New Downlight Regulations

A very important change regarding the installation of Downlights came about on 10th May 2012. Amendment A to the AS/NZS 3000:2010 wiring rules became part of the official standard through an amendment of the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010. All installations of Downlights and associated fittings commencing on or after the 10th of May must apply this new amendment. The installation of Downlight fittings in ‘residential electrical installations’ will have to use one of the following types of fitting: CA 80, CA 135, IC, or IC-F.

Recessed Downlights create large amounts of heat. Due to this fact, care needs to be taken when installing such recessed luminaires. This issue is compounded by the increased use of thermal insulation in residential installations

Residential installations

For the purposes of these requirements, ‘residential installations’ are considered to be electrical installations in home owner or rental domestic dwellings, flats and the like. The intention is to address risk in situations where it is likely that during the life of the electrical installation, thermal insulation will be installed in ceilings by home owners or other persons who are not familiar with the risks of covering downlights.

Manufacturers of downlight fittings are required by AS/NZS 60598.2.2 Amendment A to specify in their instructions the types and/or characteristics of insulation that are safe for use with those fittings. Downlight installers have to choose fittings compatible with the insulation that is or will be present or, alternatively, the insulation must be selected by the home owner to comply with the manufacturer’s instructions for the fittings.

The ability to repair or do ‘like for like’ replacement of a downlight fitting that was already in place on 10 November 2011, when the regulations were amended, is not affected by this requirement provided it does not result in an unsafe installation.

Downlight fittings for other installations

Premises that are not deemed to be ‘residential installations’, including hotels, motels, hostels & hospitals, where insulation will most likely be installed by professional insulation installers who are aware of the hazards and risks  associated with laying thermal insulation over light fixtures and electrical cabling, will still continue to be able to install downlights that do not fit into the new categories, CA 80, CA 135, IC, or IC-F as long as it is safe to do so.