Hi, after having a new ensuite ceiling fitted, I had downlights installed (with chicken wire caging in the roof space to ensure sufficient ventilation around the fitting/bulbs and that the insulation couldn't fall back over the fitting at any time. Done sort of like a chimey so always clear right up to the felt etc).

All is working fine and looked great for the first 9-10 months, but then I guess the plaster finished drying out and now the holes must be a mil or two too big, cos the fittings seemed to have slipped and are no longer flush to the ceiling (nor will they stay flush when I push them back up).

I work in the building industry (though not involved in building in any way), and so have often come across this where the spark has then used some sort of sealant/silicon/no nails whatever around the rim of the fixing to hold it up to the ceiling.

Is this actually ok to do, and if so, what is probably best and safest?

If its not ok to do...what the heck DO I do?

Many thanks in advance

mAdMaCCa

Go in the loft and put something under the spring clip to make it tighter

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Maybe I should have mentioned, when the new ceiling was done we put in a false ceiling, so as much as the fittings go in to the roof space, the clips only go in to the false space, and so fitting anything under the clips is almost impossible because you cant get at them

...but thanks for trying. I did have another reply on a different forum, that suggested you can buy fire-rated sealants (intumescent) but they thought no more nails or grip fill would be OK.

Any comments?

No way in a million years would I permanently fix the light.

If you dont have access to the top, take the light down and stick a piece of PB where the clips go to make it thicker, or bend the clip down if it's that type.

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no more nails to hold a light fitting up

there are two types of spring generally, one is push sprung and the other is tensioned when you open them.

the cheaper ones (the push in tensioning springs) tend to wear and bend after a few times of moving the fitting. simply pull it down and bend the spring back, the light will stay up fine. or change them for the other type.

don't glue the fitting up there though, that's just crazy.

Ah - so let's see, that'll be a contravention of Part L, because you've made the degree of insulation worse, and Part C because you've created a route for warm moist air to enter an unconditioned space and cause condensation.

Can't believe that Building Control let you get away with this - did you apply for Building Regulations approval, or was it done by an electrician who lied on his certification?

And even if you don't care that you've broken the law you should care about the condensation because your roof will rot.

http://www.nhbcbuilder.co.uk/NHBCpublic ... 353,en.pdf (or http://www.nhbc.co.uk/NHBCPublications/ ... 553,en.pdf )

Pre-formed cap to seal downlights: http://www.aico.co.uk/firecap_loftcap.htm (It's NOT a firehood....)

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I'm sorry - I can't come in to work today, the voices are telling me to stay at home and clean the guns.

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