First‑fix lighting checklist Ireland - Room‑by‑room guide

Planning your First‑fix lighting plan in Ireland is the moment where aesthetics, wiring, and safety need to line up before the plasterboard closes. This practical guide, written from the perspective of an Irish lighting consultant working with a Safe Electric–registered electrician, gives you a room‑by‑room checklist to keep your scheme cohesive, compliant, and on schedule for second fix.

Key takeaways

  • Decide your palette, finishes, colour temperature, and CRI strategy before ordering, so every room reads as one scheme.
  • Treat compliance as non‑negotiable: bathroom zones and IP ratings, plus RCD/RCBO protection, must be planned from the outset.
  • Future‑proof at First‑fix lighting: neutrals at switches, deep back boxes, spare cores and conduits, and clear driver access.
  • Don’t cut downlight holes until layout and cut‑outs are final; maintain fire performance and insulation clearances.
  • Verify dimming compatibility with a test pack before bulk buying; prefer trailing‑edge dimmers for most LED loads.
  • Lock logistics early: stock checks, delivery windows, returns buffers, and contingency SKUs prevent second‑fix delays.

Pre‑design decisions that lock in cohesion

Before anyone pulls cable, set the rules for how your home should feel. A little forethought here prevents a “patchwork” look and pricey changes later.

  • Style and finishes: Choose a consistent family of finishes (e.g., warm brass and matte black) that works across rooms. Keep junction boxes, trims, and visible hardware in the same family where possible.
  • Colour temperature and CRI: For most Irish homes, 2700–3000 K feels warm and welcoming; hold CRI ≥90 in kitchens and bathrooms for truer colours at task areas. Think of CRI as the “colour fidelity” score—high CRI makes materials and food look right.
  • Beam angles and glare: Narrower beams for accents, wider beams for general wash. Consider baffles or soft lenses for comfort in living and bedrooms.
  • Heights and proportions: Match pendants and wall lights to ceiling heights and furniture scale. Over islands, allow visual breathing room; in halls, keep fittings clear of door swings.

A cohesive plan lets you swap individual SKUs (if stock shifts) without breaking the overall look—because the finish palette, CCT, and form language are fixed.

Compliance anchors for Irish homes and bathroom IP ratings Ireland

Safety and compliance are planned, not guessed. While the full standards are paywalled, public guidance is clear about the direction of travel.

  • National rules update: Ireland’s IS 10101:2020 has been amended by A1:2024 (with AC2:2025 context). The update strengthens safety and energy‑efficiency themes in domestic design; designers increasingly prefer individual RCBOs for lighting circuits to improve fault isolation. See the NSAI notice and the Engineers Ireland overview for context: according to the National Standards Authority of Ireland’s important update to IS 10101:2020+A1:2024 and Engineers Ireland’s amendments overview (2024/2025).
  • Bathroom zones and IP ratings: In line with BS 7671 practice, plan fittings by zone. Typical public guidance confirms: Zone 0: IPX7 minimum; equipment here is immersion‑rated and typically SELV only.Zones 1 and 2: IPX4 minimum; where water jets or cleaning sprays are likely, choose IPX5.SELV limits apply by zone; place transformers/drivers outside zones where practicable. Useful explainers include NICEIC’s bathrooms and electrics page and Electrical Safety First’s summary on new and rewired installations (noting 30 mA additional protection is expected on most circuits in homes).
  • Safe Electric installers: Always coordinate with a registered electrician; document your circuit and switching intentions so they can verify against the standards and manufacturer instructions before First‑fix lighting.

By fixing these rules now, you avoid last‑minute compromises in bathrooms and other special locations.

First‑fix lighting plan Ireland: first‑fix wiring checklist for control and upgrades

Here’s the deal: what you wire now decides how flexible your home will be later. Treat this like a “First‑fix lighting checklist” you’ll walk through on site with your electrician.

  • Provide a neutral at each switch position where feasible to support smart controls and a wider range of dimmers.
  • Use deep back boxes (35–47 mm) to accommodate modules, dimmers, and future smart bridges.
  • Pull spare cores or install conduits to key locations (feature lighting, mirrors, alcoves) so you can split loads later without chasing walls.
  • Map two‑way/three‑way/intermediate switching for stairs, landings, and long corridors; mark it on a switching logic plan.
  • Keep extra‑low‑voltage (ELV) and low‑voltage (LV) cabling segregated; plan driver and hub locations in accessible voids or cupboards.
  • Prefer RCBOs on individual lighting circuits for discrimination and faster fault finding (practice aligned with domestic safety aims cited above).
  • Agree back‑box positions and depths before boarding; avoid clashes with cabinetry, architraves, and studwork.

Document these decisions. A one‑page plan taped in the hallway saves site‑time and guesswork.

Downlights, fire rating and insulation

Recessed fittings can compromise fire and acoustic performance if you jump the gun. Slow down and build a plan you can stand over.

  • Maintain the ceiling’s tested fire performance: use fire‑rated luminaires or tested fire‑stopping accessories as specified by the product and ceiling system.
  • Don’t cut holes until the final layout is agreed. Over‑sized apertures reduce fire integrity and may not retain the luminaire properly.
  • Respect manufacturer clearances: integrated downlights often need free space above (for example, 50 mm or more) and specific distances from insulation and combustibles; follow the product data sheet. See installer‑focused explainers like SparksDirect’s key considerations when buying fire‑rated downlights.
  • Insulation strategy: if your chosen fitting is not insulation‑contact rated, maintain clearances or specify insulation guards; note this on the plan so the insulation team doesn’t blanket the fittings.
  • Driver access: for LED strip, niche lighting, and some downlights with remote drivers, designate accessible locations (loft voids, service cupboards) and keep access holes or panels where needed.

