Insulation of lost attics: not respecting the requirements of the DTU on the treatment of recessed lighting means compromising the safety of all

They alert professionals in the sector of the need to respect this requirement set out in NF DTU 45.10 and 45.11 and warn them against the declarations of certain lighting manufacturers who falsely declare themselves to be compliant with the DTU.

Worrying increase in shortcomings linked to the treatment of recessed lighting

After observing the significant drop in sales of protective covers for recessed lighting observed for several months, the AICB and the FILMM launched a preliminary investigation into the reasons for this sudden decrease.

The survey revealed that protective covers for recessed lighting are used less and less by professionals when insulating attic spaces, for the following main reasons:

• The use of LED lighting wrongly deemed exempt from this protection;
• The argument of certain manufacturers indicating that their lighting does not require protection because they themselves “comply with the regulations”, whereas they are not a priori subject to the protocol established in the annex to NF DTU 45.11 to respect the characteristics stated.

Caution against claims made by some lighting manufacturers

For Olivier Joreau, President of the AICB and Elisabeth Bardet, President of FILMM: “Some manufacturers of recessed lighting claim in their technical sheets that their products comply with NF DTU 45.11 and therefore do not require a protective cover. These declarations, in contradiction with the safety instructions of DTU 45.11, seem particularly dangerous to us for two reasons. First of all, because they create confusion among insulation applicators who are neither trained nor able to systematically recognize a precise model of recessed spotlight. Then, because getting applicators used to not putting protection on certain sites inevitably leads them to evade, by mistake or on purpose, the obligation to put it on others which absolutely require it, in particular on renovation sites where recessed lighting is still mostly halogen spotlights, which present a higher fire risk. »

Risk of multiplication of claims

In this context, the AICB and the FILMM remind insulation professionals that the NF DTU 45.10 and 45.11 standards clearly state the implementation of the treatment of recessed lighting devices during the insulation of attic spaces.

Failure to comply with these standards exposes you to serious risks, including fire. Recessed lighting, when installed without following safety requirements, can generate excessive heat and endanger the insulated attic structure and compromise the safety of the structure's occupants.

For projects benefiting from CEE financing, non-compliance with these standards can even result in the invalidation of the file with the National Center for Energy Savings Certificates (PNCEE).

Reminder of the rules of the art

To guarantee the safety of occupants and avoid any risk of disaster, the AICB and the FILMM encourage professionals in the sector to strictly comply with NF DTU 45.10 and 45.11 standards during attic insulation work.

To protect people and property, the action to be taken is therefore simple: any recessed lighting device in attic spaces must be protected by a compliant cover and before the installation of the insulation (whatever it may be).

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.