PROLIGHTING now has two new products available for contractors looking to stock up on fire rated LED downlights. But first, why fire rated? While typical IC-rated fixtures are designed and tested for direct contact with insulation, they are actually poor flame barriers. Most IC fixtures are made either from light sheet metal or aluminum that breaks down rapidly when in direct contact with fire. Every time you cut a hole in the ceiling to install a recessed light, you create a free passage for fire and smoke. While IC-rated lights are constructed to avoid starting fires, fire rated downlights serve as a fire barrier in the event a fire has already started.
Fire rated downlights have an important role in fire safety, as they effectively block the hole cut into the ceiling. The way they work is each downlight has an intumescent pad which will expand or swell up when it reaches a certain temperature and seal off the hole. This prevents the fire from spreading through the hole and onto adjoining floors, but more importantly helps to minimize the risk of structural damage or collapse. The structure of most houses is made from wooden ceiling joists, and once the joists are on fire they will inevitably fail. This could cause the entire building to collapse before anyone has had time to extinguish the fire or escape to safety.
LOTUS FIRE RATED
Launched this year, Lotus’s Fire Rated LED Downlights have a 2 hour fire protection right out of the box, thanks to a heat resistant steel casing. They have been tested to comply with UL 263, ASTM E119 and ULC S101. Lotus Fire Rated LED Downlights offer you 5 different kelvin temperature options to choose from. Utilize the switch inside the integral driver that comes with each light to select between warm 27K, warm 30K, warm-neutral 35K, neutral 40K, or daylight 50K white light color temperatures. Two models are available—an ultra slim recessed downlight and a floating gimbal in 4 and 6 inch sizes. The Lotus Fire Rated Floating Gimbal is the first fully adjustable fire rated lighting fixture on the market.
These are perfect for stocking up on—allowing you to suit each downlight to your customer’s preferences. This versatility combined with the quality you’ve come to expect from Lotus LED Lights, the original IC-rated thin downlight manufacturer, and a price that won’t blow your budget make these a great choice for your new construction or remodel project. Like other Lotus LED Downlights, no housing is required and at 1/2 inch thin they can be installed directly under ceiling joists. You’ll enjoy true color rendering of the area of illumination with a CRI 90+. Learn more about Lotus Fire Rated Recessed LED Downlights.
SYLVANIA FIRE RATED
Recently, Sylvania has joined the ranks with their new Flame Resistant Slim LED MICRODISK with Blaze Guard™ (available summer 2023). This product family is rated for fire-proof applications, capable of withstanding flames of 2,012º F for up to 2 hours, making it ideal for multi-family housing. Like Lotus’s model, the Sylvania Flame Resistant Slim MICRODISK is also tested to UL 263 standards for flame resistance, and is selectable between five color temperatures via a switch located on the driver. Sylvania’s version is offered in 3, 4, 6, and 8 inch models.
The Sylvania performance class Flame Resistant MICRODISK is a slim profile LED downlight kit with a remote driver that operates at 120V AC. The 1/2 inch height allows for installation directly under joists in new and remodel construction projects. A high CRI ensures compliance with Title 24 in California and exceeds even ENERGY STAR® standards. These IC-rated downlights are rated for 50,000 hours of life and arrive with a 5-year warranty. Learn more about Sylvania Flame Resistant Slim LED MICRODISKS.
Do I Need To Install Fire Rated Downlights?
It all depends on the overall construction of the building and the ceiling into which the downlight is to be installed. It’s a good idea that if downlights are being installed in multi-unit applications such as multi-family apartments, schools and dormitories, skilled nursing facilities and hospitals, and other commercial buildings, then they should be fire rated. Aside from fire and smoke defense, fire rated LED downlights also provide added protection such as acoustic protection and moisture resistance. Non-fire rated downlights are a gateway that will allow sound, air, moisture and fire to pass through unchallenged. Need help ordering fire rated LED recessed downlights? Contact us! PROLIGHTING’s top notch sales and service team are available Monday-Friday, 8AM to 5PM EST.
PROLIGHTING® is an Authorized Distributor of Lotus LED Lights and Sylvania.
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