Treat every cut‑out and driver location as part of the building fabric, not an afterthought.

Dimming and smart‑ready planning

Good dimming is a feel thing—smooth, quiet, flicker‑free across the whole range. That takes a bit of prep.

  • Prefer trailing‑edge dimmers for most modern LED loads; they’re often quieter and smoother at the low end. See examples such as Varilight’s V‑Pro instructions (default trailing‑edge mode) in the V‑Pro setup guide and Lutron’s trailing‑edge lamp dimmer specifications in this product datasheet.
  • Always test a sample pack: one dimmer + the exact lamps/driver before committing to bulk orders. Watch for dropout, shimmer, or buzz at low brightness.
  • Confirm driver types: ELV vs constant‑current/constant‑voltage—match the dimmer method accordingly; don’t mix assumptions.
  • Smart‑ready wiring: neutrals at switches, extra cores for scene control or PIRs, Cat6 to hub locations if required by your chosen system; keep ELV and LV segregated.

A little bench testing now prevents a lot of head‑scratching later.

Room‑by‑room cohesion and sizing notes

Think of each room as a layer in one story. The palette, CCT, and forms keep continuity; the layers and switching give each space a job to do.

  • Kitchen: Pair ambient (few downlights or a flush) with task lighting over worktops and island, and a small accent layer. Aim for bright, even task areas (CRI ≥90) and consider 2700–3000 K for comfort. Keep drivers for under‑cabinet/strip accessible.
  • Bathrooms: Apply zones/IP strictly (see guidance above). Add practicals at mirrors with good glare control. Coordinate with the fan isolator and any mirror demister wiring.
  • Living room: Combine a centrepiece pendant or cluster with perimeter downlights on a separate circuit, plus a couple of accents (shelves, art). Prioritise dimming and glare control.
  • Bedrooms: Warm CCT, reading lights with local switching at the bed, two‑way switching at the door/bedside, and wardrobe/task lighting where useful.
  • Halls and landings: Two‑/three‑way switching and/or occupancy sensors for safety and convenience; consider low‑level night lighting for stairs.
  • Exterior: Choose IP ratings appropriate to exposure (often IP65 in direct spray zones); ensure RCD protection and safe isolation for maintenance.

Keep notes on mounting heights, clearance above fittings, and intended scenes per circuit. A cohesive “First‑fix lighting checklist Dublin” mindset means the upstairs landing doesn’t feel like it came from a different house.

Procurement and logistics: avoid second‑fix surprises

First‑fix lighting, You can design the perfect scheme and still miss your second‑fix date if the boxes don’t arrive—or arrive with the wrong dimmers.

  • Stock and lead times: Confirm availability for all critical SKUs before booking second fix. Hold 10–15% contingency on trims and lamps.
  • Returns buffer: Check returns windows and condition requirements; don’t open bulk boxes until after your test pack passes.
  • Delivery window: Aim for a staggered delivery—drivers and dimmers early for testing; fragile pendants closer to second fix.
  • Spec hygiene: Attach data sheets to your schedule so trades can verify IP/fire/dimming and cut‑outs on site.

Suggested procurement template fields (copy into your spreadsheet):

Room Fitting type IP rating Lumens/CCT CRI Dimming method Fire rating Quantity Supplier/SKU Lead time Contingency SKU

Practical workflow example (neutral brand reference): Before you lock a second‑fix date, validate delivery and returns details on a live product page, then place a small test order (dimmer + one of each lamp/driver) to confirm dimming compatibility. If you’re shopping via Lighting Dublin, policy snippets are shown on product pages (free Ireland delivery over €50; 30‑day money‑back; free returns for 30 days), for example on the Adjustable LED Pendant Light product page. Disclosure: Lighting Dublin is our product.

Handover pack for your electrician

A good handover cuts phone calls and rework. Package it like this:

  • Circuit schedule with protective devices noted (e.g., RCBOs), including load estimates.
  • Switching logic map showing two‑/three‑way/intermediate controls and any PIRs.
  • Luminaire schedule with IP, dimming method, fire rating, cut‑out sizes, and driver locations/access.
  • Manufacturer data sheets and installation notes for each fitting and dimmer.
  • Change log for substitutions if lead times shift; record any impact on cut‑outs, drivers, or IP/fire ratings.

Keep a printed copy on site and a digital copy in your build folder.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Picking the wrong IP for shower areas or ignoring IPX5 where jets are likely.
  • Cutting downlight holes before layout is final or before reviewing insulation and fire requirements.
  • Hiding LED drivers where they can’t be accessed for maintenance.
  • Omitting neutrals at switches, limiting dimmer/smart options.
  • Skipping the test pack and discovering dimming issues after you’ve opened everything.
  • Assuming delivery dates—then missing second fix when items arrive late or damaged.

FAQ quick hits

  • What is a First‑fix lighting plan Ireland homeowners should follow? It’s the coordinated wiring, switching, compliance, and procurement plan you finalise before plastering—so that second fix is smooth, safe, and cohesive.
  • Do I need RCBOs on lighting circuits? Many designers now prefer individual RCBOs for selectivity and easier fault isolation; this aligns with safety themes highlighted by the NSAI and Engineers Ireland overviews referenced above. Your electrician will confirm the final design.
  • What IP rating do I need in a bathroom? Plan by zone: IPX7 within Zone 0; IPX4 in Zones 1 and 2, rising to IPX5 where water jets are likely; always follow manufacturer instructions and your electrician’s advice, referencing the public guidance linked above.


    Written with input from a Safe Electric–registered electrician. Always verify against the current Irish standard (IS 10101), manufacturer instructions, and local conditions before installation.
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