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Joist Compliant Fire Rated Downlights

Joist Compliant Fire Rated Downlights

Select the Joist Type you are Working With for Compliant Downlights

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Over the past 15 years Aurora has established itself as one of the largest fire rated downlight manufacturers in the UK and at the forefront of compliance and testing, ensuring that at all times our downlights comply and meet with the latest approvals and regulations governed by the residential building industry.

Recently, developers have changed their construction methods in respect of joists and ceiling configuration whereby tests and assessments achieved with old construction methods do not achieve compliance with the new engineered joist designs.

Aurora are once again at the forefront of testing its relevant product ranges with the industry leaders in I-Joist and web joist manufacture; Staircraft, Steico, James Jones, Metsä and Wolf Systems, ensuring that whichever joists are used in the build, Aurora has the answer.
Regulations and Testing

The Importance of Compliance

Fire barriers need to be considered during a construction project to make a safe evacuation possible. The fire rated downlight is a life saving luminaire specifically designed with fire barriers in mind.

As market leaders in the manufacture of fire rated downlights, Aurora are the first choice for specifiers and installers alike.

Aurora’s ranges include a variety of integrated LED and GU10 downlights, offering a solution for every application.

It is important to note that unlike traditional or open web joists, one test with one i-Joist manufacturer does NOT give you automatic approval with any other manufacturer.

However it is also acceptable to NHBC Building Control to use the test to demonstrate compliance for other engineered joist floors where the key elements of the test are the same or better. These elements would include:

  • 1. Joist type i.e. engineered joist or metal web
  • 2. Joist size including the central web thickness and grade of board
  • 3. Spacing of joist
  • 4. Thickness of plasterboard
  • 5. Density of downlighters
In addition, you would need to ascertain that the downlighters installed are the actual model that has been used in the test.

Fire Testing

Common Engineered Joist Types

Timber Engineered I-Joists, sometimes known as I-Beams, are comprised of a top and bottom timber flange combined with a tall vertical OSB (Oriented Strand Board) web:

  • They are strong and lightweight, with enhanced rigidity
  • High strength-to-weight ratio for easier handling and on-site installation
  • Can be cut to required length on-site and installed more quickly
  • Not prone to shrinking or warping, resulting in a quieter floor construction
  • Can be manufactured in greater lengths, reducing the need for columns & beams
  • Allows for larger spaces, satisfying the trend for open-plan living areas in homes

Metal Web Joists are constructed with a top and bottom stress graded timber cord, plated together with high strength open metal web sections on either side of the top and bottom timber flanges:

  • Have an open central section for ease of installation of services
  • Different lengths available to allow for longer spans
  • Ideal for open-plan spaces within residential buildings
  • Less timber means less shrinkage
  • Manufactured to length off-site
  • Timber cords should never be cut or drilled on site
  • The metal webs should never be cut or removed, as this will reduce strength

Softwood joists are ideal for smaller projects, such as extensions, small dwellings or where relatively short spans are involved.

  • Traditional method for building floors using solid timber
  • Strength Grading of joists is done by machine to British Standard EN 14081 to classes C16 or C24
  • There are actually 12 Strength Classes available in Europe, but the UK mainly uses C16 and C24
  • The Strength Class of the joist is very important when determining which joist to use for your project. It will help you identify which joist dimensions to use for a particular span and loading situation
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I-Joists are most commonly found in new build properties. Due to the reduced amount of materials used
in the joist, the product can experience a quicker burn through rate which is why it is essential that the
fire rated downlights and joist have been tested together.
Product SKU
R6™ AU-R6
R6™CS AU-R6CS
R6™CWS AU-R6CWS
R6™CWS AU-R6CWSBF
R6™ AU-R6FF
R6™CS AU-R6CSFF
R6™CWS AU-R6CWSFF
MPRO™
MPRO™ZX AU-A1ZBMPRO1ZX
E8™
E5™
EFD™
Product SKU (Test)
X7™ AU-X7
CX7™ AU-CX7
A6™PRO AU-A6PRO
A6™PRO AU-A62PRO*
A6™ AU-A6
A6™ AU-A62*
A4™ AU-A4
A4™ AU-A42*
MPRO™ AU-MPRO1A
MPRO™
E8™ EN-DE8
E6™PRO EN-DE6PRO
E5™ EN-DE5
EFD™PRO
EFD™PRO
EFD™
EFD™
Primo™
Primo™
Product SKU (Test)
R6™ AU-R6
R6™CS AU-R6CS
R6™CWS AU-R6CWS
R6™CWS AU-R6CWSBF
R6™ AU-R6FF
R6™CS AU-R6CSFF
R6™CWS AU-R6CWSFF
A6™
EFD™PRO
EFD™
EFD™
Product SKU (Test)
A6™
MPRO™
EFD™PRO
EFD™
EFD™
Product SKU (Test)
X7™ AU-X7
CX7™ AU-CX7
CX7™ AU-A1BTCX7
A6™PRO AU-A6PRO
A6™PRO AU-A62PRO*
A6™ AU-A6
A6™ AU-A62*
MPRO™ AU-MPRO1A
MPRO™
EFD™PRO
EFD™
EFD™

