What is IC Rated Recessed Lights?

Are you going to renovate your house? In spring, it’s timely. Rainy and cloudy days are rare; the sun is shining. Meanwhile, don’t forget to arrange proper illumination. What is IC rated recessed lights? These fixtures are safe and efficient.

You are to avoid fire in your home or office. Flammable materials are not prohibited. But, they should not be in direct contact with the cans and housings that heat up. So, let’s discuss how to arrange modern illumination, avoiding fire hazards.

Federal and State Requirements

According to the US Department of Energy, recessed lights are popular nowadays. Homeowners widely use this option for home improvement. Thus, in 2007, 435 million fixtures are installed in residential buildings. Best recessed lighting options are modern, versatile and adjustable.

Meanwhile, certain safety issues exist. Installing the lights between floors, avoid air leakage. Arrange thermal building envelop properly. According to the California Energy Code, recessed lighting fixtures are to be:

1. Airtight.
2. IC-rated.
3. Meeting drywall sealing requirements.

Recessed lighting vs flush mount require cutting holes in the ceiling. Drywall is a suitable material that improves insulation and soundproofing. It’s lightweight and flexible. Meanwhile, recessed fixtures might leak air.

Insulated Ceilings Issues

Attic insulation should resist heat flow. R-value measures materials resistance. Are you going to add insulation to your attic? They are to meet technical requirements. They depend on your climate zone.

How Much Insulation do I Need in My Attic

Higher R-value implies more efficient materials. They let you save more energy, as well as airtight ic recessed lighting fixtures. Insulation materials include fiberglass, cellulose, mineral wool and so on. In northern regions, these layers are to be thick. California falls in climate zone 3. It requires not much energy to achieve thermal control. Fortunately, modern insulation materials are non-combustible. Remodeling your house, you may find old or cheap ones that are not completely safe. What to do in this case?

Track lighting vs recessed lighting is easier-to-install. Attach them to your walls or ceiling. Do you consider these track systems to be bulky? Sometimes, a certain distance between the lighting fixtures and the ceiling is beneficial. Modern and stylish recessed lighting fixtures may overheat. Their contact with combustible materials might be dangerous.

What Does IC Rated Recessed Lighting Mean?

All lighting fixtures we install are to be safe and energy-efficient. IC-rated ones are always acceptable. This term refers to insulation cover or insulation contact. The standard relates to installation in insulated ceilings.

So, IC-rated recessed lights are double-can. Consequently, a layer of insulating air is between the housings. Can IC rated lights be covered with insulation? Yes, it’s possible. Firstly, outer cans are safe to contact them directly. Secondly, the Inner metal part usually heats up and vice versa outer one remains cool.

IC-rated recessed lights are beneficial to:

• eliminate fire hazard;
• make your house safe;
• cut repair and maintenance cost;
• save energy.

It doesn’t matter what size recessed lights for kitchen you select. Their diameter may range from 3 to 6 inches depending on their application and location. Select IC-rated fixtures, as they prevent mold growth and condensation build-up. Minimizing drafts, you lower your energy bills and make your house comfortable. Quite naturally, proper professional installation also matters.

What Does IC and Non IC Mean?

Shall you always buy only IC-rated recessed lights? It depends on their application. Use non-IC devices, if space between the fixture and insulation is sufficient. Meanwhile, these lights have some benefits. They allow higher wattage. If you need bright illumination, consider this option. Wattage limit of IC-rated fixtures is not higher than 75-100 watts. Just tell the difference between these fixtures and install them properly.

IC-rated vs Non-IC-rated

How do you tell if recessed lighting is IC rated? I would not rely on color differences, because they are faint, hard-to-discern. All holes in IC-rated fixtures have insulation. Necessarily, check the label! It is to include a reference to ASTM E283 standard. Moreover, it should state that the recessed light is airtight and IC-rated. It means the fixture was tested at 75 Pascals pressure. Air leakage is less than 2.0 CFM.

How to Use Non IC Rated with Led?

LED bulbs produce almost no heat. Incandescent bulbs are inefficient. They heat up, igniting the insulation. What if you use only LED bulbs? Can you cover the fixture with spray or rigid foam? Please, don’t do it. It might be dangerous. For example, polyurethane foam is combustible. Avoid fire.

If you still want to install non-IC-rated fixtures, do it safely. Efficient measures and tools include:

• air barrier;
• enclosure;
• clearance;
• sealant.

Use a fire-resistant gypsum board to separate the fixtures from insulation. It is to be 5/8”-thick, at least. 3-inch clearance between the recessed light and insulation material is enough. It’s possible to use enclosure material. However, it is to be very thin. R-value of 0.56 or less is safe. Additionally, the enclosure should not contact the insulation. Seal holes and gaps with mastic or caulk. Which one is safe? Contact professionals, ask them this question and order professional installation.

Overall Impression

Are you selecting recessed lights? These fixtures last for 40-50 years, at least. Renovating your room, you don’t have to replace them. Thanks to low-profile design, they fit any room style and decorations. Thus, consider multiple factors. Safety is the most important one. IC-rated fixtures suit all applications. So, meet modern building requirements to avoid fire hazards. Save energy and let your house be cozy, bright and airy.