Down Lights For Solid Fuel Stove Fireplaces
At Creative Fireplaces we manufacture a large range of our Marble Fire Surrounds with integrated downlights. The entire range of our fire surrounds can actually be manufactured with integrated down lights.
Are down lights suitable for solid fuel?
1. Fire surrounds which burn real fires (wood or coal fires) emit a large amount of heat and are hence not suitable for down lights. Solid fuel fires (such as wood burning stoves) can emit a heat output in excess of 6kw which is substantially higher than gas fire alternatives which are typically 3kw to 4kw.
2. Downlights are typically wired into low voltage transformers and the high heat output of solid fuel fires often interferes with this and for that reason the majority of down lights are not suitable.
3. Some high heat output appliances have down lights despite the excessive heat (such as ovens). However the light is enclosed in a special heat proof fitting that isn’t possible to replicate in fireplaces. If you like the look of down lights then perhaps opt for a fire surround that has integrated down lights carved in the pillars (legs) of the fireplace rather than lights located under the header. By carefully designing the fireplace, it is possible to have lights far away from the actual fire.