Downlight Clearence

[diy]

Renovating a downstairs room at the moment. Would like to install downlights however not sure if possible. They would have to go in the space between the upstairs floor and the downstairs ceiling (90mm i think, whatever the most common floor joist size is).

Pretty sure i cant use the typical downlights that get hot, however ive heard about new low wattage lights that dont produce much heat?

Any advice or recommendations is appreciated.

Cheers.

[Bedford]

They would have to go in the space between the upstairs floor and the downstairs ceiling (90mm i think, whatever the most common floor joist size is).
How big is this downstairs room? I would think the ceiling/floor joists would be taller than 90mm in this situation.

Can you get an idea by measuring the distance between ceiling and floor at a staircase possibly? :)

[applied]

While your measuring see if there is and sort of insulation in there. I'm going to say it's most likely possible to put them in with the right covers. You have two genneraly accepted options when it comes to downlights 12volt and 240v just installing lower wattage or cfl is not good enough to warrant a dangerous install.
You need to follow the AS3000 rules for downlights, Your joist should be tall enough to achive this you can find an example from the spec by looking through the forums.


just thought I would add that I am bias towards 35watt selv halogen downlights there the best because cfl technology is garbage to get your ball rolling, should get some of the others fired up!

[diy]

The joists are 100x50. They are resting on 2x Steel I Beams and the outer brick walls. The room is roughly 5x5m. There is currently no insulation however I will be installing sound proofing batts.

So I have a 100mm space to work with. If thats an ok space, a recommendation on what kind of light to go with would be appreciated. I like a whiter light, and I like cheap :D

Thank you.

[applied]

well if you like cheap, bright and legal your gonna love a 28-watt round oyster light because if you've got less than two hundred millimeters between the top of the downlight fitting and a structural building material down lights are not for you.

[diy]

I already have a bunch of new square style oyster lights, but then I thought about down lights. If i cant use down lights then thats how it is, I dont want to create any fire hazards.

[bigblue]

You dont have to use halogen globes. See what you think of fluro globes or LED globes. Both dont generate great heat but offer a whiter light than what your possibly used to.

[mattski2008]

well if you like cheap, bright and legal your gonna love a 28-watt round oyster light because if you've got less than two hundred millimeters between the top of the downlight fitting and a structural building material down lights are not for you.
Downlights will be fine if you choose the right one for your situation. This figure given above is a default value when the product does not come with distances specified by the manufacturer. If you want downlights find some which suit the clearances you have