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How much to replace 14 downlights
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How much to replace 14 downlights
Post by hiace_drifter »
Hi, I've had an EICR done. Part of the quote for remedial work was £500 for replacement of 15 downlights (as not correctly IP rated). That seems steep... but I may be underestimating the work involved.
hiace_drifter
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How much to replace 14 downlights
Just over thirty quid each. That include the replacements?
Could be a ten minute job for each one, but might not be.
So it's anyone's guess really.
I'd get other quotes. I tend to look with suspicion though at prices that are too nice and "round"
Could be a ten minute job for each one, but might not be.
So it's anyone's guess really.
I'd get other quotes. I tend to look with suspicion though at prices that are too nice and "round"
Dave54
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How much to replace 14 downlights
Post by hiace_drifter »
Just to add the quote was 16 x a unit price of 30 something quid, i rounded it up in case the sparky is on here and recognised the figures! But yes £30 ish each (£10 light, £20 labour). In my simplistic view they fit in the existing hole, and connect to the existing wire, so surely that's more like £5 labour per light?
hiace_drifter
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How much to replace 14 downlights
Post by Someone-Else »
I would get a 2nd opinion.
Also are you sure its the IP rating that is wrong? as or is it that they are not fire rated?
A lot of people say you have to have fire rated downlights everywhere, it's not true.
You only need fire rated downlights if there is people sleeping above, so for example if there is a bathroom above a kitchen and the kitchen has 10 downlights, they do not need to be changed, but like wise if there is a bedroom above a garage then yes any downlights must be fire rated.
IP rating is to do with particle ingress, which does apply to bathrooms.
Also are you sure its the IP rating that is wrong? as or is it that they are not fire rated?
A lot of people say you have to have fire rated downlights everywhere, it's not true.
You only need fire rated downlights if there is people sleeping above, so for example if there is a bathroom above a kitchen and the kitchen has 10 downlights, they do not need to be changed, but like wise if there is a bedroom above a garage then yes any downlights must be fire rated.
IP rating is to do with particle ingress, which does apply to bathrooms.
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How much to replace 14 downlights
Fair enough, as you say it sounds steep-ish, but without seeing the job and knowing the exact details we can't really say.hiace_drifter wrote: ↑Mon Jan 18, 2021 8:08 pmJust to add the quote was 16 x a unit price of 30 something quid, i rounded it up in case the sparky is on here and recognised the figures! But yes £30 ish each (£10 light, £20 labour). In my simplistic view they fit in the existing hole, and connect to the existing wire, so surely that's more like £5 labour per light?
It's going to vary from area to area as well.
I will say that jobs that look simple on the face of it, often aren't.
As s-e says, get a second opinion.
Dave54
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How much to replace 14 downlights
As said the IP rating is split into sections, two main ones are water ingress and dust ingress, every item has a IP rating even if IP11, but in the electrical regulations it says things like IPXXB or IP2X as minimum standards for certain locations and types of equipment.
However the EICR has to list items which are dangerous or potentially dangerous, it does NOT say must comply with regulations for a new installation, it may be regarded as saying must comply with current regulations, but the BS7671 in every edition says the date at which anything designed after has to comply, so that means if it complied with the regulations current at time of design it still complies.
This is a problem for electricians as we don't carry a stack of books so we can select the date when installation designed, and the BS7671 is not the only set of regulations we also have health and safety and building regulations which in some cases will apply retrospective. So the inspector is left with the "potentially dangerous" and even if exposed knife switches were allowed in 1882 then the first edition came out, it does not mean it is OK today.
However it is an electrical installation condition report, not a fire report, or a gas report or any other, so if not electrically potentially dangerous, then nothing to do with the report, lack of fire stop, missing smoke alarms etc may be raised with a fire safety reports, but are not really anything to do with electrical safety, so it would be connect for any one to report in writing of any safety problem, in fact your legally required to report in writing, so an extractor fan in a room with a open flue should be reported and it is potentially dangerous and it must be in writing that's the law. But it would not be coded and not an electrical fault.
As an electrician I have been asked to go around with a smoke generator and test smoke alarms, I have also been asked to sweep the floor, and give the guy down there a lift, but they are not my job, and I don't have the skill required to write a report on fire safety, and so as to fire rating yes the report should have a note fire rated hoods not used, but as an electrician he does not have the training or authorisation to code it in an EICR.
