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t27f.txt
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1998-10-14
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Summary
These steps give details on how to fit various
types of light fittings:
1 Safety first
2 Seeking professional help or advice
3 Types of light fitting
4 Types of ceiling
5 Fixing and providing access to a
ceiling rose
6 Connecting fluorescent lights
7 Fittings with Exposed Terminal
connection blocks
8 Installing recessed fittings
9 Track lighting
10 Wall lights
Tools
Pliers, side cutters, blade knife, wire strippers,
screwdrivers, tenon saw, electric drill, hole cutter.
Materials
Plaster depth mounting box, pvc insulation tape,
light fitting. 4mm fixing screws, woodscrews and
plastic plugs.
Step 1 - Safety first
Never work on any part of the electrical installation
without first switching off the supply at the consumer
unit and, where possible, removing the circuit fuse.
Always unplug any electrical appliance before doing
any work on it. Check all connections are secure and
all covers have been replaced before you turn the
electricity on again.
Step 2 - Seeking professional help or advice
If you donÆt feel competent to do a particular job,
always seek the advice of a professional electrician.
Make sure that any person you hire is fully qualified.
A person registered with the Electrical Contractors
Association/ NICEIC, will be approved for undertaking
this type of work and will be well versed in all the
wiring regulations for electrical installations in
buildings.
Step 3 - Types of Light Fitting
Although there is a considerable diversity of available
light fittings, certain features tend to be quite common
in a particular range of these fittings. Accordingly,
it is feasible to group all the various types into
just a few basic categories.
Step 4 - Types of ceiling
In modern houses, the ceiling will be plasterboard nail
to the joist. Older houses have ceilings of a lath and
plaster construction or, where they have been renovated,
a suspended or false ceiling may be installed.
The false ceiling may be a lightweight metal skeleton
carrying ceiling tiles and suspended on wire. Such
systems cannot bear the weight of luminaires.
Step 5 - Fixing and providing access to a ceiling
rose
A weakness of the loop-in method of wiring lighting
circuits is accessibility to the back of the ceiling rose.
Traps fitted over the ceiling rose during the construction
stage would make it easier for future alterations.
The ceiling rose is fixed to a 20mm board positioned
above the plasterboard and secured to woodblocks screwed
to the sides of the joists.
Step 6 - Connecting fluorescent lights
Fluorescent lights are close fitting with the ceiling.
Depending on which way the joists run, either, secure
direct to the ceiling joists, or screw to boards
positioned above the plaster board, a similar manner
to that used for fixing the ceiling rose. The lamp
should be secured at two separate points. Cables
can be fed directly into the fitting, a 3-way
terminal block takes the neutral, earth protective
conductor and switch wire connections.
Step 7 - Fittings with exposed terminal connection
blocks
All unsheathed wires and cable terminations must be
enclosed in a non-combustible housing. Unfortunately,
many light fittings are only supplied with an exposed
terminal block as the means of providing the
electrical connections. Fixing a back-entry, plastic
or metal, conduit (besa) box in the ceiling void
provides the necessary housing as well as supporting
the weight of the fitting.
Step 8 - Installing recessed fittings
Recessed, downlighter fittings can provide an extra
ambience to the room. The fitting will pass into the
ceiling void; make sure it is clear of any combustible
material and not close to any thermal insulation.
With false ceilings recessed luminaires are preferred.
Suspend the fitting from its own adjustable support
and set it level with the ceiling. Then cut the
ceiling tiles to fit the luminaire.
Step 9 - Track lighting
Track lighting is surface mounted to the ceiling.
Depending on which way the joists run, either secure
directly to the ceiling joists or screw to boards
positioned above the plasterboard. The track will
require several fixing points. Cables feed directly
to the track and terminate in a 3-way terminal block.
Do not overload the track with an excessive number of
lights.
Step 10 - Wall lights
Most wall lights are supplied with an exposed terminal
connection block. A single, plaster depth, metal box
will need to be installed at the required position to
provide a housing for the cable terminations. The box
will need a cover plate, since it is unlikely that the
fitting fixing holes will line up with those on the box.
Drill a hole in the cover and fit rubber grommet for
the fitting cables to pass through.