*Not Air Leakage Or Acoustic Rated

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Metal Web Joists, or Posi Joists as they are also known as are another new type of joist. The joist includes a combination of timber
but also steel web which allows the joists to be used over a larger area.
Product SKU
R6™ AU-R6
R6™CS AU-R6CS
R6™CWS AU-R6CWS
R6™CWS AU-R6CWSBF
R6™ AU-R6FF
R6™CS AU-R6CSFF
R6™CWS AU-R6CWSFF
X7™ AU-X7
CX7™ AU-CX7
MPRO™ AU-MPRO1A
MPRO™
A6™PRO AU-A6PRO
A6™PRO AU-A62PRO*
A6™ AU-A6
A6™ AU-A62*
A4™ AU-A4
A4™ AU-A42*
E8™ EN-DE8
E6™PRO EN-DE6PRO
E5™ EN-DE5
EFD™PRO
EFD™PRO
EFD™
EFD™
Product SKU
R6™ AU-R6
R6™CS AU-R6CS
R6™CWS AU-R6CWS
R6™CWS AU-R6CWSBF
R6™ AU-R6FF
R6™CS AU-R6CSFF
R6™CWS AU-R6CWSFF

*Not Air Leakage Or Acoustic Rated

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Solid Timber Joists are traditionally found in existing domestic floor construction and are
manufactured from timber only.
Product SKU
R6™ AU-R6
R6™CS AU-R6CS
R6™CWS AU-R6CWS
R6™CWS AU-R6CWSBF
R6™ AU-R6FF
R6™CS AU-R6CSFF
R6™CWS AU-R6CWSFF
X7™ AU-X7
CX7™ AU-CX7
A6™PRO AU-A6PRO
A6™PRO AU-A62PRO*
A6™ AU-A6
A6™ AU-A62*
A4™ AU-A4
A4™ AU-A42*
MPRO™
MPRO™
MPRO™ AU-MPRO1A
MPRO™ AU-MPRO2A*
MPRO™ZX AU-A1ZBMPRO1ZX
E6™PRO EN-DE6PRO
E8™ EN-DE8
E8™ EN-DE82*
E5™ EN-DE5
E5™ EN-DE52*
EFD™PRO EN-DLM981X
EFD™PRO EN-DLM982X*
EFD™ EN-DLM482
EFD™ EN-DLM484
EFD™ EN-FD101*
EFD™ EN-FD102*
EFD™ EN-FD103
Product SKU
MPRO™ AU-MPRO5A
MPRO™ AU-MPRO5
E6™PRO EN-DE62PRO*
PRIMO™ AU-ADST1BRB*
PRIMO™ AU-ADST1BOV*
PRIMO™ AU-ADST1BPN*
PRIMO™ AU-ADST1BIP*
PRIMO™ AU-ADGUST1BRB*
PRIMO™ AU-ADGUST1BOV*
PRIMO™ AU-ADGUST1BPN*
PRIMO™ AU-ADGUST1BIP*
Product SKU
PRIMO™ AU-ADGUST2BRB*
PRIMO™ AU-ADGUST2BOV*
PRIMO™ AU-ADGUST2BPN*
PRIMO™ AU-ADGUST2BIP*

*Not Air Leakage Or Acoustic Rated


Fire Rating Explained

30, 60 And 90 Minute Fire Resistance Periods

Minimum Periods of Resistance for Domestic Properties

Aurora’s Fire Rated Downlight ranges are 30/60/90 rated* as standard, providing complete product confidence.

Domestic properties have different requirements for periods of fire resistance, depending on the height of
the top floor above ground level or the depth of a
basement.
See the following table for guidance:

Fire Resistance Minimum Periods (Minutes)