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Guide to Clearance Distances & Housing Types for Recessed Lights
- RECESSED LIGHT HOUSINGS GUIDE - types of recessed light (pot lights) housings & their applications, clearance or spacing distances, codes;
- Spacing Guidelines for Recessed Light Fixtures
- Recessed Lighting Fixture Trims
- Industry & Trade Associations for Lighting and Other Interior Components in buildings
- Questions & Answers about recessed light housing & trim types
- References
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Recessed light housing types & applications: here we explain the different types of recessed lighting fixtrures and their fixture trims. We provide a table of recessed light housing types and their recommended uses. We name, define, and explain the different types of recessed light housing trims. This article series details guidelines for selecting and installing interior lighting to meet the requirements for different building areas.
Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.
Guide to Recessed Light Housings
This article includes excerpts or adaptations from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss, courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Our page to photo (Taliesin West, Scottsdale, AZ, D Friedman) illustrates two of several indoor lighting methods used by Frank Lloyd Wright in "the bunker", originally a storage room, currrently used for meetings, and built with no windows.
Also see LIGHTING, INTERIOR GUIDE our home page for information about all lighting topics relating to building interior
Typical residential recessed lights
come in 4- to 7-inch diameters and can take a variety of
different trims that significantly affect light output and
glare.
For general lighting, a 5- to 7-inch diameter housing is
commonly used. For accent lights, smaller 4-inch housings
are available for both line-voltage and low-voltage figures.
Special recessed housings are also available for compact
fluorescents, sloped ceilings, and retrofit installations.
Standard recessed housings must be left uninsulated
above. For insulated ceilings, use a can rated IC for “insulation
contact.” |
Also make sure the housing is rated “airtight,”
which is not true of all IC units. Air leaks through recessed
lights can be a significant source of heat loss and moisture
problems in cathedral ceilings.
ur photo (left) gives details of information provided on the label of an IC/non-IC recessed light housing. |
Recessed Lighting Fixture Trims
The common black or white
step baffles are designed for use with a PAR or BR lamp, although
homeowners often put in the less expensive A19
bulbs.
Baffles reduce glare, but also cut light output by 50%
or more for A lamps and up to 40% for directional lamps.
Black baffles cut light output significantly more than white
(Figure 5-28). |
For maximum light output from a recessed lighting fixture, use a clear or gold specular
reflector, also known as Alzak trim.
To reduce glare, which
can be a problem with these highly efficient reflectors, it is
best to use a deep-profile Alzak trim, offered by most recessed
lighting manufacturers.
These work well with standard
A19 bulbs as well as BR lamps (Figure 5-29). Gold
Alzak is about 10% less efficient than the clear style. |
For accent lighting, eyeballs and similar adjustable
trims allow the homeowner to direct the light to the artwork
or architectural feature being lit (Figure 5-30).
These are typically used with a narrow spot to provide
bright focused light on a small area.
Slotted wall wash trim
is used to splash diffused light on broad areas of wall or
bookcases.
Nondirectional A lamps or compact fluorescents
work well in this application. General recommendations
for recessed lighting bulb wattage or bulb type and fixtrure spacing are given in Table 5-25. |
Spacing Guidelines for Light Fixtures
The general rule for ambient or task lighting is to space recessed ceiling fixtures approximately the
same distance apart as the beam spread at the work
height, typically assumed to be 30 inches above the floor
(36 inches for kitchen counters). The beam spread is the
central cone of light, where the beam is at least 50% of
the brightness at the center of the beam.
Most manufacturers
publish beam spread data for their recessed lights
with different trim options. Beam spreads and lighting
levels for some common fixtures and lamps are shown in Table 5-26.
For ambient lighting, choose a compact fluorescent,
A lamp, or wide flood with a beam angle of at least 50 degrees.
Typical spacing for ambient lighting with recessed
lights is 6 to 7 1/2 feet for an 8-foot ceiling, or 7 to 8 1/2 feet
for a 9-foot ceiling. Spacing from the first row of lights to
the wall is half this distance.
For accent lighting, space recessed or track fixtures so
their light hits the wall at about 30 degrees. For lighting a
large wall area, the distance between fixtures should be
equal to or less than their distance from the wall (see Figure 5-23).
Watch out: Check with local code officials in your own jurisdiction for specific lighting and electrical safety requirements.
-- Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction.
