Double Insulated Lighting

What does double insulated mean?
Double insulated, or Class II, describes a fitting that is built with two independent layers of insulation so it does not need a safety connection to earth. The live parts sit inside insulating material, or are kept far enough away from any metal you can touch that a loose wire cannot make the body of the fitting live.

How do I know if a light fitting is double insulated?
Look for the double insulation symbol, which is a small square drawn inside a larger square. It appears on the fitting itself, on the packaging and in the technical specification. Every product listed in this collection has been confirmed as double insulated by its manufacturer.

Do I need double insulated lighting in my home?
You need it if there is no earth wire at your ceiling rose, which is common in properties wired before the 1960s. Switch the lighting circuit off at the consumer unit and check inside the rose for a green and yellow earth core. If there is not one, choose a Class II fitting rather than paying to have the circuit rewired.

Can I fit a double insulated light myself?
Replacing a light fitting on an existing point is generally within reach of a confident DIYer, provided the circuit is isolated at the consumer unit and tested as dead first. If you are adding a new lighting point, altering the circuit, or working in a bathroom, use a qualified electrician so the work meets Part P of the Building Regulations.

Are double insulated lights suitable for bathrooms?
Double insulation and IP rating are two separate things. A bathroom fitting also needs an IP rating that suits the zone it is going in, typically IP44 or better near a bath or shower. Check both the Class II symbol and the IP rating on the product page, and have bathroom lighting installed by a qualified electrician.

Can a metal light fitting be double insulated?
Yes. Double insulation is about how the fitting is constructed, not what the outside is made from. Many of the brass, chrome, bronze and matt black fittings in this collection are Class II because the live parts are fully enclosed and kept clear of the outer metalwork.

Will double insulated fittings work with LED bulbs and dimmers?
Most will. Some arrive with integrated LED and others take standard lamps, so check the cap type and maximum wattage on the product page. For dimming, both the lamp and the dimmer switch need to be rated for it, and a trailing edge dimmer usually gives the smoothest, flicker free result with LEDs.