Most modern houses and offices feature recessed lights due to their sophisticated and stylish look. Not only are recessed lights used in modern houses and offices, they are also great lighting fixtures in modern libraries.
However, most fires that have occurred in most modern offices and homes, have resulted from recessed lights that overheat and end up setting fire on flammable materials. Although they make your home or office look gorgeous and stylish, they can overheat and cause fires if they lack IC rating.
Table of Contents
- What is IC rating for recessed light?
- Importance of IC rated recessed light
- 1. Safety
- 2. Save money
- 3. Efficiency
- Differences between non-IC rated and non-IC rated recessed lights
- 1. Usage
- 2. Price
- 3. Appearance
- Pros and cons of recessed lights
- Pros
- 1. More space illusion
- 2. Accent
- 3. Adjustable
- 4. Lightweight
- Cons
- 1. High cost
- 2. Permanent fixture
- 3. Difficult Installation
- 4. Bulbs
- 5. Safety
- Pros
- Conclusion
What is IC rating for recessed light?
Insulation Contact (IC) rated recessed light is one, which can be used in a ceiling that is insulated without running the risk of overheating. Usually, IC rated recessed lights are rated for 75 watts. The IC rated lights are usually rated for a maximum of 100 watts. As long as the wattage limit of 100 watts is followed, the IC rating will help reduce the chances of fires.
Most IC rated lighting fixtures applies the double-can or can within a can’ approach. This is whereby one metal can is installed over the other. Between the inner and the outer can, only the outer can has direct contact with insulation and remains cool enough to control the heat generated by the lighting fixture hence preventing fires caused by overheating.
Importance of IC rated recessed light
Are you still contemplating whether you should purchase an IC rated recessed light? The following are the reasons why IC rated is important.
1. Safety
This is the most important reason. IC rated recessed lights are the safest type. As mentioned earlier, the IC rating ensures that fire hazards have zero chance of occurrence.
2. Save money
By using IC rated recessed lighting, you rid yourself of unnecessary repair costs and the need to have an electrician frequently check the light fixtures. This is because IC rated fixtures reduce moisture condensation, a common cause for many electrical problems.
3. Efficiency
Since the fixtures are covered with insulation, IC rated recessed lights save more energy because no heat is lost through the fixtures. In addition, IC rated lighting fixtures minimize the problem of blinking lights, a problem linked to overheating bulbs.
Differences between non-IC rated and non-IC rated recessed lights
Having looked at what IC rating means and how it works, let us also look at the difference between recessed lights with IC rating and those without IC rating.
1. Usage
In order to allow proper flow of heat, a non-IC rated recessed light should not come into contact with the insulation in the ceiling. There should always be a 3-inch space to allow a proper flow of heat. However, this can be a challenge when the ceiling does not have insulation such as unfinished attics and remodels.
On the other hand, IC rated luminaires have a wider application than non-IC rated lighting since they can be used in ceilings that are insulated as well as ceilings with no insulation.
2. Price
Non-IC rated recessed lights are cheaper than IC rated products. This can be attributed to the fact that IC rated lighting offers more safety than the non-IC rated lightings.
3. Appearance
Non-IC rated fixtures are white in color while the IC rated ones are silver in color. The latest IC rated fixtures have insulation around any holes and are also known as Insulation Contact Air Tight (ICAT) rated.
Pros and cons of recessed lights
Even though they are considered a hit in the décor business, they also have disadvantages. However, before looking at the disadvantages, let us first look at the advantages.
Pros
1. More space illusion
Recessed lights have the ability to make a small space look big. Their soft subtle glow blurs the room boundaries hence creating an illusion of a bigger space. Recessed lighting in corners have the ability to make the room appear more spacious and open while recessed lighting on the ceiling create the illusion of a higher ceiling.
In addition, it has an effect known as all washing’. Wall washing is a lighting effect that gives more light to the room by using a directional reflector and the light scoop that reflects and directs light onto the wall hence creating the illusion of a bigger room.
2. Accent
Recessed lighting gives you the opportunity to draw the attention of your visitors to a particular object, such as a piece of art you love to display, by creating a soft glow around the object. This is one of the reasons that make it the perfect lighting for an art exhibition. They are easily hidden from sight and instead of drawing attention to themselves; they draw attention to other things in the room.
