More than Retrofit: Integral Evofire Recessed
Home lighting can be a delicate balance between functionality and comfort, especially in bedrooms where harsh glare can disrupt sleep. This customer case study explores one homeowner's journey to find the perfect solution for their bedroom entrance lighting. It details the discovery and installation of the Integral Evofire fire-rated low glare downlight, paired with high-quality Philips LED bulbs. The article offers insights into the challenges of retrofitting modern lighting solutions in older homes and highlights the importance of factors such as glare reduction, light dispersion, and ease of installation.
- Customer: Chris
- Room: Bedroom entrance
Products Used:
- Integral Evofire fire-rated recessed GU10 downlight, matt white
- Integral Evofire 70-100mm cut-out adaptor ring, matt white
- Philips Master ExpertColor GU10 927 36D 5.5W 385lm
- Varilight V-Pro 1-gang dimmer, white (JQP401W)
Disclaimer:
The fitting is installed outside the UK, and its installation may not fully comply with UK electrical standards. This article is only meant to be a review, and NOT a how-to guide for install this fitting!
The Struggle for a Low-Glare Fitting
I was looking to replace the existing E27 downlights at the two bedroom entrances because the old fittings would shine directly into the eyes of those in bed. On the other hand, we would usually need to leave the bedroom entrance illuminated in the evenings.
In 2019, I sourced a low-glare fitting from a local electrical shop. Sadly, the reflector bulb (GU10) was pushed back too far; as a result, the entrance walls were inadequately illuminated. I switched back to the original fitting but converted it into a non-glare-proof GU10 fitting; the situation did improve but was far from perfect.
Encountering the Integral Evofire
When I was in the UK in 2023-4, I browsed online for downlights, and the Integral Evofire was among the only few that satisfied the harsh existing conditions in my ceiling: no earth wiring, 95mm cut-out (while UK household downlights usually have 70+mm cut-out), and that the fitting needed to be low-glare and meanwhile disperse the light well. In other words, the Integral Evofire is ideal for a wide range of retrofit conditions!
While the fitting alone is for 70mm cut-out, Integral is kind enough to offer a cut-out adaptor for up to 100mm of cut-out. This ring is dedicated for the Evofire range – it not only fits perfectly with the fitting, but also maintains the IP65 rating, fire rating and overall aesthetics. They look just like one complete fitting with no added parts! Furthermore, the smooth edges on both the fitting and the adaptor ring do add a modern touch.
For such a nice fitting I would certainly use it with the best suitable LED bulbs I’ve known – Philips ExpertColor CRI97 GU10 bulb (2700K 36° 385lm); they are also available at Downlight Direct. This bulb would be a perfect match for the fitting because (1) its excellent colour rendering gives cozy light perfectly mimicking mains halogen bulb; (2) the lens reduces the glare even further; (3) it is dimmable.
I have also learnt the fact that this fitting is optimised for LED bulbs thanks to its open and ‘canless’ design at the back, thus keeping the bulb well-ventilated for prolonged bulb life. Given the aforementioned Philips GU10 bulb is marked as “not for enclosed luminaires”, the fitting is a perfect match for the bulb as well.
Purchase and Installation
I bought two sets in the UK, one for each bedroom entrance. When I took them home, I was so excited and just couldn’t wait to install them, not even having the patience for fetching my tools. Upon unpacking I only realised that the new fitting was conveniently tool-free (well, uninstalling the previous fitting did require screwdrivers, but the new one still saved me plenty of effort).
The entire installation process thus took under 5 mins for both fittings altogether. When off, the fitting offers a minimal presence, and the matt white finish blends into the plasterboard perfectly. When on, it becomes very stylish and elegant to look at thanks to its baffled design; the reflection from the can is gentle to eyes, too. Unlike in my previous failed attempt, the light is now well-dispersed across the entrance and its walls. Most importantly, this fitting does reduce glare when viewed from a distance – and the light source no longer shines directly into the bed. Furthermore, the aforementioned Philips GU10 bulb dims perfectly across the whole spectrum using the Varilight V-Pro dimmer.
Future Plans
I have 8 more of those old E27 downlights at home – all of which are rusting. Given I live in southern China, the matt finish on the surface of the Evofire looked promising for the harsh marine climate too. I can’t wait to replace those old fittings with the Evofire in my next earliest opportunity!