Resources: Manufacturers, Industry Associations, & Sources of Indoor Wall Materials, Flooring, Carpeting, Lighting, Sound Control Materials
Industry & Trade Associations for Lighting and Other Interior Components in buildings
American Lighting Association
www.americanlightingassoc.com
Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industries
www.awci.org
Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI)
www.carpet-rug.org
Drywall Finishing Council
www.dwfc.org
Forest Stewardship Program
www.fscus.org
FloorFacts
www.floorfacts.com
The Gypsum Association
www.gypsum.org
National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association
(NOFMA)
www.nofma.com
National Wood Flooring Association
www.woodfloors.org
Painting and Decorating Contractors of America
www.pdca.org
Smartwood/Rainforest Alliance
www.smartwood.org
-- Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: what is the minimum clearance distance between the top of the downlight can and the roof above
I am installing downlight housing for LED lighting in residential construction and wanted to know the minimum clearance between the top of the can and the roof above. The Can is airtight and IC rated.
Thank you. - R.T. 5/8/2013
Reply:
The minimum clearance for downlights varies by the recessed lighting type; IC-rated (DCIC) recessed lights are rated for direct contact with insulated ceilings or, that is, they can be installed in contact with insulation.
But you'll see below that the approved clearance distances for recessed light cans (downlights) also depends on the type of bulb installed and in some cases the building location (closets).
IC-rated recessed light clearance distances
An IC-rated recessed light can be covered by insulation and can be within 1/2" of (or perhaps touch) other combustible materiasl (such as the wood material of the roof sheathing in your question). IC-rated down lights (recessed lighting fixtures) should have passed both UL1590 and IEC60598+1 tests/standards.)
Here is the supporting code citation:
NEC 410.66 - Wiring Methods recessed lighting fixtures Recessed lighting fixtures installed in insulated ceilings or installed within 13 mm [1/2 inch] of combustible material shall be approved for insulation contact and labeled Type IC.
The NEC now addresses the problem of air leakage at recessed lights with this paragraph:
NEC 410-66 - Recessed lighting fixtures installed in insulated ceilings or installed within one half inch of combustible material shall be labeled as Type IC (insulation contact). In addition, your state Energy Code requires recessed lighting fixtures in insulated ceilings to be sealed to prevent leakage of airborne moisture.
Details about recessed light clearances are at RECESSED LIGHT CLEARANCES
More reading
We discuss the spacing requirements for recessed lights and related details at
Also see:
...
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Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
- Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
- Steve Bliss's Building Advisor at buildingadvisor.com helps homeowners & contractors plan & complete successful building & remodeling projects: buying land, site work, building design, cost estimating, materials & components, & project management through complete construction. Email: info@buildingadvisor.com
Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com
- [3] Sal Alfano, "Air Sealing Recessed Lights
- Sealing can lights will plug a major source of air leakage, but can also cause fixtures to overheat", The Journal of Light Construction, 28 January 2013, retrieved 6/8/2013 original souirce: http://www.jlconline.com/building-envelope/air-sealing-recessed-lights.aspx
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
 The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
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- Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
- Recommended books on electrical inspection, electrical wiring, electrical problem diagnosis, and electrical repair can be found in the Electrical Books section of the InspectAPedia Bookstore. (courtesy of Amazon.com)
- * Safety Hazards and Safe Inspection Procedures for Electrical and Home Inspectors at Residential Electric Panels
- "Electrical System Inspection Basics," Richard C. Wolcott, ASHI 8th Annual Education Conference, Boston 1985.
- "Simplified Electrical Wiring," Sears, Roebuck and Co., 15705 (F5428) Rev. 4-77 1977 [Lots of sketches of older-type service panels.]
- "How to plan and install electric wiring for homes, farms, garages, shops," Montgomery Ward Co., 83-850.
- "Electrical System Inspection Basics," Richard C. Wolcott, ASHI 8th Annual Education Conference, Boston 1985.
- "Simplified Electrical Wiring," Sears, Roebuck and Co., 15705 (F5428) Rev. 4-77 1977 [Lots of sketches of older-type service panels.]
- "How to plan and install electric wiring for homes, farms, garages, shops," Montgomery Ward Co., 83-850.
- "Home Wiring Inspection," Roswell W. Ard, Rodale's New Shelter, July/August, 1985 p. 35-40.
- "Evaluating Wiring in Older Minnesota Homes," Agricultural Extension Service, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108.
- "Electrical Systems," A Training Manual for Home Inspectors, Alfred L. Alk, American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), 1987, available from ASHI. [DF NOTE: I do NOT recommend this obsolete publication, though it was cited in the original Journal article as it contains unsafe inaccuracies]
- "Basic Housing Inspection," US DHEW, S352.75 U48, p.144, out of print, but is available in most state libraries.
- Electrical System & Wiring Hazard Inspection, Detection, Cause, Remedy, Prevention - Main Electrical Page
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