GBA Logo horizontal Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram YouTube Icon Navigation Search Icon Main Search Icon Video Play Icon Plus Icon Minus Icon Picture icon Hamburger Icon Close Icon Sorted

Community and Q&A

how to insulate around a ceiling light can in and attic and loose as little thermal loss/ leakage as possible?

american green | Posted in General Questions on

If one uses compact floresent bulbs which do not get as hot as incandesent, how close can you get the insulation next to the light can?
………Terry Nordbye – North Bay Green

GBA Prime

Join the leading community of building science experts

Become a GBA Prime member and get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

Replies

  1. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | | #1

    Terry,
    As long as you have specified IC (insulation contact) recessed fixtures, you may safely install fiberglass batts or cellulose directly over the IC can. Most spray-foam installers, however, advise that it isn't a good idea to bury any fixture in spray foam. It's best to build an air-tight box out of rigid foam insulation, with the seams sealed with contractors' tape; the box should be sized so that there is at least an inch of air between the IC fixture and the box. Once this has been installed from the attic side, it's possible to spray foam over the box.

    Better yet: don't install any recessed cans in an insulated ceiling.

  2. american green | | #2

    In the case of a retro and the cans were not direct contact what would you think about making a chicken wire basket/dome around the can and mounding the insulation around it? Other burning question is I would think since compact floresent bulbs don't get as hot as incandesent the problem of close can contact with insulation may not be a problem at all, what do you think?

  3. gbauser-20428 | | #3

    one thing to consider is that unless the can accepts only pin type CFL's where the efficiency and the clearance requirements go with the life of the fixture, somebody could easily screw in an incandescent bulb creating a possible hazard or a bulb that continually goes out.
    As another approach for insulating around the fixture, I have worked with an insulation contractor who sprays foam over a dome shaped mold. When the foam sets up, you remove the mold and you have a cap for the light which then gets foamed in place. Again, this approach only works when you have an accessible attic space.
    I agree that the best approach is to avoid installing cans in ceilings that represents the thermal boundary. I have measured as much as 20 Cubic Feet per Minute of airflow through a "sealed" can fixture. Multiply this by the number of cans installed and the leakage quickly adds up to represent a sizeable whole in your envelope. To complete the installation of the sealed recessed can, the drywall should be caulked to the housing and the gasket that comes with the trim kit needs to be installed.

  4. [email protected] | | #4

    Investigate installing panel led assemblies. They have minimal intrusion into the assembly above, and generate far less heat. Which means most of the problems of heat damage, and fire hazard are eliminated. With the added bonus, that they are far simpler to get a good air seal.

    And now that they are commonly available, they are very cost competitive just on initial installation cost, without factoring the longer life, and decreased energy usage.

  5. Expert Member
    Dana Dorsett | | #5

    Randall: You realize you're responding to a thread that ended 8+ years ago, right?

Log in or create an account to post an answer.

Community

Recent Questions and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |