pot lights

[Ellement]

In regards to the installation of pot lights in a basement where a 2.5 inch layer of soundproofing wool is placed in the top of the floor joist cavity...if the wool is pushed away or supported in a way that it will not touch the light is this within the code? or is it necessary to have an insulating box in place? As in most basement ceiling joist cavities there are lots of obstructions as plumbing, wiring and heating ducts which makes it almost impossible to evenly space out the lights to accomidate a 12"x 8"x 7.5" tin box, common sense rules...any comments
P.S I'm in Canada. Thanks

[Tony Moscioni]

Installation of Recessed Luminaires Rules 30-308 (page 158) and 30-408 (page 160)

Recessed Fixtures (Luminaires) Blanketed with Thermal Insulation

Rule 30-308 (4) requires that recessed luminaires blanketed with thermal insulation be restricted to those approved and marked for this application. The Canadian Standards Association Standard C22.2 No. 250 for
luminaires has changed:

? To establish new markings for luminaires intended for thermal insulation contact, and

? To recognize situations where the luminaire is surrounded by insulation but is not in contact with it.

Recessed Fixtures in Bulkheads and Like Situations

Special attention must be given to recessed fixtures in bulkheads and like structures where a combustible vapour barrier also serves to keep thermal insulation away from the recessed fixture.

Experience has shown that the heat of a fixture close to a vapour barrier can cause it to shrink back, possibly tearing and allowing thermal
insulation to surround a fixture not approved for being embedded in thermal insulation. Thus, where:

(a) The fixture in a bulkhead is of a type not approved for insulation contact, and

(b) The construction of the bulkhead is such that shrink back in a vapour barrier exposed to the heat of the fixture may occur,

An additional barrier (e.g. a layer of drywall) shall be placed between the vapour barrier and the fixture.


Recessed Fixtures in Proximity to Combustible Plumbing Systems
Care shall also be taken to maintain a 12.5 mm (1/2&#8221 [img]wink.gif[/img] from ABS plumbing. The Canadian Standards Association

Standard for ABS piping, B181.1, has a maximum rating of 60?C for ABS pipe.


Tony Moscioni
Electrical Inspector
? Electrical Safety Authority

[Ellement]

Thank you for your input Tony, as I do realise the code restrictions for recessed lights "in contact" with thermal insulation,my question is of recessed lights in ceiling joist cavities where the acoustic fiber batting is pushed out of the way or suspended so as NOT to be in contact with the fixtures. I guess what I'm trying to establish is wether or not I can install pot lights in this type of situation when the ceiling drywall is in place and there is no other way to install ic boxes without removing large sections of the ceiling. It's great you mentioned the combustable vapor barrier,it leads me to my next question,I'll post it seperatelly, thanks again.