier should be installed around the light fitting or transformer with limited movement to keep the distance between the insulation and the light fitting.

An extract of the Wiring Rules clause 4.5.2.3 - Recessed luminaries is available.

The 2007 edition of the Wiring Rules with the requirements for the installation of recessed luminaires can be accessed at the SAI Global web site (non-Queensland Government site).