Fire prevention housings

Under adverse conditions, fires can spread quickly and encroach on adjacent rooms. Suitably designed building components (ceilings, roofs and walls) can prevent or at least delay fire spreads.

In Europe, building components’ reaction to fire is expressed using a combination of letters and digits according to standard EN 13501 [EN13501] (see table). Ceiling components according to this standard does not merely refer to false ceilings, but to the overall construction of ceilings consisting of structural and suspended building materials.

Manufacturers of suspended ceiling systems provide information on their products’ fire-resistance classes in connection with various supporting constructions. This information is based on standardised fire testing in official institutions documented by test certificates.

Ceiling manufacturers’ specifications regarding fire-resistance classes only apply where fire loads, e.g. lines in ceiling voids, are limited and distributed evenly.

Recess openings in suspended ceilings mean that the requirements for tested fire-resistance classes no longer apply. In this context, it is irrelevant whether recessed luminaires, air outlets, loudspeakers or other components are installed in these openings. For such cases, fire safety hoods are placed over the luminaires to close the opening again from a fire safety perspective.

Many ceiling manufacturers offer fire safety hoods made of mineral fibre materials to close recess openings in terms of fire safety. Fire safety hoods are available in closed versions or with air outlets to dissipate luminaire heat. The outlets of ventilated fire safety hoods automatically close in the event of a fire.

Recessed luminaires by TRILUX can be used inside closed, non-ventilated fire safety hoods without causing excessive temperatures of impermissible extent. Forced ventilation is not required. ENEC symbols and, as the case may be, symbols for older existing luminaires as well (see also chapter "Fire safety labelling") remain valid with consideration to the installation instructions. Ceiling materials with elevated fire-resistance usually do not feature heat-insulating effects, which means that generally luminaires with symbols can be used as well.