3. Adjustable
Recessed lighting is very versatile. You can change the lighting to provide the kind of ambience you want. For instance, you can adjust the lighting to spot lighting, accent lighting or ambient lighting according to the circumstances. They also come in a variety of finishes, color and shapes to give you the chance to go with your personal style. You cannot experience such lighting variety with other lightings.
4. Lightweight
Recessed lights are so light in weight that they virtually float in the ceiling cavity and do not need to be secured directly to wall studs or ceiling joists. Apart from the baffle, trim and housing canister found in the lighting kit, recessed lighting requires very little support.
5. Versatile & Efficient
One of the reasons why recessed lights are so popular is because they are highly versatile and very efficient. You can change the amount of lighting to fit the room or your mood. This is because they come with diming features that are easy to control. For instance, for kitchen and reading areas, you can install large amounts of lights while diming the light in other rooms such as the bedroom and movie theater. The added advantage when using the recessed lighting in reading areas like the library is that you do not have to use obtrusive light fixtures to get the amount of light you want.
Cons
1. High cost
Compared to traditional lightings, recessed lighting is very expensive. This is because of the costs of the unique bulbs and the installation cost. Currently, the average cost of installation of recessed lighting is about $ 780 while that of a bulb is $150.
2. Permanent fixture
Once you install the recessed lighting, you can forget about ever moving it. Even if you change your room’s décor and layout, the lighting will remain in the same position. This can be a big challenge for people who love to renovate and remodel their homes or offices because the changes they make to the home or office may not rhyme with the lighting.
3. Difficult Installation
Installing recessed lighting is not easy. It requires a lot of skills and patience. For instance, if you are installing the recessed light into your ceiling, you have to create large holes I the drywall for the light to pass through. In addition, you have to avoid heat loss by fitting the lighting snugly into the space. Therefore, besides being difficult, installation is a long process that takes a lot of time.
4. Bulbs
The most common types of recessed bulbs are LED lighting and CFL. LED lighting bulbs are cool to touch and help reduce the energy costs. Several factors affect the quality of light produced by the lighting bulb. These include the lumens, color temperature and wattage. However, the bulbs have a number of disadvantages. Check out .
The bulbs used in recessed can are smaller compared to traditional bulbs and have a different shape. In addition, changing these bulbs is not an easy task because you have to use the small space within the light housing to move the bulb in and out of the socket.
5. Safety
Recessed lights that are not fireproof, that is, those that are not IC rated can be a safety risk. Non-IC rated lights create heat, which results into fire once the lighting overheats and burns the surrounding surface. Fires caused by non-IC rated recessed lights happen because the housing of the lighting is in contact with the insulation of the home.
Conclusion
From the above con and pros, it is clear that the pros outweigh the cons. Even though the process of installing recessed lighting is long, the benefits such as adjustable lighting and lighting effects make the lighting totally worth. The same case applies to the high price of the light. Safety can only be an issue when you have not used the IC rated luminaires. Therefore, for your safety and that of your loved ones, ensure that you go for the recessed lighting that is IC rated. Besides safety, the other great thing about IC rated lights is that they can be used in both non-insulated and insulated ceilings.
To achieve perfect lighting plan, always go for a vibrant white color for your workspaces and kitchen, a warm white color for your bedroom and living room and daylight color for your reading areas.
FAQs
Do LED recessed lights need to be IC rated? ›
Most IC rated recessed lights are rated for 75 watts, to a maximum of 100 watts. As long as you don't go above the wattage limit, IC rated lights will reduce the risk of fires.Do LED recessed lights need to be IC rated? Even though they run cooler than other lightbulbs, LED recessed lights do still need to be IC rated.
Are IC rated lights safe? ›As mentioned above, IC rated recessed lighting is “insulated contact” and is safe to install fiberglass and cellulose insulation in contact with the lighting. The light fixtures that have this rating are energy efficient because of their insulation of heat and lower wattage lamps.
What is IC Rating in electrical? ›IC Rated stands for an insulation contact rated downlight. If a downlight has been rated as 'IC' it means it has met the requirements set out by the New Australian Standard on Recessed Luminaires standard (AS/NZS standard 60598.2.
What is IC rated downlight? ›Well, an IC (Insulation Contact) Rating* is a measure used to determine whether a recessed downlight is suitable to come into contact with building insulation. IC rated downlights must meet the requirements set out in the standard (and very, very catchy-named) AS/NZS 60598.2.
