Downlights can cause fires!

(Sourced from Fire and Emergency Services Authority- FESA)

Old or poorly installed ceiling downlights can set fire to roof installations or timbers which burn in the roof space above smoke alarms. These fires can go undetected until it is too late. Often, people only know their house is on fire when flaming material comes through air conditioning vents or the ceiling
collapses. It makes a safe escape more difficult and causes significant damage.

How can a fire start in the roof space?

A roof space fire starts above the ceiling material but beneath the roof tiles or tin. There are a number of things in a roof space that may cause a fire. These include water
pipes, heater flues, heat from the back of downlights and electrical circuits that have been damaged by poor workmanship, white ants or rodents.

NOTE: If downlights are installed correctly and a safe distance is kept from combustible material, there is no risk of fire.

What are the main causes of downlight fires?

A fire can start when the heat given off by downlights comes in contact with combustible material including insulation, leaf litter, wiring or roof timbers. FESA research shows downlights can heat up to more than 240 degrees.

What can I do to prevent downlight fires?

When installed correctly, downlights do not pose a fire risk.  It is important to:

  •  Inspect all downlights and transformers
  • Ensure a non-combustible or mechanical barrier is installed to prevent insulation or other combustible material covering downlights
  • Always use fittings and guards that meet Australian Standards
  • Following any work in the roof space, inspect all downlights and transformers to ensure they are clear of insulation or other combustible material
  • Consider replacing 240 volt incandescent globes with compact fluorescent globes that produce less heat
  •  Consider replacing 12 volt halogen (dichroic) globes with Light Emitting Diodes (LED) that produce considerably less heat

What has been done to reduce downlight fires?

Industry and Government have been working together and developed a standard on the safe use of 240 volt and extra low voltage (less than 50 volts) halogen (dichroic) downlights to reduce the risk of fire. Consumer and electrical contractors education is ongoing. Australian Standards (AS/NZS 3000) – Wiring Rules 2007 specify:

  • Minimum side and top distances between downlights and roof timbers
  • Ability for heat producing devices to release heat
  • Physical barriers to prevent combustible materials being too close to exposed light assemblies

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30USM – Australia’s Most Universal Mech


Clipsal have a new  innovative 30USM, that now allows you to only need to carry one mech. The new enhanced design offers significantly improved switching of real fluorescent loads and increased performance in high short circuit conditions (PSCC), suiting a wider range of applications, big or small. The new 30USM has a huge switching capacity of 20A and 16AX, which makes it a truly universal switch mechanism.

The Clipsal 30USM also offers superior design features such as deep contact action and 3mm air gap within the mechanism. This eliminates visible arcing and “crackling”, preventing carbon deposits on the dolly and aperture.
Not to mention an independent “snap” action of the dolly bridge that stops the switch from being partially turned on or off.

Enjoy the convenience of Australia’s most universal mech, why carry anything else?

Product Features & Benefits:

o Switching capacity of 20A/16AX.
o Engineered to switch fluorescent loads and manage high short circuit currents.
o Angled terminal screws for easier accessibility.
o Terminals accommodate 3 x 2.5mm conductors.
o One way/two way switching with looping terminal.
o Fits Clipsal Standard range, 2000 Series, C2000 Series, Slimline, Eclipse and Metal Plate range.

For more information on the Clipsal 30USM Mech please contact your nearest Lear & Smith branch today!

3M’s New 92-NBA Resin Joints Kits

3M have a new one-part mould body with innovative sealing system requiring no cutting to size or taping, new 3M 92-NBA series Resin Joints Kits offer unmatched speed of installation.

Contact our branches today to order the new

3M’s Closed Mix-Pour resin bags are now enhanced with a new integrated resin delivery system. Designed to eliminate almost any chance of skin contact and reduce vapour inhalation from the resin itself, this gives the user superb control over the resin mixing and pouring process – avoiding unnecessary spills and wastage.

Further, 3M’s high quality resin compounds, renowned for their durability and reliability, are redeveloped to fully comply with EU environmental and user safety regulation changes.

 

Solar Powered Car in Australia?

Solar energy could replace coal as a power source for plug-in electric vehicles.

As reported in the Sydney Morning Herald, Ford US has recently announced a roof-mounted solar panel car, that could help to drive electric versions of its Focus small car up to 1600 kilometres a month for free.

The panel, developed in co-operation with solar panel provider SunPower, can generate up to 3000 kilowatt hours of power each year and is thought to supplement or even  completely replace the plug-in electricity as the vehicle’s power source.

At the moment the only mass-produced electric vehicle on sale in Australia, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, and several more due to arrive here next year derive their energy chiefly from coal-fired electricity, which is considered among the dirtiest and least-sustainable forms of power generation.

Ford is not the first brand to use rooftop-mounted solar panels. The Toyota Prius brought solar panels into the mainstream in 2009 with a rooftop-mounted system. However, it only powers the car’s ancillaries rather than the electric motor.

Ford Australia spokeswoman Sinead Phipps says the local operation is unlikely to consider the roof-mounted solar panels for its locally made Falcon or Territory models.

”We’re interested but it’s not something we’d do by ourselves,” Phipps says.

”It would have to be an Asia-Pacific roll-out of the Focus Electric”.

Holden says it is ”considering a range of alternative technologies” but would not comment directly on whether parent company GM is investigating solar panels for its cars.