To my mind if you remove down lights and fit a 5 foot fluorescent fitting then there is nothing that the electrician could code, but it would be far worse as 15 holes in the ceiling, but those holes are nothing to do with the electrics, so he can put in the notes 15 x 2" holes are in the ceiling which could assist spread of fire, but could not code it, so same applies if lights are in the holes, it is not an electrical defect.
However the EICR has to list items which are dangerous or potentially dangerous, it does NOT say must comply with regulations for a new installation, it may be regarded as saying must comply with current regulations, but the BS7671 in every edition says the date at which anything designed after has to comply, so that means if it complied with the regulations current at time of design it still complies.
This is a problem for electricians as we don't carry a stack of books so we can select the date when installation designed, and the BS7671 is not the only set of regulations we also have health and safety and building regulations which in some cases will apply retrospective. So the inspector is left with the "potentially dangerous" and even if exposed knife switches were allowed in 1882 then the first edition came out, it does not mean it is OK today.
However it is an electrical installation condition report, not a fire report, or a gas report or any other, so if not electrically potentially dangerous, then nothing to do with the report, lack of fire stop, missing smoke alarms etc may be raised with a fire safety reports, but are not really anything to do with electrical safety, so it would be connect for any one to report in writing of any safety problem, in fact your legally required to report in writing, so an extractor fan in a room with a open flue should be reported and it is potentially dangerous and it must be in writing that's the law. But it would not be coded and not an electrical fault.
As an electrician I have been asked to go around with a smoke generator and test smoke alarms, I have also been asked to sweep the floor, and give the guy down there a lift, but they are not my job, and I don't have the skill required to write a report on fire safety, and so as to fire rating yes the report should have a note fire rated hoods not used, but as an electrician he does not have the training or authorisation to code it in an EICR.
To my mind if you remove down lights and fit a 5 foot fluorescent fitting then there is nothing that the electrician could code, but it would be far worse as 15 holes in the ceiling, but those holes are nothing to do with the electrics, so he can put in the notes 15 x 2" holes are in the ceiling which could assist spread of fire, but could not code it, so same applies if lights are in the holes, it is not an electrical defect.
ericmark
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How much to replace 14 downlights
£15 plus fitting isn't a bad price per light all depends on the fittings/bulbs and if the cabling needs to be altered/tested
tbh it also depends on your area
tbh it also depends on your area
Bob225
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How much to replace 14 downlights
Post by hiace_drifter »
I've checked the EICR, and it says the lights in the bathroom (not IP rated), and the lights in the kitchen are not fire rated (bedroom above).
It works out as £14 per light parts, and £18 per light labour.
It works out as £14 per light parts, and £18 per light labour.
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How much to replace 14 downlights
Post by hiace_drifter »
The downlights needing to be replaced are shown in the pics attached.
Is it just a case of disconnect them and wire in someting like this:
https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-cosmosec ... pack/891gx
They're fire rated and IP65 so I believe suitable for bathroom and downstairs ceiling beneath a room above
Is it just a case of disconnect them and wire in someting like this:
https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-cosmosec ... pack/891gx
They're fire rated and IP65 so I believe suitable for bathroom and downstairs ceiling beneath a room above
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hiace_drifter
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How much to replace 14 downlights
Post by Someone-Else »
You are clearly not happy with the price, so why not get another quote, at the end of the day it is none of us paying for it.
Above are my opinions Below is my signature.
Would you hit a nail with a shoe because you don't have a hammer? of course not, then why work on anything electrical without a means of testing Click Here to buy a "tester" just because it works, does NOT mean it is safe.
If gloom had a voice, it would be me.
Click Here for a video how to add/change pictures
Inept people use the QUOTE BUTTON instead of the QUICK REPLY section
Would you hit a nail with a shoe because you don't have a hammer? of course not, then why work on anything electrical without a means of testing Click Here to buy a "tester" just because it works, does NOT mean it is safe.


Inept people use the QUOTE BUTTON instead of the QUICK REPLY section

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How much to replace 14 downlights
Post by hiace_drifter »
Sorry I'll rephrase my question - can i simply connect those screfix lights in place of the existing ones? If so I can do the job myself.Someone-Else wrote: ↑Tue Feb 16, 2021 5:16 pm You are clearly not happy with the price, so why not get another quote, at the end of the day it is none of us paying for it.
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How much to replace 14 downlights
You have GU10's - only thing about the ones in the link is they are fixed bulbs so if it fails you will be changing the whole unit
personally I would fit new GU10 housings or go with Aurora led downlights (worth the extra few quid)
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index ... index.html
personally I would fit new GU10 housings or go with Aurora led downlights (worth the extra few quid)
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index ... index.html
Bob225
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