What does IC rated recessed lighting mean? ›The IC stands for Insulation Contact, which means just what it sounds like. IC rated fixtures are designed to be installed in areas where they will be in direct contact with insulation. This is important as non-IC rated recessed lighting in contact with insulation creates a fire hazard.
What is the difference between IC and non-IC recessed lights? ›You can tell the difference by looking in the attic because IC Rated fixtures are silver while Non-IC Rated fixtures are white. The newest IC-Rated fixtures are ICAT (Insulation Contact Air Tight) Rated and are silver but have insulation around any holes.
Can you put insulation over IC rated recessed lights? ›A can light that has an IC rating can be safely installed in a ceiling with insulation. Usually IC rated lights have a 75- 100 wattage capacity, meaning that as long these lights don't consume more than 100 watts, IC rated lights will lessen the risk of overheating and a potential fire.
Can recessed lights cause fire? ›Safest insulation around recessed lighting
It is fire-rated for up to 1800° F, so there is no way an electrical issue or a heated lighting fixture can cause it to catch fire. As you can imagine, this insulation type is regarded as the least flammable and most fire-resistant insulation option available.
All Underwriters Laboratory-approved recessed light fixtures have a thermal protection switch built into them. This device will turn off the light if the temperature inside the fixture gets too hot.
What is IC 4 rating in downlights? ›The IC-4 Rating means that Redilight recessed light fittings can be safely installed without minimum clearances for normally flammable building element(s) contained in combustible areas, including ceiling spaces.
Do recessed lights need to be fire rated? ›
The International Building Code (IBC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes clearly outline that recessed fixtures and speakers shall be installed so that the fire rating of the ceiling is not impaired.
How do you insulate around IC rated recessed lights? ›Insulating & Soundproofing around Pot Lights or Recessed Lighting
Can IC rated lights touch wood? ›IC-rated recessed light clearance distances
An IC-rated recessed light can be covered by insulation and can be within 1/2" of (or perhaps touch) other combustible materiasl (such as the wood material of the roof sheathing in your question).
When in contact with leaf litter, dust, insulation and roof timbers, or essentially anything flammable, it can lead to quick ignition and fire in your roof. With all this in mind, if your downlights are installed correctly and positioned clear of flammable materials, there is no risk of fire.
How do you change a downlight in Australia? ›how to replace LED recessed downlights - remove and install ...
What does Type IC inherently protected mean? ›Recessed luminaire, Type IC, inherently protected (intended for insulation contact)– “a recessed luminaire that does not require a thermal protective device and cannot exceed the maximum allowable temperatures under all operating conditions.” Although this luminaire does not have a thermal protective device, it is ...
What is the difference between a can light and a recessed light? ›Recessed lights, also known as can lights, are described as metal light housings installed in the ceiling for a sleek look that gives you back your ceiling. Their diameter generally varies from 3” to 6.”
How do I know if my recessed lights are dimmable? ›#1 – If you bought a finished LED fixture or bulb, check to make sure the packaging specifically states that it is dimmable. This should be stated in the description or the technical specifications of the light.
What does wet Rated mean? ›Wet rating refers to locations where your wet rated outdoor lighting fixture might encounter dripping water, rain, or other liquid that could flow or splash on or against your LED bulb or LED light fixture. When a light will come into contact with rain or snow outside, you want wet rated LEDs placed there.
Do LED recessed lights get hot? ›Answer: While LEDs run much cooler than incandescents, their electronic components and external heat sinks do get quite hot; you would still need to keep the insulation away from your fixtures.
Do recessed lights leak air? ›
The large rough openings needed to install recessed cans and the numerous perforations in the housing assemblies and trims make them extremely susceptible to air leakage if left improperly sealed from the conditioned space.
How far should insulation be from recessed lighting? ›If they are installed in an insulated ceiling, insulation has to be kept at least 3 inches from the fixture all the way around, leaving about 1 square foot of uninsulated ceiling space. (If insulation is in contact with non-ICAT rated lamps, a fire hazard exists.)
Can you spray foam around recessed lights? ›So, can you spray foam around recessed lights? Yes, you can, and here's why you'll want a cap. Open cell spray foam expands a lot. So, if the foam is sprayed on the light housing, there is a chance it could work itself down in the light fixture and even the room below.
What is the recommended spacing for recessed lights? ›A good general rule for placement is to divide the height of the ceiling by two. The result is the amount of space to leave between each light. For example, recessed lighting spacing for an 8-foot-high ceiling would be 4 feet between each light. This will provide good spacing for general room lighting.
