How much space should I leave around a downlight?

A: Manufacturers responses on this question vary but the general rule is to leave sufficient air space which is around 10-40mm from above. Leaving sufficient space from the sides is also important. Even when you install insulation coverable downlights you still need to leave a bit of space at the sides, so don’t pack the insulation around the downlight canister.

Different types of light sources generate different amounts of heat. Halogen lights generate the most heat so would require more space. If a halogen lamp is left in contact with dry, flammable materials such as rock wool insulation it could ignite a fire. LED lights generate very little and pose a very small fire hazard if any at all.