lighting solutions

All light fittings run hot so it's important to consider fire risk and take precautions. Fittings should not be installed close to flammable materials, or closer than 0.8m to the lit surface, and insulation around downlights should be removed. You may have to maintain the ceiling's fire-rating integrity and you should check this with your local building inspector.

Illuma fittings are designed for indoor use in normal dry conditions.

However, some Illuma downlights are rated IP44 (splash-proof) or IP65 (jet-proof) because they have been designed for use in damp or wet areas, such as bathrooms and showers. The IP rating is valid from underneath only and these downlights should not be exposed to moisture from behind.

Before installing lighting in bathrooms and showers, please refer to Amendment No. 3 (AMD 10983), of the IEE Wiring Regulations 16th edition, which is available on the Institute of Electrical Engineers' website: www.iee.org.uk

Part L of The Building Regulations stipulates energy-efficiency requirements for general lighting (not display lighting) in all non-domestic applications. Details are available from: www.odpm.gov.uk

The Carbon Trust was set up by the Government to promote energy-efficiency in the business sector, and offers free loans to help with energy-efficient installations, including lighting. Further information can be obtained from: www.actionenergy.org.uk

The basic steps are as follows:

1. Decide what lighting level (lux) is required.
2. Choose the right lamp to provide that lighting level.
3. Choose a fitting that accommodates that lamp.
4. Create a symmetrical layout of fittings to provide uniform lighting.

You can prepare your lighting scheme in any of the following ways:

1. Do-It-Yourself
   
   You can create your own lighting design following the steps explained on our website: www.illuma.co.uk . Or if you prefer, call us on 0845 6060414 and simply ask us to send you the details by fax or e-mail.
2. Illuma's lighting-design software
   
   For your copy of the new Illuma/ Relux Lighting Design Program so you can prepare your own computer-generated lighting schemes, call our customer support team on 0845 6060414.
3. Illuma's free lighting-design service
   
   Give us the dimensions of the area to be lit, details of windows, colour of the walls, ceiling and floor, and what the area is used for, and we will provide you with a proposed layout and schedule of fittings. Call our customer support team on 0845 6060414.

A symmetrical layout of fittings provides uniform lighting and makes the installation look clean and uncluttered.

Position fittings 0.3m to 0.5m from walls and other vertical surfaces to make sure they are well lit and the whole installation looks bright.

To create interest and draw attention to specific areas, light them 3 to 4 times more brightly than the surrounding area.

Dimming provides lighting flexibility, but compact fluorescent lamps can only be dimmed using electronic gear which is more expensive than standard gear, and discharge lamps cannot be dimmed economically.

To avoid the 'mirror effect' of shop windows, the lighting level inside the window must be brighter than the lighting level outside.

Where the ceiling is high or access is difficult for cleaning the fittings and replacing lamps, long life lamps such as compact fluorescent or discharge should be used.

Track and spotlights provide more flexibility than downlights but are less unobtrusive.

Illuma products are designed to comply with BS EN 60598 and the IEE Wiring Regulations. They are safe, quick and easy to wire and install. Every fitting is supplied with easy-to-follow instructions so you can be sure how to wire, install and maintain your Illuma products. For technical help, call our sales office on 0845 6060414.

Illuma downlights have a pre-wired connector/gear box so you only have to connect the incoming electrical supply.

Mains track is quick and easy to wire. Once you've connected the live-end to the electrical supply, there's no further wiring since the live-end and pre-wired connectors simply push into the track section and are secured with a clamp screw.

It is also very easy to wire 12V track. You only have to connect the live-end (Lumatrac, Marktrack and TRAC12) or floating-feed (Lumatrac) to a transformer. The live-end/floating feed on Lumatrac and Marktrack is pre-wired to 1.2m of cable. As with mains track, Lumatrac and TRAC12 connectors are pre-wired. 12V Lumatrac and Marktrack packs have a pre-wired integral transformer, which you simply wire direct to the mains supply.

All Illuma track spotlights are pre-wired and ready to fit to the track. Most Illuma spotlights are also available with a backplate for surface mounting, and are supplied with a pre-wired terminal block for easy wiring.

Low-voltage transformers should be run within their stated wattage rating. Low-voltage lamps and transformers generate a lot of heat, so the ceiling void must provide adequate ventilation to allow the heat to dissipate. The cable conductor size of primary circuits should be at least 1.5mm2.

Low voltage also means higher current than a mains-voltage circuit (e.g. a 12V, 50W lamp requires 4.2A). So it is important that the conductor size of the cable between the fitting and the transformer is correct. The table below will help you choose the cable size required.

1. Calculate the total wattage of the lamps to be supplied by the cable.
2. Find the corresponding value in the Watts column.
3. Read across until the distance stated in metres is equal to or greater than the cable run.
4. Read up the column to see what cable size is required.

Illuma downlights have fixing springs that make them quick and easy to install without tools. They provide a positive, secure fixing, they're suitable for most thicknesses of ceiling, and they allow you to remove the downlight for maintenance and decoration.

Track sections are supplied with pre-drilled fixing holes (mains track and TRAC12), or complete with twist-and-lock fixing plates (Lumatrac, Marktrack and 12V track packs), so installation is simple. All Illuma track is designed to fit flush to the ceiling or wall and can be cut to length on site.

All Illuma track spotlights have an adaptor that makes it easy to fit them to the track, or to remove them for relamping or repositioning. Illuma mains spotlights will only fit into the track the right way round, so you can't create a short circuit by 'cross-wiring' live and neutral conductors. 12V spotlights can be installed safely either way round on the track. Surface spotlights are easily fixed to the mounting surface with two screws.