How do you stop LED lights from overheating? ›Increase Ventilation: Increasing the ventilation in your room or space can naturally lower your room's stuffiness and temperature. With more ventilation and a cool breeze, your LED lights will be cooler than if they had no airflow.
Does recessed lighting increase home value? ›LED recessed lighting is particularly appealing to prospective buyers and, according to research by Vonn, could add anything between 1% and 3% to your home's value – enough to pay some estate agent fees!
Is it safe to put cotton over LED lights? ›Avoid using cotton for your Cloud Light project, opt for polyester fibrefill that meets flammability requirements (you can see this on the product packaging when shopping for it at DIY stores). Do not leave fairy lights throughout the entire night to prevent the lights or the LED driver from over-heating.
What happens if a light bulb gets too hot? ›Using a light bulb with too high of wattage can lead to overheating of the light bulb. This heat can melt the light socket as well as the insulation of the wires. Once that happens, you put yourself at risk of arc faults, and this is something that could even lead to property fires.
Why must thermal insulation be kept away from recessed luminaires? ›Most recessed fixtures will specify a safe distance to keep insulation away from the fixture. This is usually 3 inches. The reason is that the insulation can concentrate heat and become a fire hazard.
Why does my recessed light go on and off? ›The Lights Turn Off
If recessed lights frequently go off, an incorrect bulb may be installed, or the fixture may be in contact with ceiling insulation, which can affect temperature regulation. First, check whether the wattage of the bulb is compatible with the fixture; if so, you can replace the bulb yourself.
Is IC 4 Same as IC F? ›
If you are particularly sharp eyed, you may have noticed slightly different symbols and codes being used in our catalogue and product pages. For example, a downlight that has been in our range for some time, DIAMENTE, is rated IC-F. That is essentially the same as being rated IC-4, able to be covered with insulation.
What is the difference between fire rated and non fire rated downlights? ›Fire rated downlighters help slow the spread of fire, compared to traditional downlights. When you cut a hole into a ceiling and install recessed lights, you are reducing the existing fire rating of the ceiling. This hole then allows for fire to escape and spread more easily between floors.
What makes a light fire rated? ›Fire rated downlights seal off the hole and slow down the spread of fire. Modern fire rated downlights are fitted with an intumescent pad which swells up when it reaches a certain temperature and blocks the spread of fire. The fire then has to find another way around - delaying its progress.
Why do you need fire rated downlights? ›Fire rated downlights help to prevent the spread of fire and minimise the risk of structural damage/collapse. When a recessed downlight is installed, a hole is cut into the ceiling. This hole reduces the ceiling's natural ability to act as a barrier.
Can LED lights be covered with insulation? ›Upgrading to LED bulbs in existing fittings will save on electricity but does not allow insulation to cover them. Insulation can only be installed over LED downlights that are approved to do so.
Is insulation necessary in light fixture? ›TL:DR; Yes, that insulation should be there - it's for your safety.
How far apart should 6 inch recessed lights be? ›Generally speaking, recessed lights that are four inches in size should be placed four feet apart. Six-inch lights should be placed six feet apart. In other words, the diameter of the lights equals the space between them.
How deep should the bulb be in a recessed light? ›Most residential downlights top out at 7 ½” deep, meaning they will generally fit.
Can you put recessed lights in a garage? ›Recessed Lights can certainly be installed in a garage. They are not for everyone though as the installation is cumbersome, costly and may require building permits. However, they will make your garage look classy & give you more headspace. They make the garage livable and seem like an extension of your home.
Are LED recessed lights IC rated? ›Even though they run cooler than other lightbulbs, LED recessed lights do still need to be IC rated. While LED bulbs produce significantly less heat than incandescent ones, they still do produce heat.
Can LED light damage eyes? ›
A 2012 Spanish study found that LED radiation can cause irreversible damage to the retina. A 2019 report from the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) warned of the “phototoxic effects” of blue light exposure, including an increased risk for age-related macular degeneration.
Do LED downlights need insulation covers? ›The manufacturers of most integrated LED fittings don't recommend installing insulation directly over the fittings. Therefore a fire retardant cover is required, which will ensure that the fitting does not overheat.
Can I replace old downlights with LED? ›If you are wondering if it's possible to switch from halogen downlights to LED downlights then the answer is yes. Fortunately, upgrading Halogen MR16 light bulbs to LED is usually an easy job, as most LED light bulbs are now designed to retrofit existing light fittings.
Do you need an electrician to change a light fitting Australia? ›Do you need an electrician to change a light fitting in Australia? Yes, in most cases, you do need a professional electrician to change a light fitting.
Why do my downlights flicker? ›The most common issue with flickering is the dimmer and downlight compatibility issues. The dimmer and downlights must talk together in sync. Using old dimmers designed for halogen lights on LED downlights will most likely cause flickering. This is not to say they won't work, you will just need to test first.
Can LED lights be in contact with insulation? ›A can light that has an IC rating can be safely installed in a ceiling with insulation. Usually IC rated lights have a 75- 100 wattage capacity, meaning that as long these lights don't consume more than 100 watts, IC rated lights will lessen the risk of overheating and a potential fire.
Do recessed lights need to be fire rated? ›The International Building Code (IBC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes clearly outline that recessed fixtures and speakers shall be installed so that the fire rating of the ceiling is not impaired.
Can fire rated LED downlights be covered with insulation? ›The answer to this question depends on the type of downlight, some fire rated downlights can be covered directly with insulation and some cannot. The most comprehensive way of addressing this is to fit a fire rated downlight, a LED lamp with a Thermahood downlight cover and then fit loft insulation over this.
Can you use LED bulbs in recessed fixtures? ›In fact, most remodeling recessed lighting uses LED bulbs because of the ease of installation, as well as the energy efficiency. LED bulbs last much longer than other kinds of light bulbs. You won't have to change them as often once you make the switch.
How do you protect recessed lights from insulation? ›If your home already has downlights installed and now you're just tasked with laying insulation, such as in an attic space, be sure to purchase recessed light covers with a UL rating to create a protective barrier between the top of the light and the insulation.
Do LED recessed lights get hot? ›
Answer: While LEDs run much cooler than incandescents, their electronic components and external heat sinks do get quite hot; you would still need to keep the insulation away from your fixtures.
How do you keep insulation out of recessed lights? ›Rock wool (also called mineral slag or mineral wool) is the safest, least-flammable insulation option around recessed cans. It is fire-rated for up to 1800° F, so there is no way an electrical issue or a heated lighting fixture can cause it to catch fire.
Can you cover IC rated lights with insulation? ›Unlike their predecessors, IC fixtures can be covered with insulation and are designed to reduce energy loss. As a result, the insulation can be placed in direct contact with the fixture housing without fire hazard concern.
Can IC recessed lights touch wood? ›IC-rated recessed light clearance distances
An IC-rated recessed light can be covered by insulation and can be within 1/2" of (or perhaps touch) other combustible materiasl (such as the wood material of the roof sheathing in your question).
Fire rated downlighters help slow the spread of fire, compared to traditional downlights. When you cut a hole into a ceiling and install recessed lights, you are reducing the existing fire rating of the ceiling. This hole then allows for fire to escape and spread more easily between floors.
What is IC 4 rating? ›The IC-4 Rating means that Redilight recessed light fittings can be safely installed without minimum clearances for normally flammable building element(s) contained in combustible areas, including ceiling spaces.
What does fire rated lights mean? ›A fire rated downlight is a recessed light that protects the ceiling from fire after a hole has been cut to hold a new light fitting. Installing fire rated downlights is only necessary when they are recessed or semi-recessed, rather than surface mounted.
How do I know if my downlight is fire rated? ›The most obvious way to know if existing downlights are fire rated is by removing the light and checking for a sticker or label. This label should say that the light is fire rated. If there is no label to say that the light is fire rated, you can check for critical differences in the light's design.
What type of bulb is best for recessed lighting? ›R Bulbs are most commonly used in recessed lighting fixtures. The R stands for reflector and refers to the bulb's reflective surface that helps direct the light in one downward direction.
How do you make recessed lights brighter? ›Add extra emphasis to the textures and materials of ceiling accent fixtures with recessed spot lights. Extra light can add sparkle to crystal and increase overall brightness. 3. Don't attempt to light a whole room using only recessed lighting; the light quality will be too harsh.
Why do LED lights not work in some fixtures? ›
There might be a couple of reasons why sometimes you cannot simply put LEDs in any old fixture. As mentioned previously, if an existing fixture has a dimming feature, and your new LEDs are not compatible. You will run into trouble with dimming capability, such as flickering or strobing or incomplete dimming.